Sligo's McMorrow & McGarry poised for All-Ireland spot

Michael McMorrow & Hugh McGarry in All-Ireland semi-final action




McMorrow & McGarry to reach final

Sligo pairing Michael McMorrow & Hugh McGarry go into Sunday’s All-Ireland handball 40 x 20 championships semi-final in upbeat mode following their encouraging victory in the Connacht final exactly one month ago, writes Michael McGee

 Since then the County’s newly crowned Connacht champions have impressed with a number positive performances against imposing doubles pairings. In the Connacht final the Sligo men had to dig deep against Mayo’s Columba O’ Halloran & Peter Ferrick. The Mayo men were in command and took the opening game by 21-13 and were ahead 15-10 in the second. Somehow and from somewhere McMorrow & McGarry conjured up an unlikely comeback.

 The duo rallied strongly and stormed back into the contest taking that second game by 21-15. In the tie breaker McMorrow & McGarry unleashed their great fighting qualities and took complete control winning it comfortably in the end by 21-8. They now focus on Sunday’s match with Leinster Champions in Louth’s Michael Tiernan & Charlie Kelly. The Louth men from the O’Raghalliagh’s Club in Drogheda will prove a serious threat to Sligo’s ambitions of reaching the final. 

However with a number of confidence building wins in recent weeks McMorrow & McGarry will look forward to the challenge. Home venue and with the large fervent support expected in St.Mary’s the tie should swing in Sligo’s favour. The duo may need to repeat their Connacht final showing and are capable of moving up the gears if needed. McMorrow & McGarry’s look the more solid combination. Their greater team spirit and work rate should win the day thus ensuring their passage to this year’s final.  

 
All-Ireland handball 40 x 20 championships semi-final
Sunday 24th March in St. Mary’s at 3 p.m.
Emerald Masters B Doubles: Michael McMorrow & Hugh McGarry Sligo  v  Michael Tiernan & Charlie Kelly Louth

Heartbreak for Quinn

 

In the All-Ireland Juvenile 40 x 20 championships semi-finals in Moycullen on Saturday Sligo’s Aoife Quinn was narrowly defeated by Laois’s Niamh Dunne. Quinn was leading 19-16 in the first game but a number of errors allowed the Laois girl back into it and the Leinster champion gained the next 5 points to take the opening game. In the second Dunne took a big 18-7 lead. Quinn from the Castleconnor club played her best handball at this stage and fought back courageously and very nearly pulled it off. However Dunne gained control again and despite Quinn’s heroics it was Dunne that advanced to the final.

 

All-Ireland Juvenile 40 x 20 championships semi-finals result:

Girls U-17 S: Sligo Aoife Quinn Sligo lost to Niamh Dunne Laois 19-21, 16-21