Ballymote honour handball hero McCann

Ballymote honour handball hero McCann

Francis McCann was the surprise recipient of a club presentation in the Ballymote Handball Club last Friday evening, writes Michael McGee.
McCann holder of 17 All-Ireland titles in an outstanding sporting career was completely caught off guard as he walked into the Ballymote club where he was presented with a piece of Waterford Crystal. McCann won the Golden Masters Singles All-Ireland 60 x 30 singles title in 2011 and Connacht Masters player of the year award. Before the presentation Martin Golden congratulated McCann on his successes last year. McCann was due to receive the club presentation before Christmas but that was hastily cancelled due to the death of Michael Porter a legend in Irish Handball. McCann won 19 Connacht titles & 5 All-Ireland titles with his dear friend & doubles partner Michael Porter. Golden on behalf of the club sympathised with the Porter family on their sad loss.
Making the presentation to McCann was 4 members of the Ballymote Juvenile club Jason Dwyer, Luke Tarmey, Sean & Kevin Woods. Also celebrating McCann’s latest achievement was Tubbercurry Teacher John Cawley who was established a new handball club in the Holy Family National School and already a number of them are showing huge potential according to Cawley. Sligo Handball Secretary/PRO Michael McGee asked McCann that it was great to be recognised by his own club with this presentation. The affable McCann replied “It came as a great surprise as I was not expecting it. I am delighted the way the club has recognised me for the achievement of winning the Golden Masters Championship and receiving the Connacht Masters player of the year award. I am very happy that the club has seen fit to reward me with this presentation tonight.”
I then put it to Francis that his exploits in 2011 has given a major boost to handball in Ballymote & in the County. “ Yes, and at the end of the day it is all about the young people and hopefully it will inspire some of the young members to build on this success in the future. I am happy to be involved in coaching with training already extended to 3 evenings a week with the increased numbers. Our main priority is to win an underage All-Ireland title. At the moment we are focussing on winning a number of County titles then provincial and hopefully then move onto the All-Ireland championships stated McCann.”
I congratulate Francis on all his playing achievements. His accomplishments in 2011 can’t be underestimated. He has given everyone in the Sligo G.A.A. fraternity a huge boost and is someone we in Sligo handball all look up to. His relentless drive & determination and willingness to work hard has always been his hallmark , the mark of a champion. Now all the County handball players want to emulate the inspirational Ballymote star I wish Francis even more success in the years ahead and I have no doubt with the likes of Francis McCann & Martin Golden heavily involved in coaching that in the not too distant future today’s young stars will also bring great distinction to the Ballymote club.

Fox & Raftery race to Castleconnor doubles victory

Patrick Fox, Seamus Jones with Martin Raftery Gerard Jones Memorial Perpetual Cup champions 2012

Leo Logan & Micheal Jones Cup runners-up

Colin Colin & Mark Murphy Plate winners

Tom Foody & Joe Gorman Plate runner-up

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 30th January in Castleconnor last writes Michael McGee

The event is held in the honour of Gerard Jones who was tragically killed in a farming accident in 1990. The late Gerard Jones was a promising player before tragedy struck. In 1994 the Gerard Jones Memorial tournament was first played for and has been running every year since. This year’s tournament had 12 doubles teams with players from Leitrim, Mayo & Sligo taking part. The standards in the tournament continue to rise in each passing year. This year a mix a great blend of youth and experience with the likes of young guns like Leo Logan, Patrick Fox, Colin Conlon, Stanley Harte and the experienced players like Joe Neary, Paddy Walsh, Martin Golden & Larry Jones all putting in top performances. The day’s action started at 12 noon and ran all the way through to 10.30 that evening. All the contests were keenly contested. The plate semi-final seen Paddy Walsh & Jason Earlis up against Leo Logan & Micheal Jones proved very exciting . Logan & Earlis built up a big lead and were coasting to victory. However the legendary Paddy Walsh at 71 years of age and sixteen year old Jason Earlis bravely battled back into the contest. It proved to be the match of the day. Walsh & Earlis brought the fight to their opponents and with the crowd willing them on to cause an upset. This they nearly did and came very close when only 26-23 behind. However their brilliant come back fell short as Logan & Jones managed to kill the game off gaining the next 5 points for overall victory insuring their passage into the Gerard Jones Cup final. The other semi-final was more clear cut with Martin Raftery & Patrick Fox inflicting a heavy 31-6 defeat of Martin Golden & John Gilmartin.
Murphy magnificent
In the plate final Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy partnered Colin Conlon from the nearby Bofield club as they faced Tom Foddy & Joe Gorman both from the host club. The early exchanges were even with Murphy/Conlon opening up an early 5-1 lead only to see Gorman/Foody hitting back almost immediately as they played their best spell in the match going 10-5 up. Murphy a colossus in court and with his powerful left hand and fast feet managed to draw level at 10 and again at 11. Murphy & Gorman were having a great battle on the left side of court but invariably Murphy won out with his left hand pummelling winners into both corners. Conlon on right rowed in with many winners as well. Murphy was lording it in the centre and dispite Foody & Gorman’s best efforts it was to be in vain as Murphy & Conlon ended the contest with a flurry of points to win quite comfortably in the end by 31-12.
Raftery’s dazzling display in Gerard Jones Cup final
In the Gerard Jones Memorial Cup final Martin Raftery & Patrick Fox looked to be the more settled side as they faced Leo Logan & Micheal Jones. Raftery playing on the left was simply awesome and gave a wonderful exhibition from start to finish. Raftery from the Drumshanbo club opened up a big 8-0 lead. Collooney club player Patrick Fox at just 16 played his part and was a very reliable right sided player. He was clearly enjoying playing alongside Raftery. Raftery kept up the momentum while Logan/Jones began to target Fox’s right side but the young Collooney club man returned all that was thrown at him. Logan did well on the left and with improvement will also be an accomplished player in Letrim handball shortly. Raftery was simply unstoppable and was full of running after a day’s handball. After Raftery & Fox rattled into an 25-8 lead Jones gave a quick disconsolate glance at Logan the writing was on the wall for the pair who tried everything to thwart Raftery & Fox racing to victory. The outcome was never in doubt as Raftery & Fox racked up the scores. With the finishing line in sight Fox had the honour of finishing the contest with his well directed shot into the left corner bringing an end to a memorable final. It proved a great weekend for Raftery and Leitrim team mate Jamie Murray were awarded the Leitrim G.A.A.” team of the year” winners following their historic first Men’s All-Ireland Junior B doubles All-Ireland 60 x 30 success last year. After the final Larry Jones from the Castleconnor club thanked all the players for taking part, committee members & Ladies Committee who provided refreshments throughout the day. Seamus Jones presented the 2012 Gerard Jones Memorial Perpetual Cup to the winners Patrick Fox & Martin Raftery bringing the curtain down on another successful Castleconnor handball doubles tournament.

Bruen & Mc Cann runner-up in Pake Doyle doubles tournament

Bruen & Mc Cann runner-up in Pake Doyle doubles tournament


Sligo's Francis McCann & Shane Bruen hit the handball courts early as on New Year's Day they took part in the Pake Doyle doubles tournamnent in Curraghboy Roscommon. Eleven teams teams took part. The St. Coman’s club was also used to play the plate matches. Roscommon’s Lorcan Maughan & Neil McDermott defeated Sligo’s Francis McCann & Shane Bruen in the plate final.Galway's Martin Mulkerrins & Seamus Conghaile defeated another Galway pairing of Pat Conway & Declan Connaughton in an close final.

Francis McCann & Shane Bruen runners-up in Pake Doyle doubles tournament final

Browne & Bruen bow out of Connacht handball championships

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

Claremorris hosts two more quarter final matches involving Sligo pairs this day week (Sunday 8th January). The Junior C doubles is a new pairing with Tom Tuffy & Micheal Jones both Castleconnor teaming up together as they face David Cullen & David Corrigan while Drumcliffe brothers Colin & Clive Slevin face the stern challenge from Gearoid Hughes & Niall Burke in the Junior B doubles.

Connacht 40 x 20 championships 2012 quarter-finals results: (played Friday night)
Junior C singles: Michael Bruen (Sligo) lost to Dave Corrigan (Mayo) 21-12, 21-13
Junior B singles: Michael Browne (Sligo) lost to Gearoid Hughes (Mayo) 21-4, 21-20

Connacht handball 40 x 20 championships quarter-finals
Wednesday 4th January in St. Mary’s at 8 p.m
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen (Sligo) v George Miller (Mayo)
Thursday 5th January in Castleconnor at 8 p..m.
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy (Sligo) v Jason Judge (Mayo)
Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy faces the daunting prospect of taking on runner-up in last year’s Masters B final Jason Judge. Judge is from the nearby Bofield club. Murphy will give a good account of himself in this grade but the odds are stacked against the Sligo man.

In the Over-35 singles Collooney’s Shane Bruen gets to grip with Mayo’s George Miller. Bruen defeated Milller in last year’s 60 X 30 Championships. Miller from the Charlestown club is more accustomed to the 40 x 20 court and is sure to give Bruen a tough test. A great contest is in prospect with Bruen just about shading it in a close match.

Sunday 8th January in Claremorris at 3 p.m
Junior B Doubles quarter final: Colin & Clive Slevin (Sligo) v Gearoid Hughes & Niall Burke (Mayo)
Drumcliffe brothers Colin & Clive Slevin open their account in the Connacht championships with an away fixture against Mayo's Gearoid Hughes & Niall Burke. The Slevin brothers have been performing well in the recent Sligo Handball leagues but will have to move up a couple of gears if they are to reach the semi-finals at their first time of asking.

Sligo Handball Championships 40 X 20 final
McMorrow is County Champion on the double.
St. Mary’s Michael McMorrow finished off a memorable year when he eased his way to a comfortable 21-5, 21-9 win over Drumcliffe’s Eamon Bellew in the final of the County Championships Emerald Masters B singles final on Friday evening. McMorrow was in control throughout and the 2010 Emerald Masters B doubles 60 x 30 All-Ireland champion finished well. McMorrow is straight through to the Connacht final in the singles. Just last week McMorrow & club mate Connell Cannon defeated Collooney’s Hugh McGary & Peter Davey in the re fixed Emerald Masters B doubles final by 21-15, 21-6. McMorrow & Cannon go forward to take on Roscommon’s James Coughlin & John Ward in Curraghboy in the Connacht Emerald Masters B doubles semi-final on Sunday January 22nd next at 2 p.m.
Result: Emerald Masters B singles: Michael McMorrow (St. Mary’s) dft Eamon Bellew (Drumcliffe) 21-5, 21-9.

The Sligo Handball Board would like to wish all Sligo Gaels a very happy, healthy, prosperous and sporting new year.