Bruen's brilliant display reaches Connacht final

Martin Golden through to Golden Masters B singles Connacht final

 Mick McMorrow confident performance reaches Connacht final

 

Disappointment for Seamus Duffy in Sunday Diamond Masters singles semi-final

 

 

Bruen’s  brilliant display reaches Connacht final

There was mixed fortunes for Sligo handball players in the Connacht handball championships semi-finals against Galway opponents last Sunday.  St. Mary’s handball club hosted 3 matches and Ballymote’s Martin Golden got Sligo off to a winning note. Golden made a slow start against Galway’s Willie Corcoran and it was the Galway man early running that earned him the opening game by 21-13. Golden then took control. With some winning aces to Corcoran’s right side and strong passing shots the Ballymote man built up a big 14-3 lead. Golden was killing the ball into the right corner and controlling the strategic centre court where he was able to dictate play. Corcoran had a mini revival with 3 points in a row but it was near enough as strong play from the Ballymote seen him take the second game by 21-10.  In the tie break Golden’s greater fitness began to tell as Corcoran’s fightback wilted under the constant pressure exerted by the Sligo man.  Golden raced away in the tie breaker comfortable winning it by 21-13 to qualify for the Provincial final. St. Mary’s Michael McMorrow was never fully extended in his match with Galway’s Pierce Lalor and could always have upped an extra gear or two if he was forced too. McMorrow eased his way into the final with a composed 21-10, 21-13 victory over the Galwegian. Seamus Duffy in the Emerald Masters A singles met an inform Tony McInerney. The more clinical McInerney  punished Duffy for any mistakes. Despite a battling performance in the second game Duffy’s fightback just fell short with McInerney recording a straight sets victory.

Castleconnor hosted 2 games also on Sunday. Collooney’s Shane Bruen  (Masters B singles) was expecting  a tough battle against Galway’s Morgan Duggan. Duggan went in as the clear favourite following the Galway man’s finishing runner up in last year’s World handball championships Masters B singles final in Citywest. It was the Sligo man that took the fight to Duggan right from the start. Bruen was on fire and shocked  Duggan with a near flawless performance. Bruen was on top for most of the game and with great hunger and instinctive play brushed aside Duggan’s challenge quite easily in the end by 21-11, 21-5. Michael Browne lost out to Darren Beattie in the Junior B singles while Francis McCann Golden Masters A singles and Paddy Walsh Over 70’s both received walkovers.

Diamond Masters B singles: Larry Jones (Sligo)  lost to Seamus O’ Fatharta (Galway) 21-11, 10-21, 18-21
Masters B singles: Shane Bruen (Sligo)  dft Morgan Duggan (Galway) 21-11, 21-5
Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann (Sligo)  w/o Eamonn Conneely (Galway)

Junior B singles:  Michael Browne (Sligo) lost to Darren Beattie (Roscommon) 12-21, 14-21

Golden Masters B singles: Martin Golden (Sligo)  dft Willie Corcoran (Galway) 13-21, 21-10, 21-3
Emerald Masters B singles: Mick McMorrow (Sligo) dft  Pierce Lalor (Galway) 21-10, 21-13
Diamond Masters A singles: Seamus Duffy (Sligo)  lost  to Tony McInerney (Galway) 16-21, 10-21

Over 70’s: Paddy Walsh (Sligo)  w/o Colm O’Culain (Galway)

 

Wednesday 6^TH February in Moycullen Co. Galway at 8 p.m.

Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v Priosias Maughan (Galway)

Thursday 7^th February in St. Comans’s Roscommon at 8 p.m.

Junior C singles: Micheal Jones (Sligo) v John Kelly (Roscommon)

 

Sligo  doubles pairings face Galway

Attention now turns to the Sligo doubles pairings who will face Galway opponents in the semi-finals of the doubles championships.  Both Junior B & C doubles pairs are expected to do well while the Masters B doubles pairing of Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy will be favourites to advance to the provincial decided. The Sligo pair reached the final of the Over 35 B doubles final in 2012 and will be hoping to continue on winning ways. Martin Cooney & Tom Foody both from the Castleconnor club will be hoping for a good performance in the Silver Masters B singles. Cooney is struggling to be fit for the match with flu.  Francis McCann & Martin Golden tussle with the Conneely brothers Eamonn & Martin in the Golden Masters A singles category has the potential of being a very close encounter. Golden had a good win in the singles last weekend and with McCann as reliable and consistent as ever should do enough in what is likely to be a close and exciting contest.  Peter Chambers & Ken Cunningham  are both starved off success in the Sligo colours. On their day they have a really big performance in them. If the Sligo players can gel together there is every possibility the Golden Masters B pairing will  reach another Connacht final.  The Emerald Masters B doubles pairing of Michael McMorrow & Hugh McGarry are a new combination. McGarry more accustomed to the bigger 60 x 30 court will be tested by the Galway men. McMorrow  will be boosted by the win in the singles and playing with a great deal of confidence. McGarry’s great work rate and willingness should see the pairing qualify for the final. Seamus Duffy & Pat O’Sullivan in the Diamond Masters A singles will be hoping to repeat former glory’s when they face Galway opponents. Seamus Duffy will be disappointed having lost the singles last weekend and will be all the more determined to make amends. And with O’Sullivan  both very experienced campaigners  will be hoping for an extended run in the competition.

Connacht handball 40 x 20 championships semi-finals 2013 away to Galway next weekend fixtures

Junior C doubles:  Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen v Galway

Junior B doubles: Michael Browne & Joe Gorman v Galway

Masters B doubles:  Shane Bruen & Mark Murphy v Galway

Silver Masters B doubles: Martin Cooney & Tom Foody v Galway

Golden Masters A doubles: Francis McCann & Martin Golden (Sligo) v Eamonn & Martin Conneely (Galway)

Golden Masters B doubles:  Peter Chambers & Ken Cunningham (Sligo) v Galway

Emerald Masters B doubles: Michael McMorrow & Hugh McGarry (Sligo) Padraig Kelly & Pierce Lalor (Galway)

Diamond Masters A doubles:  Seamus Duffy & Pat O’Sullivan (Sligo) v Galway

Over 70’s:  Paddy Walsh & Padaig Maye (Sligo) bye v Galway