Two Connacht Juvenile titles for Sligo, Cooney & McCann reach All-Ireland handball finals

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


Sligo Juvenile handball players claimed 2 Connacht Juvenile A 60 X 30 titles in Willliamstown Galway last Saturday writes, Michael McGee

Stanley Harte Jnr & Tommy Trill 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 & Trill 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 their 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 Trill & 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

Cooney & McCann in All-Ireland handball finals

Sligo’s Martin Cooney & Francis McCann will be appearing in All-Ireland handball finals following comfortable victory’s in semi-finals played in Ballymote on Saturday. 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. The Monaghan man came more into the contest in the second but McCann came through to claim his place in the final. The reigning champion will be hoping to retain his title and gain All-Ireland number 18 in an outstanding handball career in the process.
The All-Ireland finals are set to take place on Sunday 19th August next

All-Ireland handball championships 60 x 30 semi-finals results:
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney dft Sean McNally (Down) 21-4, 21-5
Golden Maters A singles: Francis McCann dft Conor McDonnell (Monaghan) 21-1, 21-14

Cooney & McCann to reach finals

Cooney & McCann to reach All-Ireland handball finals

Ballymote will host 2 All-Ireland handball semi-finals tomorrow evening. First into action will be Martin Coooney in the Silver Masters B singles category. Cooney from the Castleconnor club had an impressive 21-6, 21-12 victory over Mayo’s George Miller in the Connacht final two weeks ago. Cooney takes on Down’s Sean McNally for a place in this year’s All-Ireland final and should have the necessary fire power to overcome the Ulster champion.
In the following game Francis McCann has home advantage as he faces Monaghan’s Conor McDonnell. McCann chasing his 18th All-Ireland handball title is the reigning champion following his victory over Cavan’s Mickelleen Brady in last year’s final. McCann like Cooney had an impressive Connacht campaign when getting the better of Mayo’s Martin Vahey in the provincial final over 3 games. Both players should progress to the finals

All-Ireland handball championships 60 x 30 semi-finals
Saturday July 28th in Ballymote at 4 p.m
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v Sean McNally (Down)
Golden Maters A singles: Francis McCann v Conor McDonnell (Monaghan)


Saturday July 28th in Williamstown Galway starting at 11 am
Connacht Juvenile 60 x 30 championships semi-finals
Sligo Juveniles will take centre stage in Williamstown tomorrow in the Provincial semi-finals
Boys U-15 single: Ross Taheny. Taheny is from the Collooney Club and last won a Connacht Juvenile A 60 x 30 title in 2010.
Boys U-16 singles : Jason Earlis: Already has a Connacht title under his belt this year when he claimed the Boys U-16 singles 40 x 20 title. Earlis from the Castleconnor club is a member of the Sligo GAA Juvenile development team that lost to Roscommon last weekend.
Boys U-17 doubles: Tommy Trill & Stanley Harte. Tommy Trill & Stanley Harte both from the Collooney club are expected to do well. Harte teamed up Jason Earlis in last year’s campaign and were just pipped by Waterford for a place in the All-Ireland final. Trill a future great prospect for the club is a very talented and versatile player and has shown glimpses of what he is capable off.
Girls U-15 singles: Aoife Quinn. Castleconnor starlet Aoife Quinn is the sole representatives in the girls grades from Sligo. Quinn surprised many by reaching this years All-Ireland Girls U-15 singles 40 x 20 final but lost out to Cork’s Katie Fleming in straight games. Quinn may struggle in the wider expanses in the bigger 60 x 30 court.

Sligo doubles pairings crash out of Connacht 60 x 30 championships

Sligo handballers out of luck

It was a classic case of Friday 13th which proved unlucky for Sligo players in Connacht finals. In Williamstown on Friday evening the trio of Sligo handball doubles pairings all were defeated by Mayo teams, writes Michael McGee

In the Golden Masters A doubles Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry were expected to do well as reigning Connacht champions. Francis McCann went into the final with a back injury that seriously hampered their chances as Mayo’s Martin Vahey & John Staunton controlled the game right from the start. Despite a revival in the second McCann & McGarry’s comeback fell short against the well drilled Mayo pairing.

Things didn’t get any better for Sligo’s Emerald Masters A doubles pairing of Mick McMorrow & John McLoughlin. It was always going to be an uphill struggle against the favourites in Mayo’s Kevin Geraghty & Martin Cronin. The Sligo men were second best throughout the final and Geraghty & Cronin coasted to what was an easy win in the end.

Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte put up a brave display in the Golden Masters B doubles final. Despite losing the opening game the Sligo men rallied strongly and in a pulsating game Chambers & Harte held firm to take the second by 21-18. However their exertions in getting back into the game took its toll on them as Mayo’s Joe Cummins & John Conroy found an extra gear in the tiebreaker and raced away to take the spoils.

Castleconnor duo Tom Foody & Joe Gorman put up a very gritty display against a strong Mayo pairing in Martin McAndrew & Sean Sweeney in the Junior C doubles final. Foody & Gorman Connacht 40 x 20 champions in 2009 had chances of winning the Connacht title but struggled to deliver the knock out blows in both games. Instead it was the Mayo pairing that got over the line to win an entertaining contest in St. Coman’s last Saturday.

Overall it was a disappointing Connacht 60 x 30 campaign for Sligo handballers who ended up with just 2 Connacht titles this season.

Connacht handball championships 60 x 30 finals
Golden Masters A doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry lost to Martin Vahey & John Staunton (Mayo) 6-21, 13-21
Emerald Masters A doubles: Mick McMorrow & John McLoughlin lost to Kevin Geraghty & Martin Cronin (Mayo) 5-21, 7-21
Golden Masters B doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte lost to Joe Cummins & John Conroy (Mayo) 16-21, 21-18, 21-6
Junior C doubles: Joe Gorman & Tom Foody lost to Martin McAndrew & Sean Sweeney (Mayo) 15-21, 16-21

Connacht titles for Cooney & McCann

Francis McCann Golden Masters A singles Connacht 60 x 30 champion


Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte in Sundays Connacht Golden Masters B doubles final

Handballers aiming for Connacht gold
The Yeats county are in 4 Connacht handball championships doubles finals and just like the Sligo senior football team will be hoping to make it a successful weekend for Sligo G.A.A, writes Michael McGee

The Golden Masters A doubles pairing of Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry travel to Williamstown for their contest with Mayo’s Martin Vahey & John Staunton. The Sligo men are the reigning Connacht champions in this grade. Last year the duo reached the All-Ireland semi-final but had a narrow loss to Tipperary’s Pat Griffin & Tony O’Flaherty. McCann who won the singles final last weekend against Vahey is in superb form judging by recent performances and with McGarry solid as a rock on the right giving little away it all counts to a Sligo victory here.
In the Emerald Masters A singles Mick McMorrow and John McLoughlin have it all to do against Mayo’s Mayo’s Kevin Geraghty & Martin Cronin. Morrow & McLoughlin went all the way in 2011 winning the All-Ireland Emerald Masters B doubles final against Kilkenny’s Gerry Murphy & Jim Dooley. The duo have yet to play a competitive game together in 2012 and the step up to the A grade maybe beyond their reach this time round.
The Junior C pairing of Tom Foody & Joe Gorman will also be hoping for progress. Foody & Gorman defeated a Roscommon pairing two weeks ago in the semi’s. Connacht 40 x 20 champions in 2009 the pair are going all out to win the big court title. Foody & Gorman were tested to the full in their semi-final victory over Roscommon. Gorman is a strong left sided player while Foody controls the right side of court. If the Castleconnor men can repeat their semi-final performances they stand a great chance of adding to their Connacht success of three year’s ago. Their final opponents Mayo’s Martin McAndrew & Sean Sweeney advanced to the final with a victory over Leitirm’s Dessie McKeever & Frank McDonagh.
The Golden Masters B pairing of Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte could be best described as the sleeping giants in Sligo handball at present. The duo reached the All-Ireland silver masters B doubles semi-final in 2010 but have struggled to reach the heights of 2 years ago. In the last number of weeks the pair is doing well in training and just coming into form at the right time. On their day Chambers & Harte have a “big game” in them and could it be the Connacht final that will see their championship credentials season re ignited.
Connacht championships 60 x 30 doubles finals fixtures:
Friday 13th July in Williamstown at 7 p.m.
Golden Masters A doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry v Martin Vahey & John Staunton (Mayo) match 1
Emerald Masters A doubles: Mick McMorrow & John McLoughlin v Kevin Geraghty & Martin Cronin (Mayo) match 2
Saturday 14th July in St. Coman’s at 5 p.m.
Junior C doubles: Joe Gorman & Tom Foody v Martin McAndrew & Sean Sweeney (Mayo) match 2
Sunday 15th July in Williamstown at 2 p.m.
Golden Masters B doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte v Joe Cummins & John Conroy (Mayo) match 1

Connacht titles for Cooney & McCann
In a mixed weekend of handball action Sligo players were successful in 2 Connacht singles finals. Castleconnor’s Martin Cooney made a welcome return to competitive handball following a troublesome shoulder injury that kept him out of the game for the past 15 months. Cooney return was enough to see off the challenge of Mayo’s George Miller in the Silver Masters B singles contest. Francis McCann showed his undoubted class retaining the Connacht Golden Masters A singles title. McCann was taken to three games by Mayo’s Martin Vahey in an high tempo match. The Ballymote man took the opening game by 21-9. Vahey hit back strongly 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. McCann now goes forward to the All-Ireland semi-finals where he could meet Cavan’s Mickeleen Brady in a repeat of last year’s final. 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.
Results: Connacht handball 60 x 30 championships finals
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin lost to Eamon Higgins (Mayo) 4-21, 8-21
Golden Masters A singles: Francis Mc Cann v dft Martin Vahey 21-9, 13-21, 21-1
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
One Wall Nationals
Castleconnor’s Jason Earlis, Oisin Quinn, Aoife Quinn & Odhran Quinn all took part in the One Wall Nationals that took place in Citywest over the weekend.

Connacht singles finals switched from St. Coman's to Ballymoe

Handballers in 4 Connacht 60 x 30 singles finals

Sligo handball players will be appearing in 4 provincial singles finals next weekend. Francis McCann should retain his Connacht title while Martin Cooney, Michael McMorrow & Colin Slevin face difficult assignments.

There will be a feast of handball on Friday evening involving 3 Sligo players and Michael McGee looks forward to the weekend’s handball action involving players from the Yeats County

Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann v Martin Vahey/Michael Heraty (Mayo)

Francis McCann is chasing another Connacht title in a long and illustrious handball career. The Ballymote man is the reigning champion in this grade having defeated Cavan’s Mickeleen Brady 21-11, 21-13 in last year’s final. This will be Mc Cann’s first test as he embarks on retaining his All-Ireland title. McCann will face either Martin Vahey or Michael Heraty who will be playing off their refixed tie during the week. McCann has been in consistent form off late and should have that little bit extra experience to qualify for the semi-final and a crack at winning an astonishing 18th All-Ireland handball winners medal.

Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v George Miller (Mayo)
Castleconnor’s Martin Cooney & George Miller meet in the final of the Silver Masters B. Both players have not met since last year’s Connacht 40 x 20 semi-final clash which Miller won. Cooney picked up a shoulder injury in that match that has kept him out of handball for the past 15 months and is just returning to action. There is never much between these players meet and it could go down to a deciding 3rd game. Another fantastic match is in prospect and if Cooney can get control of the game he could win out in Connacht.

Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow v Kevin Geraghty (Mayo)
St. Mary’s Club man Michael McMorrow will be on a wing and a prayer as he has the unenviable task of trying to take the scalp of favourite Kevin Geraghty in the Connacht Emerald Masters A singles final. McMorrow an All-Ireland Emerald Masters B doubles champion with John McLoughlin in 2011 is certainly up against it against the Swinford club man. McMorrow will have to give his best performance in years and even that may not be good enough. McMorrow has impressed in training but will need to move up an extra gear or two if he is to challenge Geraghty for provincial honours.

Junior C singles: Colin Slevin v Eamon Higgins (Mayo)
For Oxfield’s Colin Slevin this is new territory playing in a Connacht 60 x 30 final. On Friday evening last Slevin justified his place in the provincial final with a fully merited 21-12, 21-17 victory over Roscommon’s Liam O’Ceallaigh. More at home in the 40 x 20 court the Oxfield man shocked O’Ceallaigh in straight games in Collooney. The question is can Slevin maintain this form and surprise Higgins to claim his first Connacht 60 x 30 title at adult level.
Connacht handball championships 60 x 30 finals
Friday 6th July in Ballymoe Roscommon at 7 p.m.

Junior C singles: Colin Slevin v Eamon Higgins (Mayo)- match 1
Golden Masters A singles: Francis Mc Cann v Martin Vahey/Michael Heraty - match 2
Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow v Kevin Geraghty (Mayo) match 3
Saturday 7th July in Ballymoe Roscommon at 5 p.m
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v George Miller (Mayo) – match 2

Slevin, Foody & Gorman reach finals
Sligo handballers had finally something to smile about following last weekend’s disappointment in the singles. In the last singles game to be played Oxfield’s Colin Slevin defeated Roscommon’s Liam O’ Ceallaigh to set up Connacht final with Mayo’s Eamon Higgins while Castleconnor’s Tom Foody & Joe Gorman came away from St. Coman’s on Saturday evening securing their Connacht final place with a hard fought 21-11, 21-14 win over a Roscommon pairing.
Results:
Connacht handball 60 x 30 championships semi-finals
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin (Sligo) dft Liam O’Ceallaigh (Roscommon) 21-12, 21-17
Junior C Doubles: Tom Foody & Joe Gorman dft Roscommon 21-11, 21-14

GAA Handball introduction to Sligo Cul Camps a success
Last Thursday 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 Sligo GAA Handball Secretary also welcomed Liam Og Gormley, John Cawley Tubbercurry N.S. teacher who recently returned from a school trip to Poland where he introduced the game, and the Coaches to Collooney. The Co. Secretary demonstrated a number of handball drills that can be used in the Cul Camps. 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 already showing a flair for handball.