Sligo handballers suffer defeats in Connacht finals

Mick McMorrow & Hugh McGarry contesting the Connacht Emerald Masters B doubles final at the weekend

Sligo handballers suffer defeats in Connacht finals

The County’s handballers are still waiting for their first Connacht handball title of the year following Connacht finals last weekend, writes Michael McGee

It was a black weekend in Sligo handball with the County’s handball players losing 3 titles. On Saturday Martin Golden in the Golden Masters B singles lost out to Mayo’s Tom Byrne.  Byrne from the Kiltimagh club was superior in all areas. Golden tried everything to get back into the contest but Byrne’s greater skills won the day.  Golden’s club mate Francis McCann had an agonizing 1 point defeat to Roscommon’s Ger Walsh in the Golden Masters A singles decider. St. Coman’s hosted 2 games on Sunday Shane Bruen in the Masters B singles fell to Mayo’s Michael Ginley in a great contest that went to a tie breaker. In a thrilling finale it was Ginley that finished the stronger. In the other tie involving Sligo, Mick McMorrow in the Emerald Masters B singles staged a lazarous style recovery that almost seen him past the finishing line.  McMorrow only got 2 points in the first game against Mayo’s Columba O’Halloran. In a great battling performance McMorrow hit back immediately in the second game taking it by 21-19.  And in tremendous tussle in the tie break the Sligo man threw everything he had into it. However victory was cruelly snatched from the St. Mary’s club man as he was just edged out 21-20 in the tie break having led 20-18.

Results:

Connacht handball championships 40 x 20 finals
Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann lost to Ger Walsh (Roscommon) 21-10, 13-21, 20-21
Golden Masters B singles:  Martin Golden lost to Tom Byrne (Mayo) 5-21, 6-21
Masters B singles:  Shane Bruen lost to Michael Ginley (Mayo) 21-18, 13-21, 15-21
Emerald Masters B singles:  Mick McMorrow lost to Columba O’ Halloran (Mayo) 2-21, 21-19, 21-20

 Sligo doubles pairings to fare better

Sligo doubles pairings will be hoping for better fortunes at the weekend with 3 more Connacht titles up for grabs. The Junior C pairing of Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen are in their 2^nd Connacht final in a row. In their semi-final outing the duo defeated Roscommon’s Rikki O’ Grady & Ronan Galvin in straight games.  Bruen & Coleman have been knocking on the door for the past few seasons without gaining success. This season the breakthrough may come after years of coming close in Connacht.

Francis McCann & Martin Golden go into the provincial decider without having forced to hit a ball while their opponents Ger Walsh & Dermot Doolin defeated Mayo’s Martin Vahey & John Staunton in their semi-final contest.  McCann will be hurting having lost the Golden Masters A singles decider to his opponent at the weekend Ger Walsh by just 1 point after three arduous games.  The resilient McCann will be all the more determined this time round to put matters right. Golden like McCann will be reeling from the singles loss and with their expected greater teamwork it may be enough to claim the Connacht title.

The new combination of Mick  McMorrow & Hugh McGarry have made a winning start  together following their victory over Galway’s Pierce Lalor & Padraig Kelly in their semi-final. McMorrow has worked hard this season. McGarry is an out and out 60 x 30 player but has made the change to the smaller court effortlessly. McMorrow won his solitary All-Ireland doubles title in 2011 winning the 60 x 30 Emerald Masters B doubles final with Collooney’s John McLoughlin.  McGarry an able doubles partner for the St. Mary’s club man will give nothing away easily.  Their opponents will be Mayo duo of Columba O’ Halloran & Philip Feerick. The Sligo men will be buoyed up with their semi-final win and another battling performance should see them claim the Connacht title.

Connacht handball 40 x 20 championships finals

Saturday February 23rd in Lisacul at 

Junior C doubles: Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen v v Vinnny McLoughlin& Sean Sweeney (Mayo)

Emerald Masters B doubles: Mick McMorrow & Hugh McGarry v Columba O’ Halloran & Peter Ferrick (Mayo)


Sunday February 24th in Ballaghadeereen at 3 p.m

Golden Masters A doubles: Francis McCann & Martin Golden (Sligo) v Ger Walsh & Dermot Doolin

Junior C doubles: Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen  v v Vinnny McLoughlin & Sean Sweeney (Mayo)

Golden Masters A doubles: Francis McCann & Martin Golden (Sligo) v Ger Walsh & Dermot Doolin

Emerald Masters B doubles: Mick McMorrow & Hugh McGarry v Columba O’ Halloran & Peter Ferrick (Mayo)