Quinn's carry Sligo's hopes in Castlebar

Quinn’s carry Sligo’s hopes in Castlebar

The Irish One-Wall handball nationals return to Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar. The event takes place from Friday 28^th- Sunday June 30^th. This year see’s the largest entry ever in the One Wall code with over 400 entries.  Over the weekend there will be 7 courts used, 5 in the state of the art sports complex in Breaffy House and two more in St. Gerald’s College in Castlebar.  The games start at 12 pm on Friday and continue to 6 p.m. on Sunday finishing with the Men’s Open final.  Again there will be an International dimension to it with players from Peurto Rico & near neighbours England taking part. Peurto Rican Herman Mendez the Irish Open champion in 2011 makes a welcome return to the nationals and will be the favourite to again lift the title.  An added incentive for the top Men’s & Ladies open players will the opportunity to represent Ireland at the World Games in Cali, Columbia in August.  Handball is one of the demonstration sports at the world games and it is hopeful that the handball games will become an Olympic sport in the near future.

A number of players from Sligo are taking part. The Quinn family from Castleconnor will again carry the county’s aspirations but will face tough competition in all grades.  Ballymote’s Conor Finn is making his debut in the nationals. The action gets underway at 12 noon on Friday.

Irish One-Wall Nationals

Boys U-11: Conor Finn (Sligo) v Tommy McNeela Galway Friday at 12.40

Boys U-15 B: Odhran Quinn (Sligo) v Eoghan Sheehan (Cork) Friday at 4.20

Girls U-15:  Aoife Quinn (Sligo) v Eimear ni Bhiadha (Galway)  Friday at 8.40 winner v Niamh Coleman (Armagh) Saturday at 11 am

Golden Masters:  Oisin Quinn (Sligo) v Oliver O’Sullivan (London)  Saturday at 1.10 winner v Brian Havern (Down) Saturday at 8.50 p.m.

Interclub  60 x 30 fixtures

The interclub fixtures begin on Tuesday with hosts Collooney taking on St.Mary's. Collooney will have a youthful team with the likes of Stanley Harte Jnr & Pat Fox on the team. For St. Mary's will have the experienced Michael McMorrow and All-Ireland 60 x 30 medal winner in 2011 and 28 time All-Ireland All-Ireland handball champion  Paddy Walsh playing.

Michael Bruen, Gerry Coleman, Stanley Harte Jnr & Pat Fox (Collooney)  v Peter Chambers, Michael McMorrow, Seamus Duffy & Paddy Walsh (St. Mary's) winners v Castleconnor in the Sligo final

The Sligo winners will represent the County in the Provincial championships to be held in Williamstown on Sunday 7th July.