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.