All-Ireland 40 x 20 championships 40 x 20 semi-finals
Paddy Walsh (Sligo) bt Tony Buckley (Cork) 21-17, 21-15
Walsh reaches another All-Ireland final
Paddy Walsh has reached this year’s Ruby Masters All-Ireland 40 x 20 Singles final following a hard earned victory over Cork’s Tony Buckley played in Moycullen Co. Galway last Saturday.
Walsh had to come from behind in both games before recording a deserved 21-17, 21-15 victory over the Corkman.
Like in his Connacht final win Walsh again had a slow start. And Buckley took full advantage when leading by 7-1. Walsh rallied strongly with some great aces won on his serve getting points into Buckley’s left corner mostly. Walsh countered and drew level at 9 points each. Yet again the Cork man stretched his lead by 3 points. Walsh worked himself back into the game and again was on parity with Buckley at 12 points each. The Cork man pulled clear with another 3 point salvo. Buckley then missed a sitter close to the front wall giving Walsh a fortuitous score. Walsh got 2 expertly taken aces in both corners to draw level yet again for the 3 rd time in this exhilarating first game at 15 points each. Both players gave exhibitions of handball throughout. The Sligo man exerted pressure on the Cork man and for the 1st time in the match went out in front and was rewarded with 5 points without reply. Still the Cork man refused to cave in and came back strongly with 2 points of his own. Walsh was forced to serve game ball 3 times before clinching the 1st game with a deft shot of the left side wall taking game one by 21-17
Into the 2nd game it was Buckley again who fired into a 7-1 lead. Buckley from the Liscarroll Club in Cork was proving a formidable opponent but Walsh was equal to the Cork man’s early dominance. Walsh recovered well and began to get to grips with the Munster champion with his great array of pin point serving, roof shots and strongly delivered passing winners. The Sligo man’s strong minded and determined display hit back in tremendous style drawing level at 14 points each. Walsh using all his experience attacked relentlessly and dominated for the remainder of the match only allowing the Cork man 1 further score. The St. Mary’s club man wore down the Cork man’s challenge with another master class display and finished in fine style getting the match winning score with an ace to Buckley’s left to win by 21-15.
The legendary Walsh now goes forward to the final where he will play Antrim’s in the final in 3 weeks time. Walsh is aiming to win his 29th All-Ireland handball winners medal in 30 years. The Sligo handball player star will endeavour to rewrite the Sligo G.A.A history books and hopes are high that the St. Mary’s club man will have another celtic cross to bring back to Sligo.
All-Ireland Juvenile championships semi-finals played in Invirin Co. Galway today
Girls U-15 doubles: Aoife Quinn & Marianna Foody (Sligo) lost Natasha Coughlin & Michelle Nihill (Clare) 10-15, 12-15
Sligo Handball 40 X 20 Leagues
Drumcliff bt St . Mary’s 76-49
Ken Cunningham & Eamon Bellew (Drumcliff) bt Michael McMorrow & Paddy Walsh (St. Mary’s) 21-4, 13-21
Pat O’Sullivan & Colin Slevin (Drumcliff) bt Peter Chambers & Aoife McDonagh (St. Mary’s) 21-14, 21-10
Upcoming fixtures Sligo Team40 x 20 Leagues
St.Mary’s v Castleconnor A Wednesday 23rd March in St. Mary’s at 8 p.m.
Sligo v Castleconnor B Thursday 24TH March in Castleconnor at 8 p..m
Castleconnor A v Ballymote Monday 28th March in Castleconnor at 8 p.m.
Sligo IT v Collooney Monday 28th March in St. Mary’s at 9 p.m.
Connacht Juvenile B 40 x 20 championships Quarter-finals v Leitrim Monday March 21th in Drumcliff starting at 7 p.m.
Boys U-12 Singles: Ordhain Quinn. (Castleconnor)
Boys U-13 doubles: Sean Carabine Brendan Foody ( both Castleconnor)
Boys U-15 Singles: Patrick Fox. ( Collooney)
Boys U-16 doubles: Noel M c Loughlin & Shane Wright.( both Castleconnor)
Boys U-17 doubles: Levi Keavney Alan Gilmartin (both Castleconnor)
Girls U-14 singles: Catriona Swift (Castleconnor)
Girls U-12 doubles: Rachel & Mary Foody. (both Castleconnor)
The Sligo Handball Board passed a vote of sympathy with Seamus Duffy on the death of his brother Anthony last week.
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