Happy Christmas from Sligo Handball

 

On behalf of the Sligo Handball Board I would like to wish all handball players at home and abroad a very happy christmas and for a prosperous and sporting 2013

 

 

Merry Christmas - Michael McGee P.R.O. Sligo Handball Board

Irish Handball Review of 2012 by Michael McGee

Irish Handball review of 2012 by Michael McGee

Irish Handball Clar 2013

Calendar of events for 2013

Sligo Handball Board AGM

 

The Annual General Meeting of the Sligo Handball Board took place in the St. Mary’s G.A.A Club meetings rooms in Kent Park on Wednesday evening last. And in a big attendance outgoing Secretary Michael McGee in his report to Convention recalled a successful and busy year in Sligo Handball.  Outgoing Chairman Peter Chambers welcomed everyone to the AGM and in particular to Cyril Feehily Sligo G.A.A Chairman who was attending his second AGM of the Handball Board.

Cyril Feehily addressed the meeting and was very happy to receive the invitation to attend the AGM.  In his speech the Co. Board chairman said that handball is a very important member of the G.A.A. family.  The Chairman is appointed to the new Croke Park integration Committee.  He stated that G.A.A President Liam O’Neill wants to bring all the committees together.  The second phase of the Centre of Excellence will be starting and the Chairman said that we should look for 1 wall court to be put in place in the new centre.  He congratulated all the Connacht handball winners and wished the new Committee well in the coming year.

Secretary’s Report:

In a comprehensive and detailed report Michael McGee read out the report for 2012 which ran to 23 pages in length. In his report he congratulated all provincial winners 15 in total.

Juveniles

 He praised the Juvenile coaches in clubs the likes of Martin Golden, Francis McCann, John Cawley, Oisin Quinn, Tom Foody, Shane Bruen, Stanley Harte, Paddy Walsh, Mick Kelly whom he described as the unsung heroes in Sligo Handball for their dedication throughout the year coaching their young members in Clubs. The Juvenile sections continue to make progress with Aoife Quinn Castleconnor getting to 2 All-Ireland Girls U-15 singles final in the year. Jason Earlis also from the Castleconnor club won a Connacht title and is making steady progress. A new club has started in Tubbercurry with John Cawley a teacher in the Holy Family N.S. to the fore.  In May he brought a group of 21 pupils and teachers to Biecz in southern Poland for a schools exchange and demonstrated the one-wall game. John is assisted by Padraig Maye and All-Ireland handball champion and also a Masters champion in athletics.

Collooney new development

The turning of the sod in the Collooney club was one of the highlights of the year in which TG4 also attended.   Eight members from Sligo took part in the World Handball championships with Oisin Quinn reaching the semi finals of the Golden Masters Doubles one-wall event. Oisin’s son Odhran played in 2 quarter finals and Ballymote’s Francis McCann also played in the quarter finals of the Golden Masters 1 wall category.

Sponsorship

 Prior to playing in the world handball championships the team was kitted out with new jerseys sponsored by the Radisson Hotel in Sligo. Chairman Peter Chambers thanked Fergus O’ Donovan for the generous sponsorship of Sligo handball. It is the first time Sligo handball received sponsorship and Peter Chambers was also instrumental in this.

St. Mary’s won the team league title their second in three years with a final defeat of Castleconnor in the closest league in years. Castleconnor organised the Gerard Jones Tournament where 12 doubles team took part.  Young players like Stanley Harte Jnr, Patrick Fox & Barry McLoughlin all fared well.  As it turned out Patrick Fox teamed up with Leitrim’s Martin Raftery who win the Cup.

The Secretary thanked all the Officers for their diligent & hard work throughout the year.

Finance Report:

Peter Chambers read out the Treasurers report showing a healthy balance sheet at the end of the year.  The All-Ireland tickets draw brought in over €2000 in funding. Peter thanked all the ticket sellers, contributors who made it a success. 

Juvenile Report

Francis Mc Cann Juvenile Officer thanked all the Clubs that take part in County, provincial and All-Ireland competitions. And he thanked the parents for bringing the children to games.  He congratulated all the various winners.  The Juvenile Officer looks forward to seeing the likes of Jason Earlis representing the County at minor & at U-21 level where for many years Sligo had no representatives at all. Mc Cann complimented Aoife Quinn on her progress to two All-Ireland finals at U-15 level and to her coach and Dad Oisin who has worked hard in getting Aoife prepared for the All-Ireland championships. Mary Foody also congratulated on winning the U-13 B title. The Castleconnor club as McCann stated “is a club we really depend on for representation.”  The Juvenile B championships wasn’t well supported by some county’s but it was great for Ballymote with Jonathon Devanney & Padraig O’ Dowd all recording provincial titles in their home court. Vincent & Diarmuid Harte, Rachel Foody & Catrionia Swift also won Connacht titles.

P.R.O. Report

Michael McGee thanked all the media Sligo Champion, Sligo Weekender, Hoganstand, Into the West, Sligo News today, Ocean Fm and to Sligo G.A.A for the use of its website.  The PRO thanked Gerry O’ Connor Sligo G.A.A PRO for the many articles he published in the league match programmes throughout the year especially a 2 page article in  the Football final programme on the world handball championships.  Michael also thanked all the people who text, rang in results to him for the press/radio.

Chairman’s Address

Peter Chambers in his address welcomed Cyril Feehily Sligo G.A.A Chairman to the meeting.  He asked that the Sligo G.A.A. take an even greater interest in the sport and give us some financial support and also integrate us into the bigger G.A.A family.

We had great success this year especially at underage level collecting 10 Connacht titles. “This is testimony to the great work done throughout the county by our coaches.”  He asked for more support for the Tubbercurry club and thanked John Cawley and Padraig Maye for their great work in promoting handball in Tubbercurry.  The sod turning in Collooney was one of the highlights of the year and he spoke for many present ”we won’t rest until that facility is completed.”  Our facilities need to be improved in order to make them suitable for major tournaments and inter county fixtures.  Castleconnor were congratulated in completing phase 1 of their development plans as was Collooney with work already completed in its playing court.

Peter thanked the Radisson Hotel namely Fergus O’Donovan for the generous sponsorship. 

Hugh McGarry Collooney Club Chairman spoke about Collooney Handball Club. “The Collooney site belongs to the Collooney club but the facility belongs to the County. In reality we could do with more help he said. The facility will cost in the region of €180,000 to build.  We have to finance it 90% ourselves.  The €25 million lottery funding will go to the bigger cities he felt and there was a huge volume from Sligo that also applied including 3 handball clubs. The most he was expecting was €10,000 anything more would be a miracle.  The Collooney club are relying on members who put in €5 euro a week and there is the weekly bingo on Thursday evenings.” He asked if any handball members that would be free to come and help out the Bingo they would be very welcome.  “The centre will be for the young generation and children not born yet. The Club chairman pointed out it will a facility for not just Collooney, but for the County and would be seen as a centre of excellence within the county, where all County handball players will be able to use the new court.”

Various other topics was discussed player included registrations came up with the new fees being announced from Croke Park . Tubbercurry’s John Cawley along with other delegates was not happy with registrations fee’s applying to Juveniles for the first time. Already the handball players are members of the local G.A.A Club stated John and it is not fair to have to ask the parents for registration fees for them to play handball as well and not to mention to having to pay for the use of the St. Brigid’s Hall, purchase of gloves, goggles, insurance etc.

Any clubs wishing to organise a tournament must fill in a request form and return it to Croke Park for insurance purposes. The Co. Board G.A.A Chairman asked that the handball board arrange a meeting with the new finance committee and he offered his “unconditional support” to the handball board in its request for funding.

Election of Officers took place

Chairman: Shane Bruen  (Collooney)

Proposed by: Peter Chambers

Seconded by: Tom Foody

Fixtures Secretary: Mark Murphy (Castleconnor)

Secretary:  Connell Cannon (St. Mary’s)

Proposed by: Peter Chambers

Seconded by: Oisin Quinn

Treasurer: Oisin Quinn (Castleconnor)

Proposed by:  Peter Chambers

Seconded by: Hugh McGarry

P.R.O. Michael McGee (Collooney)

Proposed by: Micheal Jones

Seconded by: Tom Foody

Juvenile Officer: Francis McCann (Ballymote)

Proposed by:   Micheal Jones

Seconded by: Tom Foody

Handball Delegate to G.A.A Board meetings:  Peter Chambers (St. Mary’s)

Proposed by: Shane Bruen

Seconded by Connell Cannon

Connacht Handball Council Representative: Aoife McDonagh Sligo I.T.

Proposed by:  Connell Cannon

Seconded by Tom Foody

Connacht Convention: Shane Bruen & Peter Chambers

Delegates to National Congress:  Shane Bruen, Hugh McGarry & Connell Cannon

 

Cyril Feehily Sligo G.A.A Chairman receiving handball Calendar from Shane Bruen Co. Handball Board Chairman

 

Sligo Handball Board Committee for 2013 back row left to right: Francis McCann, Aoife McDonagh, Peter Chambers & Michael McGee. Front row: Oisin Quinn, Shane Bruen Co. Chairman and Connell Cannon

Ballymote delegates Martin Golden, Francis McCann & John Cawley

 

 Joe Gorman, Aoife McDonagh & Micheal Jones

 Shane Bruen & Hugh McGarry Collooney

 Peter Chambers on right outgoing Chairman congratulating Shane Bruen the new Chairman of the Sligo Handball Board

 

Tom Foody, Micheal Jones, Joe Gorman & Oisin Quinn all Castleconnor delegates

 Co. Executive for 2013 Oisin Quinn Treasurer. Shane Bruen Co. Chairman and Connell Cannon Co. Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sligo Handball Year 2012 by Michael McGee

The Sligo Handball Year 2012 – by Michael McGee

Ten juvenile Connacht titles, five at adult level. An eight member team take part in World handball championships in Citywest. Oisin Quinn a semi-finalist in Golden Masters doubles. Collooney handball club turn the sod for its new 40 x 20 handball court.  Some of the highlights in another busy year in Sligo Handball.

Browne & Bruen bow out of Connacht handball championships

 Castleconnor’s Michael Browne had the honour of starting Sligo’s 2012 handball campaign in the 2012 Connacht handball championships. Unfortunately after a sluggish start and a spirited comeback in the second game the Castleconnor star left it late against Mayo’s Gearoid Hughes in the Junior B singles eventually going down in straight games. Collooney’s Michael Bruen suffered the same fate at the hands of Mayo’s Dave Corrigan in the Junior C singles.Sligo’s Francis McCann & Shane Bruen took part in the Pake Doyle Cup doubles tournament in Curraghboy Roscommon on New Year’s Day and finished runners up in the plate final.  Mark Murphy fell to Mayo’s Michael Ginley in the Masters B singles while Junior B & C pairings Colin &Clive Slevin and Tom Tuffy & Michael Jones all fell at the first hurdle.

  St Mary’s hosted two Connacht semi-finals in the singles on Saturday 14^th January last. Martin Golden in the Silver Masters B singles should have made it to the final and was within a whisker of doing so. The Ballymote man was up against Roscommon’s Shane Noonan. It was a terrific close contest throughout. Martin was leading 20-17 in the first game, but let it slip and Noonan took advantage and stole the game from Martin 21-20. Martin made up for it in the second taking it 21-14 after making the better start gaining 10 points without reply. Noonan got off to a great start in the tie breaker in front by 11-3 and Martin was playing catch up to keep in the contest. Amazingly he drew level at 16 & again at 17 and then went in front by 19-17 and looked to close it out. Yet again Noonan conjured up an unlikely win and got the last 4 points to steal it. It was Martin Golden’s best performance that I have seen from him in years but he was left to rue what might have been and missed chances especially in game one cost him dearly in the end. Francis McCann after a very successful 2011 began the new season with an opener against Roscommon’s Ger Walsh in the Golden Masters A singles and he got off to a proverbial flyer. Turbo charged he swept Walsh aside winning game one by 21-9. Walsh is a fine handball player himself and he turned the tables on our All-Star by 21-15. Francis McCann in the tiebreak made no mistake. It was all McCann in the third and his greater work rate, energy and finishing all over the court proved too much for a gallant Walsh. McCann’s lung bursting display and greater fitness proved decisive in the end taking the tiebreak by 21-9.  The following day the Over 35 B singles semi-final was played and resulted in a facile 21-2, 21-1 win for Sligo’s Shane Bruen. Bruen’s opponent Leitrim’s Maurice O’Donnell tried hard but Bruen held all the aces on his way to a runaway success.

Sligo were away in the doubles semi-finals v Roscommon. In the Emerald Masters B doubles Michael McMorrow & Connell Cannon made the long journey to Curraghboy but just came up short. Final score was 19-21, 15-21. Silver Masters B doubles pairing of Tom Foody & Larry Jones also met the same fate in Clooncan by 6-21, 8-21. The Over 35 B doubles of Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy fared better when sealing a good 21-8, 21-5 win over Leitrim Maurice O’Donnell & Joel Smith.

Handball Legend wins Irish & British Athletics championships titles

Padraig Maye at just 71 representing Ballina A.C and a former All-Ireland handball champion won 4 gold medals at the Masters Athletics indoors championships in Nenagh in late January. Maye won Gold in high jump, long jump 8.91 metres, Shot putt 3.60 m, 60 m in a time of 10.24 seconds. Maye returned with 2 Gold medals from the British Masters Athletics championships which were held in Lee Valley London over the St. Patrick’s Weekend. The septuagenarian landed a distance of 3.92 metres in the long jump and 8.29 metres in the triple jump that was good enough to claim both British titles. I want to congratulate Padraig on his many achievements in athletics, and also in handball over an outstanding sporting career.

St. Mary’s Michael McMorrow was first to taste Connacht final action when playing in the Emerald Masters singles final. Unfortunately for Mick he went lost out to Joe Neary in Lisacaul by 21-6. 21-9. Francis McCann received a special presentation from the Ballymote club following his successes in 2011. Four young members of the Juvenile club made the presentation which Francis was delighted and very grateful to receive the award from the club.

Sligo handball success as 2 Connacht 40 x 20 titles won at adult level

Francis McCann Golden Masters A singles & Shane Bruen Over 35 B singles travelled to Curraghboy for the provincial finals. McCann & Galway’s Martin Conneely have had terrific battles over the years and this year’s encounter was no different. The Ballymote man took the opening game 21-13 but the tribesman levelled it in the second. The tie breaker proved a cliff hanger with both players going all out for the win. At the death Francis just got over the finishing line after another battle and a half winning it by a solitary point 21-20 after 3 absorbing games. Shane Bruen involvement in the Over 35 B singles ended when he was defeated by Galway’s Trevor Hannon by 21-17, 21-11. Seamus Duffy Diamond Masters A lost to Mayo’ Martin Cronin 21-5, 21-8 and Drumcliffe’s Mickey Brennan suffered the same fate in the Diamond Masters B singles final to Galway’s Gerry O’ Fatharta by 21-2, 21-2. Peter Chambers in the Golden Masters B singles lost out to Galway’s Denis Phelan by 21-11, 21-9.  Roscommon was the venue for the doubles finals involving Sligo. The Over 35 B doubles final proved a cracker with Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy playing their part in an thrilling final winning in 3 games by 21-19, 20-21, 21-17. Seamus Duffy & Pat O’Sullivan were beaten in the re arranged Connacht Diamond Masters A doubles title with Roscommon’s Noel Raftery & Seamus McHugh by 21-8, 21-12.  Eamon Bellew & Ken Cunningham were beaten by Mike Corcoran & Willie Shaughnessy Galway by 9-21, 12-21 in the Diamond Masters B doubles final

Fox & Raftery race to Castleconnor doubles victory

Collooney’s Patrick Fox & Drumshanbo’s Martin Raftery made up a winning combination as the duo went all the way to secure the 2012 Gerard Jones Memorial Perpetual handball doubles tournament on Sunday 30^th January last in Castleconnor. The event is held in the honour of Gerard Jones who was tragically killed in a farming accident in 1990. This year’s tournament had 12 doubles teams with players from Leitrim, Mayo & Sligo taking part.  It was great to see the county’s young players like Stanley Harte Jnr, Patrick Fox, Barry McLoughlin all putting in great performances. The plate final was won by Mark Murphy & Colin Conlon who defeated Tom Foody & Joe Gorman by 31-12. Murphy was a colossus in court and with his powerful left hand and swift feet was the main difference. In the Gerard Jones Memorial Cup final Collooney’s Patrick Fox & Leitrim’s Martin Raftery went all the way defeating another Leitrim man Leo Logan & Micheal Jones from Castleconnor by 31-12.   The win will do wonders for Fox and already he is showing great maturity. Just like Barry McLoughlin winning last year the future looks good for Sligo handball with these young stars emerging and who will bring the County forward in the next number of years. As it turned out Martin Raftery turned on the style and with Patrick Fox clearly enjoying the contest the duo paved their way for a memorable 31-12 win.  The Castleconnor club deserve all the  praise for organising the top class tournament each year in every aspect.

St.  Mary’s reach summit

St. Mary’s overcame the strong challenge from Castleconnor A by 80-71 to become Sligo Handball 40 x 20 league champions for 2012. St. Mary’s, Kent Park hosted the final on Wednesday 29^th February last. Six teams entered in this year’s St. Mary’s, Collooney, Castleconnor A & B teams, Drumcliffe and Sligo I.T. It proved to be a great success giving teams vital competitive games. It was also the closest league in years with St. Mary’s, Castleconnor A & Drumcliffe all finishing with 5 wins each.  With the highest overall scores St. Mary’s & Castleconnor reached the final. For Castleconnor to reach the final they had to defeat St. Mary’s in their last round match this they did 82-66. 

It didn’t look good for the Saints when Castleconnor’s Michael Browne & Tom Tuffy hit the ground running and into a huge 18-7 lead. After this sluggish start St. Mary’s Paddy Wash & Seamus Duffy came more into the contest. The inspirational Walsh & Duffy began reeling in Castleconnor’s big lead and almost caught the Castleconnor men when only going down by 21-18. Tom Tuffy’s lightning reflexes ignited Castleconnor and his positional awareness in front court gave St. Mary’s plenty to think about. Walsh & Duffy turned the tables in the 2^nd with an 18-10 lead Castleconnor responded well and reeled of 8 points in a row. The St. Mary’s duo got the next 3 scores to level the match at 39 points each.

St. Mary’s second doubles pairing of Peter Chambers & Michael McMorrow took on Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy & Tom Foody.  Chambers & McMorrow’s greater team play paved the way for overall victory. Chambers played his best handball in recent months while McMorrow was rock solid on the right. Murphy’s strong play did give the eventual champions plenty to think about with a physically imposing performance.   In a thrilling match all four players demonstrated great skills.  The St. Mary’s duo as the game unfolded had the little bit more court craft and creativity.  Despite a determined fight back from Castleconnor, St. Mary’s champions in 2010 had the more cohesive play and that was enough to take the match and the title by 21-14, 21-17 and overall by 80-71.  Sligo Handball Chairman Peter Chambers presented the winners & runners-up with their trophies My thanks to all clubs that participated and to the St. Mary’s club that provided refreshments after the final. It was good to see both clubs wearing their club shirts for the post match photos.

Francis McCann made the long journey to Gort na Mona in Belfast to take on Antrim’s Thomas Maguire in the Golden Masters A singles semi-final.  The Ballymote man was taken to 3 games and in an exciting contest McCann won the tie breaker to reach the final on a scoreline of 21-17, 17-21, 21-12.

Bruen & Murphy & McCann into All-Ireland final
Sligo’s Mark Murphy & Shane Bruen qualified for the Over-35 B doubles All-Ireland final following their straight sets victory over Tyrone’s Seamus & Eamonn McCrory played in Beragh Co. Tyrone.  The Sligo players took a while to settle but once they did they were the better team.   In a close first game the Sligo men after a sluggish start gained control and won a close first game by 21-14.  The second game the Yeats men were in total control and dominated and ran out comfortable winners in the end by 21-2. 

Francis McCann made the long journey to Gort na Mona in Belfast to take on Antrim’s Thomas Maguire in the Golden Masters A singles semi-final.  The Ballymote man was taken to 3 games and in an exciting contest McCann won the tie breaker to reach the final on a scoreline of 21-17, 17-21, 21-12.

Sligo were represented at the 2012 National Handball Congress which was held in the Landmark Hotel Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday March 18^th last by Peter Chambers, Hugh McGarry & Michael McMorrow

Final defeat for Francis McCann

There was no joy for Sligo’s Francis McCann in the Golden Masters Singles final.  A troublesome calf injury picked up in the week prior to the final severely hampered the Ballymote’s man chances against Michael Dowling. McCann who didn’t play in last year’s 40 x 20 championships found his final opponent in unstoppable form.  Despite bravely fighting his way back into both games the Kildare man finished the stronger winning by 21-12, 21-7.

Francis Boylan wins Ocean FM handball final

I was delighted to organise the novel handball challenge between 2 presenters on the Lazy afternoon show Leitrim Francis Boylan & Sligo’s David Murtagh with the help of Darragh Cox Ocean FM’s sports chief. In the days leading up to the final the event received widespread publicity from national websites. The final was played in Collooney on Thursday 29^th March and it proved an outstanding success. Ocean FM got fully behind the idea and on the day Darragh Cox was everywhere conducting interviews during the game. Leitrim’s Francis Boylan won the event but only after a determined fight back from David Murtagh.  The lads created so much excitement it nearly lifted the roof off the Collooney court. I will certainly be organising this event in 2013.

Collooney sod turning ceremony

 Collooney officially turned the sod for its new handball court on Friday May 18^th last. TG4 camera crew were in Sligo that day.  In what seemed like the entire Collooney turned out to witness the sod turning and 1 wall games. Hugh McGarry Club Chairman, Peter Chambers Co. Handball Chairman and Cyril Feehily delivered the speeches. Peter & Hugh’s speeches were off the highest order well thought out and delivered exceptionally. I can still hear Hugh McGarry’s last line of his rousing speech when he said “Is feidir linn, stick with us and we will do it.” The court was in pristine condition with thanks to Johnny Muldowney, Robert Walsh & Dermot Harte who worked very hard in ensuring the court looking so well. Francis Boylan defeated colleague David Murtagh in the Ocean FM handball rematch by 23-20. Thomas Healy beat Johnny Banks in the celebrity final by 26-19. The TG4 camera crew were on hand to record the entire event beginning with interviews in the Ocean FM studios and the sod turning in Collooney. Michael Flynn & Maureen Mullin had the honour of turning the first sod for the new court.

Oisin Quinn took part in the Mount Talbot one-wall tournament and lost out to the eventual winner Niall McCormack in the Men’s Challenger section.

Sligo 60 x 30 season

Sligo’s Connacht 60 x 30 season began in earnest with home fixtures in the singles v Roscommon/Leitrim on Saturday/Sunday June 23-24^th last. Unfortunately all 4 representatives lost out. Peter Chambers put up a brave defense against Leitrim’s Eddie Lee and with a little more potency could have caused a major shock. In the end the Leitrim man won out on a scoreline of 21-14, 21-15.  Shane Bruen gave a spirited display against Roscommon’s Billy Kelly. The opening game was very even with Kelly just shading it by 21-17. In the 2^nd Kelly’s greater fitness came to the fore and he surged well clear to win by 21-5 in the second. Castleconnor’ Mark Murphy took on Martin Conroy of Roscommon and had chances to win it. Conroy a left hander like mark had an accurate high serve that bounced off the right side wall and landing in Mark’s left corner. Mark was unable to counteract this to a great extent. Still the Castleconnor man could have taken the 1^st game but narrowly going down by 21-18. Things didn’t improve in the second as the Roscommon took a seizable lead. Mark put in a late fight but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Roscommon man winning 21-10 in the second. Peter Davey in the Emerald Masters singles lost out to the stronger James Coughlin of Roscommon. Despite an encouraging first game Peter faded in the second as Coughlin ran out a comfortable winner by 21-14, 21-4. The only player to make an impression came from an unlikely source in Oxfield’s Colin Slevin. Known more of a 40 x 20 player Colin defeated Roscommon’s Liam O’Ceallaigh in a refixed Junior C singles and it was the Oxfield man that reached the Connacht final with an 21-12, 21-17 win. Tom Foody & Joe Gorman were the only doubles pairing having to play their semi-final match and they came through on a score line of 21-11, 21-14.

Oisin Quinn took part in the One-Wall nationals in Citywest but was beaten in the Silver Masters B singles tie.

Connacht titles for Cooney & McCann

Castleconnor’s Martin Cooney made a welcome return to competitive action following a long layoff due to injury. In the Silver  Masters B singles final Cooney proved too strong for Mayo’s George Miller by 21-6, 21-13. Francis McCann showed his undoubted class when winning the Connacht Golden Masters A singles title. McCann was taken to three games by Mayo’s Martin Vahey in a high tempo match. The Ballymote man took the opening game by 21-9. Vahey hit back in the second with some impressive play. In the tie breaker McCann’s relentless work rate finally broke the Mayo man’s spirited challenge. McCann took a firm grip on proceedings thereafter only allowing the Mayo man one point in the third. In 3 other finals involving Sligo players all went down to Mayo opponents. Oxfield’s Colin Slevin will have to wait at least another year before having a crack at winning his first Connacht 60 x 30 title following a straight sets defeat to Mayo’s Eamon Higgins. Mick McMorrow step up to the A grade proved too much against the experienced Kevin Geraghty. 

GAA Handball introduction to Cul Camps a success
On Thursday June 28^th last in the Collooney handball court over 25 young Sligo G.A.A Coaches led by Liam Og Gormley, Sligo GAA games manager attended a handball introduction course. It proved an outstanding success. Peter Chambers Sligo GAA Handball County Chairman welcomed all the Coaches to Collooney and spoke on handball.  Michael McGee Co. Secretary demonstrated a number of handball drills. Afterwards Shane Bruen, Stanley Harte Jnr, Peter Chambers & Connell Cannon gave exhibitions in the one-wall & 60 x 30 code with many of the coaches participating in the games and a number of them  showing a flair for handball. I thank Peter, Shane Bruen , Stanley Harte Jnr & Connell Cannon for helping to make it a wonderful success.

In the doubles finals 3 matches were played in Williamstown on Friday 13^th July and it proved unlucky 13 for the trio of teams. In the Golden Masters A doubles Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry were beaten by Mayo’s Martin Vahey & John Staunton. It has to be said that Francis hurt his back in the hours before the game and this seriously hampered their chances of victory. Mayo won in straight games. The Emerald Masters A doubles pairing of John McLoughlin & Mick McMorrow never got going in their encounter with favourites Kevin Geraghty & Martin Cronin and fell to a heavy defeat against the Mayo men. The Silver Masters B doubles pairing of Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte played with a great deal of pride and “Heart” but even that was not good enough. Peter & Stanley took the second game to bring it to a tie breaker but couldn’t keep the momentum going in the third and Joe Cummins & John Conroy finished the stronger.

Cooney, McCann & Walsh in All-Ireland handball finals

Sligo’s Martin Cooney & Francis McCann qualified for the  in All-Ireland handball finals following comfortable victory’s in semi-finals  played in Ballymote on Saturday 28^TH July last. As expected Cooney in the Silver Masters B singles had a facile win on Down’s Sean McNally in the opening contest.
Local hero Francis McCann had a whirlwind start in his Golden Masters A Singles against Monaghan’s Conor McDonnell. Although McDonnell made a game off it in the second Francis always looks assured as he paved his way to the win and the place in the final. Paddy Walsh got through to meet Dublin’s Mick O’Brien in the Over 70 final.

Heartbreak for Sligo handball players in All-Ireland finals

There was no joy for Sligo players in 4 All-Ireland finals. On Saturday 18^TH August last in Ballymoe Roscommon Paddy Walsh lost out to Dublin’s Mick O’ Brien in the final of the Over 70’s while reigning champion in the Golden Masters grade Francis Mc Cann met Kildare’s Michael Dowling for the 2^nd time this year in an All-Ireland final.  In an pulsating match that ebbed and flowed throughout both players had periods of dominance.  Dowling took the all important first game by the minimum 21-20.  McCann had to chase the 2^nd game but as with the 40 x 20 final last March Dowling held firm despite McCann’s valiant comeback that just fell short.   Dowling edged out in front in game 2 and held it to the finish taking it by 21-15.

The following day in Williamstown Galway Castleconnor club man Martin Cooney was expected to do well against Limerick’s John Frazer.  However it was the Limerick man that made the better use of chances that came his way that ultimately led to victory for the Treaty man.  Frazer took an early 8-1 lead but Cooney hit back in tremendous form reeling off a number of great winning scores. Cooney was within 5 points of Frazer at 10-15 however the Munster champion gained the next six scores to take game one.   Cooney had the better start in game two going into an 8-2 lead and looked on course that he could take that second game. Frazer rallied strongly and drew level at 12-12.  A determined Cooney pushed out in front again by 17-14 but the Limerick man showed great resilience when drawing level at 17 & 18. It turned out to be a terrific contest. It was to prove the Limerick man’s day as he scored the next 3 winners to claim victory from the clutches of the Castleconnor club man in the end by 21-18.

Sponsorship
This year the Sligo handball was sponsored by the Radisson Hotel in Sligo. And I want to thank Fergus O’ Donovan Hotel Manager who generously sponsored handball in the County.  It is great to have at last a sponsor such as the Radisson on Board.  Also County handball chairman Peter Chambers must be complimented on achieving this.

World handball championships

Franccis McCann quarter-finalist in Golden Masters while Odhran Quinn reaches 2 quarter finals & Dad Oisin is a semi-finalist in World handball championships

Eight players from the County took part in this year’s World handball championships that took place in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Overall 2,000 players from 33 countries took part last month. The games took place in the specially built arena in the convention centre that comprised 13 40 x 20 courts and 8 one-wall courts.  For the record  Shane Bruen, Francis McCann, Gavin Cawley and the Quinn family Odhran, Oisin & Aoife all took part. Odhran Quinn reached 2 quarter-finals the U-13 singles & doubles 1-wall events and much to look forward to in the years ahead. Dad Oisin did even better by reaching the semi-finals of the Golden Masters 1 wall doubles. Oisin teamed up with Joacquin Murphy as the duo reached the semi-finals a great achievement for the veteran Castleconnor player. Francis Mc Cann reached the quarter finals of the Mens One-Wall Golden Masters. I congratulate all the Sligo players who took part in the championships.  It was a great experience for them all taking on the world’s best and hopefully in 3 years time we will have a world handball champion or two from the County.

Juveniles:

Three Connacht titles for Sligo in 40 x 20

In the Colleges U-17 doubles Jason Earlis & Shane Wright Jesus & Mary College Enniscrone qualified for the final as did Stanley Harte U-17 singles and Tommy Trill & Adam McGoldrick Boys U-19 doubles.  However both were beaten in provincial deciders.

Cuman na mbunscoil.

The Cumann na mbunscoil was held in Roscommon and in the U-13 singles Rachel Foody Stokane N.S. won a bronze medal for the 2^nd year in a row. In the Boys U-13 Michael Cahill & James Boland in their first competitive games did well.

Connacht title for Castleconnor’s Jason Earlis
Jason Earlis overcame the challenge posed by Mayo’s Conor Burke to qualify for the semi-final. Castlebar was the venue for the Connacht finals. Earlis was pushed all the way but with an extraordinary engine fought back from a game down to take the second narrowly by 21-18.  In an exciting tie breaker the Sligo teenager kept his composure & sealed a narrow tie- breaker victory by 11-8 to qualify for the last four.
The U-17 doubles pairing of Shane Wright & Patrick Fox came within 2 points of reaching the All-Ireland semi-final.  Having lost the first game the Castleconnor/Collooney combination played the better handball forcing a tie breaker.  After an energy sapping 3 games the Sligo lads succumb to a late Mayo rally.
Sligo Barry McLoughlin & Stanley involvement in this year’s 40 x 20 U-16 doubles championships came to an end in Castlebar when going under to a stronger Mayo pairing of T.J. Byrne & Shane Walsh. Despite giving their all the Mayo lads with the better team work held on for victory.
Castleconnor’s Aoife Quinn received a bye in the Girls U-15 singles and goes forward to represent Sligo in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Results Connacht Juvenile 40 x 20 finals
Boys U-16 singles: Jason Earlis (Sligo)  bt Conor Burke (Mayo) 17-21, 21-18, 11-8
Boys U-17 Doubls: Shane Wright & Patrick Fox (Sligo)  lost  to Gerard Sheridan & Thomas Walsh (Mayo) 15-21, 21-16, 9-21.
Girls U-15 Singles:  Aoife Quinn (Sligo) v Adhna Ni Bhraonain (Galway).  Quinn Received a bye
BU16D  Barry McLoughlin, Stanley Harte (Sligo) lost to T.J. Byrne & Shane Walsh (Mayo) 15-21, 12-21

Quinn in final

Castleconnor’s Aoife Quinn qualified for the All-Ireland girls U-15 singles final following a hard fought 3 set battle with Armagh’s Kaitlin Flevelle. It didn’t look good for the Sligo starlet after losing the first game to the Ulster champion.  In the next two games Quinn powered her way to the final with a decisive 2 game winning salvo to propel her into the final.

 Sligo’s thought of a double evaporated in Loughmacrory. Castleconnor’s Jason Earlis found his opponent Eugene McGeough in imperious form. The Castleconnor Club player started in confident mood taking the first game by 21-13.  Earlis took a heavy fall in the second game and had to take 8 minutes out to recover. He bravely played on in the last two games still clearly hampered by the injury. At the end he received a standing ovation for his efforts.

All-Ireland Juvenile 40 x 20  semi-finals in Loughmacrory Co. Tyrone

Results: Girls U-15 Singles: Aoife Quinn Sligo dft  Kaitlin Flevelle Armagh 12-15, 15-9, 15-10
Boys U-16 Singles: Jason Earlis (Sligo)  lost to  Eugene McGeough Monaghan 21-13, 6-21, 3-21.

Final anguish for Aoife Quinn
Aoife Quinn’s attempt for an historic first Juvenile A handball title for Sligo ended in disappointment following her 15-10, 15-5 defeat to Cork’s Katie Fleming. The finals were played in O’Loughlin’s Kilkenny. The Castleconnor club star gave her all in a brave bid to become champion. Cork’s Katie Fleming more clinical finishing play proved decisive in what was a close and exciting encounter. 

Sligo Juvenile 40 x 20 championships results

U-11 Singles final: Paul Leydon Oxfield bt Daire Barrins Castleconnor 15-2, 15-14
U12 Singles final: Vincent Harte Collooney bt Diarmuid Harte Collooney 15-6, 13-15, 15-5
U-13 Singles: Odhran Quinn Castleconnor bt Michael Cahill Castleconnor 15-7, 15-4
U-14 Singles: Brendan Foody Castleconnor dft Jonathon Devaney Ballymote 15-5, 15-5

Six Sligo teams defeat Leitrim in Connacht B championships

Sligo were away to neighbours Leitrim in the Connacht Juvenile B 40 x 20 championships quarter- finals played in Drumshanbo Sligo defeated neighbours Leitrim in 6 out of the 9 contests am.

Boys U-11 Singles: Paul Leyton Sligo lost to Cormac Scollan (Leitrim) 3-15, 3-15.

 Boys U-11 Doubles: Jack Branley & Dara Barrins (Sligo) lost to Fergal & Eoin McLoughlin (Leitrim) 3-15, 3-15
Boys U-12 Singles: Vincent Harte (Sligo) lost to  Oisin McLoughlin (Leitrim)10-15, 11-15
Boys U-12 Doubles: Diarmuid Harte & Arron Bruen (Sligo)   dft Tom McKeon & Caolin McDermott (Leitrim) 15-7, 15-7
Boys U-13 Singles: Odhran Quinn (Sligo)  dft David Wrynn (Leitrim) 15-2, 15-3
Boys U-14 Singles Brendan Foody (Sligo)  dft  Aaron McLoughlin (Leitrim) 15-11, 15-5
Boys U-14 Doubles: Jonathan Devanney & Sean Carrabine (Sligo)  dft Conor O’Rourke & Conor Reynolds (Leitrim) 15-10, 15-7
Boys U-15 Singles: Conor Booth (Sligo)  lost to  Michael Wrynn (Leitrim) 12-15, 6-15
Boys U-16 Doubles: Padraig O’Dowd, Sean Golden (Sligo)  dft  Mark Leddy & Mark Quinn 15-3, 11-15, 15-3

Sligo reach 7 Connacht Juvenile 40 X 20 B finals

Lisacaul in Co. Roscommon was the setting for the Connacht Juvenile B semi-finals and Sligo came through in 3 out of the five contests

Boys U-12 Doubles: Diarmud Harte & Aaron Bruen Sligo lost to Conor Fitzmaurice & Harry Kemp (Ros) 15-11, 15-13

Boys U-13 Singles: Odhran Quinn (Sli) dft Oisín Cusack (Ros) 15-5, 15-9
Boys U-13 Doubles:Michael Cahill & Tony Fox (Sligo) lost to  Mark Treacy & Mark Clogher (Ros)  15-14, 15-1.
Boys U-14 singles: Brendan Foody (Sligo) dft Darragh Crawley (Ros) 15-3, 15-3
Boys U14-D: Jonathan Devanney & Sean Carrabine (Sligo) dft Cathal & Sean Groarke (Ros) 15-0, 15-7

Castleconnor’s Mary Foody is Connacht Juvenile B 40 x 20 Champion

Mary Foody was the only winner from Sligo in the Connacht Juvenile B 40 x 20 finals held in Castlebar on the Easter Bank Holiday Monday. Sligo were involved in 7 finals with only Mary Foody emerging as champion.
Boy U-13 Singles:  Odhran Quinn (Sligo) lost to Breannan Mac Donnachadha (Galway) 15-11, 15- 7
Boys U-16 Doubles: Padraig O’ Dowd & Sean Golden (Sligo) lost to Ronan Keane & Ben Murray (Galway) 15-13, 15- 1
Girls U-12 Singles:  Rachel Foody (Sligo) lost to Róisin Gannon (Galway) 15-4, 15- 3
Girls U-13 Singles: Mary Foody (Sligo) dft Rachel Doherty (Mayo) 5-15, 15-7, 15- 1
Girls U-15 Singles: Catrionia Swift (Sligo) lost to Eibhlin Ni Chathain (Galway)  15-2, 15- 1
Boys U-14 Singles:  Brendan Foody (Sligo) lost to John Hanley (Mayo) 15-1, 15- 9
Boys U-14Doubles:  Jonathon Devanney & Sean Carrabine (Sligo) lost to Sean McDonald & Seamus McHugh (Mayo) 15-1, 15- 6

Castleconnor win Sligo Community games finals

The Castleconnor Club won both the Boys U-13 & U-15 Sligo Community games finals. The winning U-13 team consisted of Daire Barrins, Ronan Wilson, Barry Mulderrig & Michael Cahill while the U-15 team were Brendan Foody, Sean Carrabine, Odhran Quinn,  James Bolan & Paul Flynn. Unfortunately in the  Provincial played in Castlebar semi-finals both teams lost out. The U-13’s were beaten by Kilkeevan of Roscommon by 105-39 and the U-15’s fell to Ballinamore Leitrim by 105-69.

John Cawley brings handball to Poland

On Wednesday June 30^th last a group of 21 pupils, parents & teachers from the Holy Family N.S. in Tubbercurry travelled to Biecz a town in southern Poland for a schools exchange. Teacher John Cawley who has started handball in the school demonstrated one wall handball in the Polish School.  Recently John with the help of Padraig Maye have begun handball coaching St. Brigid’ Hall.

Earlis win boys plate final, Quinn finalist in Girls U-16 final in Mount Talbot

The Mount Talbot One-Wall tournament was on the weekend of June 24/25^th last with over 265 taking part. Odhran Quinn Boys U-14 reached the 3^rd round of the plate before being knocked out by Dublin’s Eoghan Flanagan. Aoife Quinn reached the final of the girls U-16 singles but was beaten by Tyrone’s Maeve McElduff which Jason Earlis won the Boys U-16 singles plate with a good 19-12 win.

In the One-Wall Nationals got to the 2^nd round of the plate in the Boys U-16 singles. Aoife Quinn won the 1^st round match against Andrea Noone 22-11 but then lost out to Armagh’s Aoife McConville 22-14. Odhran Quinn lost out in the second round of the plate in Boys U-14 to Adrian English by the narrow margain of 18-17.

Harte, Thrill & Quinn star for Sligo in Connacht handball titles success

Three Connacht 60 x 30 Juvenile A titles

Stanley Harte Jnr & Tommy Thrill gave a scintillating display in the final of the Boys U-17 doubles final over Mayo’s Nathan Massey & Daniel Bradwell played in Williamstown Galway.  Both teams were very evenly matched throughout the contest but when it mattered most Harte & Thrill combined well to thwart a Mayo comeback that very nearly happened. Harte who reached the All-Ireland U-17 doubles semi-final last year showed his great experience and appetite in the heat of battle and with Thrill making a welcome return to handball demonstrating his undoubted talents and skills the duo stormed to a great win over the Mayo teenagers.

Castleconnor’s Aoife Quinn captured her second Connacht Juvenile handball title of the year when claiming the Girls U-15 singles in Williamstown Galway today. In the final Quinn played the better handball and controlled the game. In a close first game Quinn held the advantage throughout and powered her way to an impressive win in the second leaving her opponent Emily Sweeney from Mayo scoreless. 

Sligo’s other representatives Ross Taheny Boys U-15 singles,  Patrick Fox all had to settle for silver in  Provincial finals. Jason Earlis reached the semi-final of the Boys U-16 grade

Results Connacht Juvenile A 60 x 30 championships finals:

Girl U-15 singles final:  Aoife Quinn dft Emily Sweeney Mayo 15-8, 15-0

Boys U-15 single final: Ross Taheny  lost  to Neil Joyce (Mayo) 1-15, 6-15.
Boys  U-17 Doubles final: Tommy Thrill & Stanley Harte Jnr dft Nathan Massey Daniel Bradwell Mayo) 21-17, 21-13
Boys U-17 singles final:  Patrick Fox lost to Conor Noone Galway 3-21, 12-21

In the All-Ireland semi-finals Tommy Trill & Stanley Harte were defeated by Gabhainn McCrystal & Pol Clarke Tyrone. Aoife Quinn received a bye into the Girls U-15 singles All-Ireland final.

Quinn runner up in All-Ireland Juvenile final
Aoife Quinn suffered more final anguish in an All-Ireland this time in the 60 x 30 finale.  Quinn faced Kerry’s Michaela O’Donaghue in the Girls U-15 singles final in Tuamgraney Co. Clare on Sunday 19^th August last. The Munster champion took the opening game by 15-5.  Quinn coached by her father Oisin came out strongly in the second and played some exceptional handball controlling the game eventually taking it by 15-6.  O’Donoghue’s fitness told in the tie breaker as she weathered the Sligo girls gusto performance.  O’ Donoghue who had a tough Munster & All-Ireland semi-final campaign made it count in the closing stages.   Quinn tired towards the end and O’Donoghue was not going to be denied victory.  The Castleconnor & Sligo star is getting closer to the coveted All-Ireland handball title and in 2013 she should achieve an historic title for her efforts that is richly deserved.

Ballymote hosted the County Juvenile B 60 x 30 championships. The Castleconnor club came out on top winning 3 County titles with Ballymote 2 and Collooney 1.

BOYS UNDER 11 SINGLES SEMI FINALS:

 Jason Dwyer (Ballymote dft  Oisin Harte (Collooney) 15 4 15 5
Aaron Bruen (Collooney)  dft Connor Finn (Ballymote) 15 10 15 12
Final: Aaron Bruen (Collooney)  dft  Jason Dwyer (Ballymote) 15 10 10 15 15 7

 

BOYS UNDER 12 SINGLES ROUND ROBIN:

Darra Barrins (Castleconnor)  dft  Vincent Harte (Collooney) 15 10 15 4

Vincent Harte (Collooney) dft  Diarmaid Harte (Collooney) 2 games to 1
Darra Barrins (Castleconnor) dft  Diarmaid Harte (Collooney) 15 4 15 7
 Winner: Darra Barrins Castleconnor

 

BOYS UNDER 13 SINGLES FINAL:

Ordhain Quinn (Castleconnor) dft Tony Fox (Collooney) 15 6 15 4

BOYS UNDER 14 DOUBLES final:

Brendan Foody Sean Carabine (Castleconnor) dft  David Woods & Steven Mulligan (Ballymote) 15 4 15 10

 

BOYS UNDER 15 SINGLES SEMI FINALS:

Connor Booth (Ballymote) dft  Leigh Kielty (Ballymote) 21 5 21 17
Michael Finn (Ballymote)  dft Mathew Cunnane (Ballymote) 21 9 21 12

 FINAL: Michael Finn (Ballymote)  dft Connor Booth (Ballymote) 21 20 21 11

 

BOYS UNDER 16 SINGLES SEMI FINALS:

Padraig O' Dowd (Ballymote)  dft  James Mulligan (Ballimote) 21 4 21 5
Barry M c Loughlin (Castleconnor)  dft  Sean Golden (Ballymote) 21 14 21 8

FINAL: Padraig O' Dowd (Ballymote)  dft  Barry Mc Loughlin (Castleconnor) 21 8 21 8

Sligo Juvenile players win 5 Connacht handball titles

Ballymote & Collooney hosted the Connacht Juvenile B championships 60 x 30 finals on Sunday and Sligo players secured 3 provincial titles.  Ballymote Jonathan Devaney had an exciting victory over Mayo’s Thomas Caffrey in the first final of the day.  The Harte’s Vincent & Diarmuid celebrated their first Connacht title with a straight sets victory on home soil.  Odhran Quinn was defeated by Roscommon’s Oisin Cusack in the U-13 final while Ballymote’s  Padraig O’ Dowd got the better of Sean Leyden in the U-17 equivalent to bag his first Connacht medal. Rachel Foody & Catherine Swift both Castleconnor won the Girls U-12 & U-15 singles titles respectively bringing the total number of Connacht juvenile titles won by our young players to ten a great achievement all round.

 Boys U-14 Singles final: Jonathan Devaney (Sligo)  dft Thomas Mc Caffrey Mayo) 15 -11, 15-11.

Boys U-12 Doubles final: Vincent & Diarmuid Harte (Sligo) dft Canice Bennett & Mark McCoy (Mayo) 15-8, 15-10.
Boys U-13 Singles final: Odhran Quinn (Sligo) lost to Oisin Cusack (Roscommon) 11-15, 10-15
Boys U-17 Singles final: Padraig O'Dowd (Sligo)  dft  Sean Leyden (Leitrim) 21- 10, 21- 15.
 Girls U12-Singles Rachel Foody (Sligo) dft Aoife Neyret (Mayo) 15-8,15-14
Girls U13-Singles:  Mary Foody (Sligo)  lost to   Emma Cosgrove(Mayo)15-6,15-8
Girls U15-Singles:  Catherine Swift (Sligo) dft Karen Cosgrove (Mayo) 21-6,12-21,11-6

 Tubbercurry Juvenile handball tournament

St. Brigid’s Hall in Tubbercurry hosted a Juvenile 40 x 20 handball doubles tournament for clubs in Sligo. John Cawley from Tubbercurry organised the handball tournament for beginners. Over 40 young players from Castleconnor, Ballymote, Collooney and the host club took part.

The Girls doubles final was won by Laura Finn & Lwandile Chidyamatamba who defeated sisters Emma & Kelly Doyle by 15-9. 

Darragh Barrins & Fergal Boland overcame Seamus Foody & Cormac Finn by 15-6 in the Boys U-11 doubles final.  .

In the Boys U-13 doubles final Conor Finn & Conor Guckian emerged winners in the last seconds of an exciting final. The duo found themselves 6-3  behind after ten minutes of the fifteen minutes time game against  Daniel Geraghty & Barry Mullderrig.   Finn & Guckian came back strongly to level the game at 10-10 with only twenty five seconds left and at the death a Conor Guckian winning score into the left corner sealed a narrow and exciting win for the eventual winners. John Cawley & Padraig Maye are doing great work out in Tubbercurry and they deserve all our help and appreciation.  It is only a matter of time that Tubbercurry will be the County’s sixth handball club.

Co. Board

I would like to thank all the officers of the Co. Board for their diligent work, effort and commitment throughout the year. Chairman Peter Chambers certainly paid a captain’s part throughout. In all my time involved in Co. Board’s Peter is the first chairman to have actually gained sponsorship for handball at County Board level. I know we are all indebted to Peter for his efforts in this regard. One thing about Peter that stood out about him this year that I remember and it typifies the man. There was a club meeting in Collooney. Peter had the invite’s printed out for the sod turning but couldn’t attend. What did Peter do but get a taxi to deliver the invite’s on time to the meeting.  I thank him sincerely for all his efforts as Chairman this year and it was a pleasure to work with Peter at all times.  Mark Murphy is one man who works quietly behind the scenes. Last December he had no time to settle into the new role as fixtures secretary. Right from the word go he was involved in getting the fixtures out for the Co. Championships and with his great work over Christmas managed to get this done in time for the start of the Connacht championships. I don’t know if he got to enjoy the Christmas dinner with all the fixtures being played off.  Mark has done this role very efficiently and I would like to see Mark stay on in this important role for another year. Same applies to Colin Slevin who has represented us at Sligo G.A.A Co. Board meetings.  Colin is the link between handball & the Sligo G.A.A Board and it is a very important link and Colin is doing this to a very standard.   Francis McCann our Juvenile Officer helped to get County Juvenile championships run off and we are lucky to have such a handball legend that he is helping out the County Juvenile structure.   Last January I had no broadband and Shane Bruen kindly gave me the use of his computer to get the handball news out to the local press and I express my gratitude to Shane for this. Connell Cannon the Connacht handball administrator for something like the past six years is doing unbelievable work at Provincial level.  No matter what calls and problems he gets at all hours he has a calm demeanour.  He is one of the top handball administrators in the country and the amount of work he gets through is just phenomenal.  Thank you Connell for all the work you are doing in Connacht.  Without Connell’s input handball in the province would be much the poorer. In each Convention report I praise the juvenile sections in our clubs and this year is going to be no different.   Francis McCann, Martin Golden, John Cawley, Tom Foody, Oisin Quinn, Stanley Harte, Shane Bruen in my view are the real heroes in the County. Week in week out, month in month out they work away quietly behind the scenes training their young members.  They are the real unsung heroes as far as I am concerned and they deserve help and recognition that the Co. Board can give them.  It would be nice to see younger people getting involved in the Co. Board and taking on administrative roles. I am looking at the same faces for the past number of years and they are not getting any younger.

This year the County won ten Juvenile Connacht titles.  There is plenty of scope for improvement in this area.  The elusive A Juvenile All-Ireland title still has yet to make an appearance in the County but that may soon change with the likes of Jason Earlis and Aoife Quinn making great strides. Aoife reached 2 All-Ireland finals in 2012 and it can be only a matter of time when she claims an overdue All-Ireland medal.

Media
The Media in Sligo as always are  very good to us each year.  I want to sincerely thank Leo Gray Sports Editor Sligo champion, Liam Maloney Sports Editor Sligo Weekender, Anthony Hennigan Sports Editor in the Western People, Darragh Cox Sports Chief in Ocean FM., Declan Rooney Into the West Magazine, Declan Lynch Hoganstand , Gerry O’Connor PRO Sligo G.A.A Board & Ciaran McCarthy Sligo Today for their excellent publicity given to handball in 2012.  It is great to see so much handball in the County newspapers.  I am writing on handball for the past 14 years and it is the first time that I can remember that handball got a full page in the papers that I have written for in Meath, Dublin and now Sligo and thanks to Liam Maloney that statistic is now history. The Sligo G.A.A Board have been extremely good to us providing us with the use of their website to publish handball articles and photos. Gerry O’Connor has published numerous handball articles in the Sligo G.A.A League match programmes. On the Sligo G.A.A final programme Gerry included a 2 page article on the World handball championships and my thanks to the Sligo G.A.A Co. PRO for his help in this regard.   Darragh Cox in Ocean FM has helped to give handball a new medium to get across our sport on the airwaves and it is always great to hear reports on handball on the radio. It is something I would hope to expand in the coming year.  This year I helped to organise the inaugural Ocean FM handball one-wall games and the likes of Francis Boylan & David Murtagh co-presenters on the “Lazy afternoon show” on Ocean FM took to it like ducks to water with such great enthusiasm. Francis showed his skills from his past handball days in Manorhamilton while David gave a great account for a player who didn’t hit a ball prior to the games. Maybe we can get Darragh into the handball court possibly with a match with Kevin “put up that white flag” Blessing in a new Sligo v Leitrim match. Our own website http://sligohandball.blogspot.ie/ has seen an increase in hits. The Photo album https://picasaweb.google.com/101153803319205585789/SligoHandball# has over 400 photos in it.

Facilities

This year seen the turning of the sod for the Collooney handball club and I was delighted to have played my part in this success.  Hugh McGarry the Club Chairman and his dedicated team pulled out all the stops on Friday May 18^th last.  Even TG4 were there to cover the event. The entire evening went off without a hitch even the weather stayed fine, huge crowds attended witnessing exciting one-wall games. What stood out for me were the speeches by both Hugh McGarry & Peter Chambers. I remembered saying to myself, if Hugh doesn’t finish his speech soon either by hand will either seize up or fall off. Fair play to him he didn’t leave out anyone in his excellent speech.  Whenever he retires I can see a bright future for him as a politician. I can still recall his last line in his speech taken from a famous Barack Obama speech. “If we stick together we will do it, Is Feidir Linn.”  Such an inspiring speech from the Club Chairman and I have no doubt what so ever that Hugh and the entire team in Collooney will see their efforts and hard work come to fruition. Peter Chambers too gave a wonderful speech that evening.    All the other clubs are moving ahead with their developments Castleconnor have already finished phase 1 of their plans. Oxfield-Drumcliff have  a major fundraising drive underway to upgrade their facilities while Ballymote with its ever increasing young membership hope to build a new 40 x 20 court in the next number of years.   I want to wish all Sligo club’s well in their plans for better facilities.

Development

This year has seen an increase in Juvenile numbers with Ballymote, Collooney & Castleconnor leading the way.  Hopefully in the next number of years the G.A.A  development officers  will have handball as part of their  overall games package to enable them to go into schools and clubs to develop the game even more.  Back in June Liam Og Gormley led a group of 28 young coaches into Collooney for some handball coaching. It turned out to be a great success and hopefully we can tap into this into the coming year and expand on it. John Cawley National School teacher in the Holy Family School in Tubbercurry is doing tremendous work promoting handball and I have seen at first hand the great work he is doing.  He brought a group of sixth class pupils to Biecz in Southern Poland to demonstrate handball last June.  And with the likes of well known handball Priest Fr. Martin Jennings the P.P. in Tubbercurry the future looks very bright indeed. Coaching is key to success and more needs to be done to bring the young players onto the next level.  Getting a consistent number of players up to the A standards each year and giving them a fighting chance has to be the goal of the County Board.  With time and dedication and willing Coaching officers on board this will happen.

Sligo was well represented in this year World Championships in the Citywest. Though no success it was great for the players to compete at the highest level and I have no doubt they will have benefited from the experience.

I would like to thank all the Connacht Handball Council Officers for their work for handball in the province. Peter Heaney as President is a very hard working official and we have seen all the efforts he has done in Fenagh and Leitrim going back many years. He brings his widespread knowledge to Connacht Council.  Peter has already been recognised for this when he received the President’s Award last March and I congratulate Peter on this his latest award and I wish him well as Connacht President during his term of office. Connell Cannon as already mentioned does the work as a full time administrator on a part time basis.  Where he gets the time to do this I don’t know.  Again I want to wish him well in the year ahead as Connacht administrator.
My thanks,  to Chris Curran C.E.O. of GAA Handball and all the staff in the G.A.A Handball Office in Croke Park.  Chris has done absolutely outstanding work with the World Championships. To have got 2,000 players from thirty countries competing in 128 grades of handball in one specially constructed venue in the Citywest is no mean achievement. Chris has always been very passionate about handball both as a player and now as full time C.E.O. of G.A.A Handball.  I thank him for all his stupendous work and his encouragement and help he has given to me in the past 12 months.  He certainly deserved a world gold medal for his efforts.

To everyone who played handball won or lost games, our supporters and sponsors, people who made sandwiches refereed games, coached the juveniles, opened courts on dark evenings etc.  I say a big thank you.

Finally I would like to express sincere sympathy’s to members who suffered bereavements over the year.
Obituaries – Friends we lost
Pauline Gallagher, nee Mullen, Corhownagh, Ballisodare, Co Sligo. Monday 12^th December 2011.  Aunt of Peter Davey Collooney Handball Club.   Peacefully at St Phelim's Nursing Home, Dromahair.  Reposing at her residence in Corhowanagh .  Removal on Thursday morning to St. Brigid's Church Corhownagh for Mass of the Resurrection at 11am. Burial immediately afterwards in St. Nathy's Cemetery Collooney.

Michael Porter, Kilmacowen, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo, and formerly of Ballymote on Thursday December 15th. In an astonishing career Michael Porter won twenty one Connacht titles (1976-2006) and eleven All-Ireland handball titles (1976-2003). Michael played his part in the success of the Irish 1-Wall Nationals which Sligo hosted from 1999-2008 and officiated at many of the finals. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Maggie), Son, Jonathan and daughters Catherine and Sarah, his parents Jimmy & Margaret and sister Marian.. He will be sadly missed by his family, handball friends far and wide. Late staff of Eircom, Sligo.  Peacefully at home.  Mass of the Resurrection at 1pm on Sunday 18^th December in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Ransboro. Burial followed in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Scarden, Strandhill Road.  Sligo handball players had a guard of honour at his funeral

Robyn Cooney - Daughter of Martin Cooney Castleconnor Handball Club. Wednesday January 11^th.

Paddy Murphy, Cloonkeelane, Enniscrone Co Sligo on Monday 28^th May last. Father of Mark Murphy, Sligo Handball Board fixtures secretary.  Peacefully at his residence.  Remains reposing at his residence.  Removal on Thursday morning to Kilglass Church arriving for 11am requiem Mass with burial afterwards in Killanley Cemetery.

Nuala Breheny of Carrowragh, Keash,  Ballymote Mother-in-Law Seamus Duffy St. Mary’s Handball Club on Saturday 15th September last.

Michael McGee
Sligo Handball Board Secretary 2012

 Sligo handball players 2012 and year in results:

Sligo  40  x 20 representatives 2012

 Junior C  Singles :   Michael Bruen   

 Junior C Doubles Tom Tuffy  & Micheal Jones
 Jun B Singles Final: Michael Browne
Junior B doubles: Colin & Clive Slevin  
Over 35B singles:  Shane Bruen 
Over 35 B doubles:  Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy 
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Golden  

Silver Masters B Doubles:  Tom Foody/Larry Jones 

Golden Masters A singles:  Francis McCann
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers
Golden Masters B doubles:  Ken Cunningham & Eamon Bellew
Emerald Masters B singles:  Michael McMorrow
Emerald Masters B doubles: Connell Cannon & Michael McMorrow
Diamond Masters A singles:  Seamus Duffy
Diamond Masters A Doubles: Seamus Duffy & Pat O’Sullivan
Diamond Masters B Singles: Mickey Brennan

Connacht 40 x 20 championships results 2012

Quarter-finals
Junior C singles: Michael Bruen  (Sligo) lost to Dave Corrigan (Mayo)  12-21, 13-21
Junior B singles:   Michael Browne (Sligo) lost to Gearoid Hughes (Mayo)  4-20, 20-21
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy Sligo lost to Michael Ginley Mayo 8-21, 9-21
Junior B doubles:  Colin & Clive Slevin (Sligo) lost to Chris Gavaghan & Paul Cullen (Mayo) 8-21, 18-21
Junior C doubles:  Tom Tuffy & Micheal Jones (Sligo) lost to   14-21, 21-18, 21-2.

Connacht Semi-finals:

Silver Masters B singles: Martin Golden (Sligo) lost to Shane Noonan (Roscommon) 20-21, 21-14, 19-21.
Golden Masters A singles:  Francis McCann (Sligo) dft Ger Walsh (Roscommon) 21-9, 15-9, 21-9.
Over 35 B singles:  Shane Bruen (Sligo) dft Maurice O’Donnell (Sligo) 21-2, 21-1

Connacht Finals 40 x 20:

Emerald Masters B singles: Mick McMorrow (Sligo) lost to Joe Neary (Mayo) 21-8, 21-6

Over 35 B singles:  Shane Bruen (Sligo) lost to Trevor Hannon (Galway) 17-21, 11-21

Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann (Sligo) dft Martin Conneely (Galway) 21-13, 9-21, 21-20

Diamond Masters A singles: Seamus Duffy (Sligo) lost to Martin Cronin (Mayo) 21-5, 21-8
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers (Sligo) lost to Denis Phelan (Galway) 21-11, 21-9
Diamond Masters B singles: Mickey Brennan (Sligo) lost to Gerry O’Fatharta (Galway) 2-21, 2-21.
Over 35 B doubles: Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy  (Sligo)  dft Michael Ginley & Seamus Maughan (Mayo) 21-19, 20-21, 21-17
Diamond Masters A doubles: Seamus Duffy & Pat O’Sullivan (Sligo) lost to  Noel Raftery & Seamus McHugh (Roscommon) 21-8, 21-12.
Golden Masters B doubles: Ken Cunningham & Eamon Bellew lost to Willie Corcoran & Mike Shaughnessy (Galway) 9-21, 12-21
All-Ireland semi-finals
Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann (Sligo) dft Thomas Maguire (Antrim) 21-17, 17-21, 21-12
Over-35 B doubles:  Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy (Sligo) dft Eamon & Seamus McCrory 21-14, 21-2
All-Ireland finals: Golden Masters A Singles: Francis Mc Cann (Sligo) lost to Michael Dowling (Kildare) 12-21, 7-21
 Over 35 B Doubles: Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy (Sligo) lost to Paul Hedderman & Ken Bourke (Limerick) 5-21, 11-21

 Sligo 60 X 30 representatives 2012

Singles:
Junior C: Colin Slevin
Over 35: Shane Bruen
Masters B: Mark Murphy
Silver Masters B: Martin Cooney
Golden Masters A: Francis McCann
Golen Masters B:Peter Chambers or Stanley Harte
Emerald Masters A: Hugh McGarry
Emerald Masters B: Peter Davey

Sligo Doubles
Junior C Doubles: Tom Foody & Joe Gorman
Masters B Doubles: Martin Cooney & ptr
Golden Masters A Doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry
Golden Masters B Doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte
Emerald Masters A Doubles: Mick McMorrow & John McLoughlin Over 70:  Paddy Walsh

Connacht handball championships semi-finals

Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers lost to Eddie Lee (Leitrim 14-21, 15-21.
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen lost to Billy Kelly Roscommon 17-21, 5-21
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy lost to Martin Conroy Roscommon 18-21, 10-21
Emerald Masters B singles:  Peter Davey lost to James Coughlin Roscommon 14-21, 4-21
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v Maurice O’Donnell (Leitrim) walkover to Sligo
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin  dft  Liam O’Ceallaigh (Roscommon) 21-12, 21-17
Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow v Martin Bruen (Roscommon) walkover to Sligo

Junior C Doubles: Tom Foody & Joe Gorman  dft Roscommon 21-11, 21-14
Masters B Doubles: Martin Cooney & ptr v Mick Kennedy & Seamie Connolly w/o to Sligo
Golden Masters A Doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry v Dermot Doolin & Ger Walsh w/o to Sligo
Golden Masters B Doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte bye
Emerald Masters A Doubles: Mick McMorrow & John McLoughlin v Martin Bruen & Ptr w/o to Sligo

Connacht  60 x 30 finals:
Golden Masters A singles: Francis Mc Cann  dft Martin Vahey 21-9, 13-21, 21-1
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin  lost to Eamon Higgins (Mayo) 4-21, 8-21
Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow  lost to  Kevin Geraghty (Mayo) 5-21, 12-21
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney dft George Miller (Mayo) 21-6, 21-13
Masters B Doubles: Martin Cooney & Michael McGee  lost to Jason Judge & Michael Ginley (Mayo) 14-21, 13-21
Golden Masters A Doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry  lost to Martin Vahey & John Staunton (Mayo) 6-21, 21-13
Golden Masters B Doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte  lost to  Joe Cummins & John Conroy (May) 14-21, 21-19, 21-6
Emerald Masters A Doubles: Mick McMorrow & John McLoughlin  lost to  Kevin Geraghty & Martin Cronin (Mayo) 5-21, 7-21

All-Ireland semi-finals

Golden Masters A singles:  Francis McCann dft Conor McDonnell (Monaghan) 21-1, 21-14
Silver Masters B Singles      Martin Cooney dft  Sean McNally (Down) 21-4, 21-5
 
All-Ireland 60 x 30 finals 2012:
Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann lost to Mick Dowling (Kildare) 20-21, 15-21
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney lost to John Frazer (Limerick) 11-21, 18-21
Over 70’s: Paddy Walsh lost to Mick O’ Brien (Dublin) 13-21, 5-21

 World handball championship 2012

40 x 20
Mens C singles (Sligo names first)
Shane Bruen lost out to Monaghan's James Gavaghan 9-21, 10-21
Gavin Cawley lost to Tom O'Shea of Wexford 10-21, 10-21
Boys U-13 singles: Odhran Quinn dft Conrad Martin 15-4, 15-9
rd 2: Odhran Quinn dft Neil Delaney 15-14, 15-3
rd 3. Odhran lost to Todd Hynes 10-15, 4-15

Girls U-15 singles: Aoife Quinn lost to Roisin Cahill 8-15, 11-15

Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney lost to Steven Brady 12-21, 18-21
Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann lost to Paul Williams U.S.A 15-21, 18-21
Girls U-15 doubles: Aoife Quinn & Anna Carew lost to Niamh Coleman & Aoife McConville (Armagh) 2-0

 One Wall results:

Men’s C Singles: Gavin Cawley lost to Seamus Casserly 2-0
Shane Bruen lost to Eoin Mc Cafferty 2-1
Silver Masters B singles: Oisin Quinn lost to Michael O' Cualain (Galway) 5-15, 8-15
Golden Masters A singles: Francis Mc Cann recd a walkover from Thomas Maguire (Antrim)
Quarter-final:  Francis McCann lost to Paul Williams U.S.A. 4-15, 10-15
Men’s Golden Masters doubles:  Oisin Quinn & Joacquin Murphy bt Patterson & Calvino 2-1
Semi-finals:  Oisin Quinn & Joacquin Murphy lost to Conor McDonnell & Cormac McMahon 1-2.

 

Girls U-15 singles: Aoife Quinn dft Caoimhe Shannager (Roscommon) 15-8, 15-11
Round 2: Aoife Quinn lost to  Niamh Coleman (Armagh) 2-0

Boys 13 singles 1 wall

Odhran Quinn defeated James Smith 2-0
rd 2: Odhran Quinn defeated Conor McTeague 2-0
Quarter-final: Odhran Quinn lost to  Tiernan Agnew (Clare) 2-0

 Boys U-13 doubles Odhran Quinn & Padraic Beggley bye in round 1

Boys U-13 doubles quarter-final:  Odhran & Padraic Beggley lost to James Prentice & Risteard Duggan 2-0
Boys U-13 doubles 40 x 20 : Odhran Quinn  &  Liam Egan  dft  Lawless & Heery 15-0, 15-0
Boys U-13 doubles Odhran Quinn & Liam Egan lost to  Diarmuid Mulkerrins & Thomas Donohue (Galway 2-0
Silver Masters B doubles: Martin Cooney & Aidan Bell (Sligo/Mayo) lost to  Pat O' Flaherty &  Padraig Maguire (Tipperary/Kildare) 15-21, 17-21