Doubles delight for McCann & Golden

Doubles delight for McCann & Golden

Sligo handball players were involved in four Provincial double deciders over the weekend winning one writes Michael McGee.

 The Golden Masters A doubles pair of Francis McCann & Martin Golden were the only successful Sligo handball team to return home with a Connacht title

Williamstown hosted two finals involving Sligo on Saturday evening. In their first Connacht appearance in the final of the Junior B Martin Brannigan & Simon Cavanagh lost out in 3 games to Roscommon’s Liam O’ Ceallaigh & Joe Fallon by 19-21, 21-20, 21-12. Both teams were evenly matched throughout but in the vital stages of the match Roscommon’s Liam O’ Ceallaigh & Joe Fallon gained the all important points and edged the contest in an entertaining final. Brannigan & Cavanagh can be pleased with their first Connacht final appearance in the Sligo colours. It won’t be too long before they are celebrating a Connacht title.

For the experienced McCann & Golden it was a repeat of this year’s Connacht 40 x 20 final overturning Roscommon’s victory in February.   McCann & Golden had to battle all the way before defeating the Rossies Dermot Doolin & Ger Walsh by 21-14, 21-19. Saturday’s win for the Ballymote men was their their 9^th provincial together.

  

The Silver Masters B doubles pairing of Martin Cooney & Tom Foody came out the wrong side of a narrow loss to Mayo’s George Miller & Kevin Cox in St. Coman’s Roscommon on Thursday evening. Cooney & Foody had opportunities to take the title especially in the second game when leading 19-16. Mayo came back strongly at Sligo getting the all important points to take the second game forcing the tiebreaker Sligo took a 10-4 lead up in the tie breaker but it proved to be their last score as Mayo piled on the pressure and took control finishing stronger against the tiring Sligo players.

There was further disappointment for the Golden Masters B pairing of Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte who lost to Mayo’s Joe Cummins & John Conroy from Mayo for the second year in a row in a Connacht final by 13-21, 14-21

Connacht Championships 60 x 30 finals:

Saturday 3^rd August  in Williamstown at 6 pm.

Junior B doubles: Martin Brannigan & Simon Cavanagh (Sligo) lost to Liam O’ Ceallagh & Joe Fallon (Roscommon) 19-21, 21-20, 12-21

Golden Masters A doubles:  Francis McCann & Martin Golden (Sligo)  dft Ger Walsh & Dermot Doolin (Roscommon) 21-14, 21-19

Saturday 3^rd August in St. Coman’s Roscommon at 5 p.m.

Golden Masters B doubles:  Stanley Harte & Peter Chambers (Sligo) lost to John Conroy & Joe Cummins (Mayo) 13-21, 14-21

Silver Masters B doubles:  Martin Cooney & Tom Foody (Sligo) lost to George Miller & Kevin Cox  (Mayo) 21-20, 19-21, 10-21

Connacht championships 60 x 30 finals

Wednesday 7^th August in Collooney at 6 p.m.

Emerald Masters A doubles:  Hugh McGarry & Michael McMorrow (Sligo) v Kevin Geraghty & Pat Hopkins (Mayo)

 Two Bronze medals for Gerry Coleman

Gerry Coleman from the Collooney handball club won 2 bronze medals at the World Police & Fire in  One-Wall & 40 x 20  games in Belfast at the weekend.

Colllooney handball club will officially start the construction to the new 40 x 20 handball court on Monday 12^th August.