Sligo handball players begin Connacht 60 x 30 campaign

Sligo’s 60 x 30 season kicks off in Collooney tomorrow, writes Michael McGee

County Handball Chairman Peter Chambers will have the honour of starting Sligo’s 60 x 30 handball campaign with 4 matches set to go ahead in Collooney this weekend. Chambers has the onus task of taking on Leitrim’s Eddie Lee in the Golden Masters B singles. Lee will be the clear favourite here and Chambers will need to produce something special here if he is to reach the Connacht final. This match has been brought forward from Sunday to the earlier starting time of 12 noon tomorrow Saturday in Collooney.
Later tomorrow evening Collooney club man Shane Bruen will have home advantage when he takes on Roscommon’s Billy Kelly for a place in the Provincial final of the Over 35 B singles. Bruen will be out for revenge following last year’s Connacht final loss to the Roscommon man by 21-15, 17-21, 21-8. Bruen already having a great year won the Connacht Over -35 B doubles 40 x 20 final with Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy. The duo went all the way to the final before falling to Limerick in the decider. Bruen is an out and out 60 x 30 player and his duel with Kelly could be one of the matches of the day. The Collooney star is going well in training and should have that extra bit of class to reach the final this time round.
Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy has made steady progress in the last number of years in the 60 x 30 court. The natural left hander comes face to face with Roscommon’s Martin Conroy from the Ballymoe club. Murphy will give a very good account of himself and has the ability to upset Conroy and reach the final.

And on Sunday there is one match this time in the Emerald Masters B category. Collooney’s Peter Davey is another player who has shown great progress in recent months. Davey helped to capture the Connacht Junior B interclub title for Collooney in 2009 and played his part in the side that reached that year’s All-Ireland club final. Returning to arguably his best form he will give his all as he meets Roscommon’s James Coughlin for a place in this year Emerald Masters B singles final.
Francis McCann, Mick McMorrow & Martin Cooney have received byes to the provincial finals which will take place on the weekend of July 8th.

Connacht Handball 60 x 30 championships semi-finals (Sligo names first)
Saturday June 23rd in Collooney at 12 noon.
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers v Eddie Lee (Leitrim)

AT 5 P.M.
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen v Billy Kelly (Roscommon)
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy v Martin Conroy (Roscommon)

Sunday June 24th in Collooney at 2 p.m.
Emerald Masters B singles: Peter Davey v James Coughlin (Roscommon)