McCann’s magic fightback secures final place
Francis McCann certainly rolled back the years last weekend in Ballyporeen when claiming a famous victory against all the odds, writes Michael McGee.
McCann had to call on all his vast experience and battling skills to defeat Tipperary’s Pat Ryan in the Golden Masters A Singles final in a 3 game thriller in order to qualify for the final.
McCann started slowly in his match and quickly fell behind losing the opening game by 10-21. The Ballymote man was much more composed in the second and got to grips with the Tipperary man playing some great handball. McCann took game 2 by 21-12. He continued the momentum into the tiebreaker going 18-12 ahead. Ryan with the huge Tipperary support behind him put in a storming finish and levelled at 18-18 and amazingly took the lead by 19-18 and looked to have stolen the game from McCann’s grasp. McCann with great self belief and conviction somehow turned the tables on the Tipperary man once again and in an exciting finish the Sligo man dug deepest with great heart and determination. In a nail biting finish McCann got the 3 golden winners to secure an amazing victory by 21-19 after 3 energy sapping games. McCann will face Meath’s Jimmy Reilly in the All-Ireland singles final. Sligo’s other representative in the singles semi-final Paddy Walsh was beaten by Clare’s John Kirby by 5-21, 12-21
Results: All-Ireland 60 x 30 Championships semi-finals
Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann (Sligo) bt Pat Ryan (Tipperary) 10-21, 21-12, 21-19.
Ruby Masters A singles: Paddy Walsh (Sligo) lost to John Kirby ( Clare) 5-21, 12-21
Sligo’s doubles pairs to topple Tipperary
There is more handball action this weekend closer to home and Sligo are involved in 2 more All-Ireland handball championships this time in the doubles. Francis McCann fresh from his outstanding singles win in Tipperary last weekend teams up with Collooney’s Hugh McGarry as they go in search for a place in the final. McCann & McGarry have been playing together for the past number of years without success. Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry bt Mayo’s Padraig Geraghty & Jimmy Staunton 21-5, 21-15 in the Connacht final. McGarry the Collooney handball Chairman an All-Ireland medal winner with Connell Cannon back in 1996 will be hoping to go all the way in 2011. Both McGarry & McCann have trained well with recent weeks with tough practise matches against the likes of Dave Mulhern & Shane Bruen. McGarry was the match winner in the Connacht final and if he can produce that same form again the duo have an excellent chance of reaching the final.
In the other semi-final Michael McMorrow & John McLoughlin face Eamon Spillane & Gerry Foley also Tipperary. The Sligo men had a facile 21-6, 21-3 win over Pat Hayes & Jimmy Sheridan in the Provincial final but the Tipperary men will no doubt put up a stronger test. McMorrow & McLoughlin will need to play their best handball of the year if they are send the Tipperary men packing out of the championships.
All-Ireland 60 x 30 championships semi-finals Sunday August 28th, in Collooney, Sligo, at 2pm
Emerald Masters B Doubles: Sligo (Michael McMorrow/John McLoughlin) v Tipperary (Eamon Spillane/Gerry Foley)
Golden Masters A Doubles: Sligo (Francis McCann/Hugh McGarry) v Tipperary(Tony O'Flaherty/Pat Griffin)
Connacht Juvenile A 60 x 30 championships finals
Earlis & Harte Connacht Champions
Boys U-15 doubles final: Stanley Harte & Jason Earlis (Sligo) bt Alan Kelly & Nathan Massey (Mayo) 11-15, 15-8, 11-2
Girls U-14 Singles Final Aoife Quinn (Sligo) lost to Fiona Tully (Roscommon) 0-15, 2-15
The County’s handball Juvenile stars are also grabbing the headlines with Stanley Harte (Collooney) and Jason Earlis (Castleconnor) teaming up to secure the Connacht Juvenile A championships U-15 doubles title in Killala last Saturday. The Sligo teenagers did it the hard way with Mayo taking the opening game. Earlis & Harte hit back strongly taking the next 2 by 15-8, 11-2. It was an impressive overall team display. The duo have little time to celebrate as they travel to the Hospital Club in Limerick on Saturday to play the All-Ireland Juvenile semi-finals against Waterford’s Jamie Joyce & Ciaran O’Neill. Castleconnor’s Marianna Foody has a difficult assignment as she faces Kerry’s Anna Prendeville in the Girls 15 singles.
All-Ireland Juvenile Championships 60 x 30 semi-finals
Saturday August 27th in Hospital Co. Limerick at 12 noon.
Girls 15 Singles: Marianna Foody (Sligo) v Anna Prendeville
Boys 15 Doubles: Stanley Harte & Jason Earlis (Sligo) v Jamie Joyce & Ciaran O’Neill (Waterford)
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