Preview of Connacht handball championships 60 x 30 finals Sligo v Mayo

Francis McCann in Connacht final on Sunday in Golden Masters A singles 


Sligo handball players aiming for Connacht Gold

Sligo players are involved in 4 provincial handball singles finals next weekend. Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy has a tough challenge ahead of him as he takes on the favourite Michael Ginley, representing Mayo from the nearby Bofield Club in the Masters B final. Ginley had a narrow win over Roscommon’s Seamus Connolly in the semi-final while Murphy received a bye into the final. Murphy will be pleased with his performances to date. Murphy a member of the Castleconnor team that won the recent Connacht Interclub 60 x 30 championships for the first time and were narrowly beaten by the Kells Club in the All-Ireland semi-final. Murphy will yet again have to produce the goods if he is to defeat the Mayo man.

 Murphy’s team mate Martin Cooney meets his old adversary in George Miller from the Charlestown Club in the Silver Masters B singles final. Whenever these two players meet there is little to separate them. In last year’s championships Cooney had a good win over Miller on the way to the All-Ireland final. Cooney will be hoping to win through in Connacht and reach the All-Ireland final for the second year in a row. Cooney’s displays have improved on last year and he should come through the Miller test and qualify for the All-Ireland series again.

Ballymote’s Francis McCann had a strong showing against Leitrim’s Eddie Lee in the Golden Masters A single semi-final last weekend and should also account for Mayo’s Kevin Mackin.  McCann like Cooney will be hoping to come through in Connacht and again challenge for All-Ireland honours this year. McCann last All-Ireland title win was 2 years ago and he will be eager to claim All-Ireland handball title number 18 in 2013.

Peter Chambers has the ability on turning on the style against more formidable opponents. Chambers is knocking on the door for the past number of seasons and if he can get the lucky break against Mayo’s John Conroy that he strives for, he can become Connacht champion after many years of perseverance. Coming into form at the right time the St. Mary’s clubman will be in buoyant mood following last weekend’s double success. Chambers the Newport native is determined to win the Golden Masters B Connacht title in his adopted County in the Sligo colours

Connacht handball 60 x 30 championships finals - 

Saturday July 27th in St. Comans at 5 p.m.

Golden Masters B singles:  Peter Chambers (Sligo) v John Conry (Mayo)

Sunday July 28th in St. Coman's at 3 p.m.

Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann (Sligo) v Kevin Mackin (Mayo)

Sunday 28th July in Ballymoe at 3 p.m.

Silver Masters B singles:  Martin Cooney (Sligo) v George  Miller (Mayo)

Masters B singles:  Mark Murphy (Sligo) v  Michael Ginley (Mayo)