Castleconnor Connacht club handball champions

Historic win: Castleconnor Connacht Interclub 60 x 30 champions for 2013 back row: Mark Murphy, Tom Foody, Martin Cooney & Jason Earlis with the teams lucky mascots. Missing from photo is Joe Gorman

Castleconnor & Mount Talbots teams pictured following Connacht Interclub Junior B 60 x 30 final

Castleconnor club Connacht handball champions

Castleconnor became Connacht handball club champions for the first time in their history, writes Michael McGee

The Castleconnor Club in Sligo are through to the All-Ireland Interclub 60 x 30 championships semi-finals following victory over Roscommon’s Mount Talbot in the Connacht final played in Williamstown Galway on Sunday. Castleconnor defeated the Roscommon Club champions 113-89 in a well contested final. In their semi-final contest Castleconnor scored a comfortable 83-39 win over Galway’s Loughrea Club the previous day. Earlier Castleconnor outscored Collooney  120-94 in the Sligo final

The winning team members were Jason Earlis, Mark Murphy, Tom Foody & Martin Cooney.

Castleconnor face Kells for a place in the All-Ireland club final

The All-Ireland club semi-finals will take place in the Kells & Crossakiel clubs in Meath on Saturday 13^thJuly/Sunday 14^th July next. Castleconnor will face Leinster champions Kells club from Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final. The Kells club defeated Monivea Laois by a mere 13 points in the Leinster final last month.  It will be a tough challenge for the Castleconnor club but with the likes of 17 year old Jason Earlis & Martin Cooney hitting top from at the moment in the singles & Mark Murphy & Tom Foody an ever reliable doubles partnership not giving much away the tie could swing the Sligo club’s way.

Aoife Quinn wins plate final in One Wall Nationals.

In the Irish One Wall Nationals held in Breaffy House in Castlebar.   Overall 400 players from all over the Country took part along with players from Peurto Rico & England. Sligo were represented by Odhran, Oisin & Aoife Quinn from the Castleconnor Club together with Laura & Conor Finn from Ballymote making their debuts in the One-Wall Nationals

Odhran Quinn was beaten by Cork’s Eoghan Sheehan 18-14 in the Boys U-14 singles. In the plate Odhran partnered Ciaran Faulkner but were narrowly defeated by Gavin Coyle & Jack Tobin 21-19.

Oisin took part in the Golden Masters section and beat London’s Oliver O’Sullivan in the opening game but fell to Down’s Brian Havern in round 2. Quinn & O’Sullivan were runners up in the plate doubles final.

Aoife lost her opening match to Eimear Beatty in the Girls U-15 singles.  Exam commitments hampered her preparation but  she had better luck in the plate when teaming up with Kildare’s Hannag Dagg winning the plate final 16-8 over Mairead Kenny & Doireann Murphy.

Also representing Sligo were Laura & Conor Finn from the Ballymote Club. Conor took part in the Boys U-11 Singles grade. Conor won 2 out of his 3 contests before losing out to a Roscommon opponent 31-14. Laura Finn took part in the girls U-13 grade and in her first round easily overcame her Galway opponent. Laura was defeated by Tyrone’s Elizabeth McGarvey the eventual runner up in this grade. The Finn’s making their competitive debut in the nationals equipped themselves very well and no doubt we will be hearing much more about the “flying handball Finn’s from Ballymote in the years ahead.  Peurto Rican Herman Mendez won the Men’s Open title his second Irish win in the Nationals in three years while Down’s Lorraine Havern overcame Mayo’ Amy Corrigan in the ladies final.  Corrigan & Havern will be joined by Cork’s Killian Carroll & Armagh’s Conal McKevitt who will represent Ireland in the World games In Cali Columbia next month. Handball is a demonstration sport in these games and it is hoped G.A.A Handball will become and Olympic Sport in the near future