She's Ace Handball Sat/ Sun 16-17th November

                                                      She's Ace Handball

Willl be held in Breaffy House Castlebar on Sat/Sunday 16-17th November. Grades will be from U-11 upwards in both 40 x 20 & One Wall events. (Girls only)

More details and online entry on GAA Handball Website very soon

Steel work begins on Collooney handball court

The steel work arrived today and work has already started on erecting the steel for the new 40 x 20 handball court. Photos with thanks to  Seamus Duffy & Shane Bruen & Connell Cannon

Paddy Walsh is All-Ireland handball champion

Sligo handball legend Paddy Walsh with his All-Ireland medal

Walsh weaves his magic

Sligo handball legend Paddy Walsh captured his 29^th All-Ireland handball title with a thrilling victory over Cork’s Pat O’Brien in Tuamgraney Clare on Saturday, writes Michael McGee

O’Brien defeated Walsh in the 40x 20 singles final last April in the same venue. This time Walsh was ready and prepared well going into the final.

Walsh had a whirlwind start racing into an 18-1 lead.  The St. Mary’s club player was simply outstanding in the opening game.  With excellent serving and finishing he took a commanding lead. O’Brien got a brace of points but Walsh finished the opening game in fine style with a kill into the left corner taking it by 21-6

The second was a rip roaring contest with O’Brien trying to get to grips with Walsh’s mesmerizing onslaught.  At 13-13 in the second O’Brien looked to be gaining control but Walsh’s worked his magic yet again and left the leg weary O’Brien in his wake.  Walsh at 73 years of age covered every inch of the Clare court like a young Usain Bolt, and with superior finishing O’Brien simply had no answer. The Clare venue was captivated by Walsh’s spellbinding performance. 

Walsh took a vice like grip on proceedings.   O’Brien could not add to his overall tally. The Sligo handball star scintillating display led to an impressive victory in the end by 21-13.  It was Walsh’s twenty ninth All-Ireland handball title in a glorious career. It was a long journey to Clare but the return journey will have been one of the shortest and the sweetest ever for the Sligo handball legend.

“Walsh is the father figure in Sligo handball and his display on Saturday was both outstanding and inspirational.  His passion for the game knows no bounds.  His exploits last weekend will I expect be the catalyst for the next generation of Sligo handball players to try to emulate what our star handballer has achieved since winning his first All-Ireland title back in 1974.  Just like his famous namesake Michael “Ducksy” Walsh of Kilkenny handball fame Paddy Walsh has already left an indelible mark on Sligo handball. The senior statesman is already looking forward to the 2014 season with great optimism.”

Martin Donnelly sponsored All-Ireland handball 60 x 30 championships finals:

Over 70’s:  Paddy Walsh (Sligo) dft Pat O’Brien (Cork) 21-6, 21-13

There was no joy for Sligo players  in the All-Ireland Juvenile 60 x 30 championships semi-finals played in Kilfane Kilkenny on Sunday.  Jason Earlis was defeated by Kilkenny’s J.J. English  21-8, 21-8  in the U-17 singles while the doubles pairing of Stanley Harte & Patrick Fox also came up short against Kilkenny’s  Darragh O’Shea & Mark Dowling by 21-10, 21-14 in the U-17 doubles.

Jason Earlis on left with Kilkenny's J.J. English All-Ireland U-17 singles semi-final ( photo thanks to Martin Cooney)

Walsh’s wizardry to win handball title - Earlis, Harte & Fox’s cuteness to tame the cats in All-Ireland Juvenile semi-finals

The legendary Paddy Walsh

Walsh’s wizardry to win handball title

Sligo’s greatest ever handball player Paddy Walsh is back in an All-Ireland final and it may prove to be his sweetest yet, writes Michael McGee

Legendary Sligo handball player Paddy Walsh contests the Over 70’s singles final in Tuamgraney on Saturday.  His opponent is Cork’s Pat O’Brien. Walsh won’t have happy memories of his last visit to Tuamgraney to play O’Brien. It was the Cork man who defeated Walsh in the 40 x 20 singles final last April by 21-11, 21-11. Amazingly Walsh reached the 60 x 30 final without having to play a competitive game in the Championships.

Veteran Walsh won his first All-Ireland title back in 1974 and thirty nine years later he is aiming for his twenty ninth title in an amazing career.  The St. Mary’s star is reportedly going well in practice games and is training in the Drumkeeran handball alley this week ahead of his trip to Clare. Walsh’s last All-Ireland win was 3 years ago when winning the Ruby Masters doubles with Mick Kelly. Walsh has also won 7 Senior County GAA titles with Collooney/Ballisodare in the 1970’s and 1 title with St. Mary’s.  The septuagenarian is a hungry as ever to win another coveted All-Ireland title. The maestro with the heart of a lion  his vast experience should be enough to earn him another historic handball title.   It’s a long way from Clare to Sligo but the return journey for Walsh may turn out to be the shortest and the sweetest ever for Sligo’s herculean handball hero

Martin Donnelly sponsored All-Ireland 60 x 30 championships finals

Saturday 14^th September in Tuamgraney, Clare at 4pm

Over 70 Singles: Sligo (Paddy Walsh) v Cork (Pat O’Brien)

Earlis, Harte & Fox’s cuteness to tame the cats

Sligo Juvenile players make the long journey to Kilfane in Co. Kilkenny for the All-Ireland Juvenile 60 x 30 championships semi-finals. Jason Earlis Boys U-17 singles & Stanley Harte & Patrick Fox are all up against Kilkenny opponents. Earlis from the Castleconnor club has made huge strides in handball in the last twelve months. In July the Sligo teenager helped the Castleconnor club to an historic first provincial Interclub handball title at Junior B level and followed this up two weeks ago when winning the Boys U-17 singles Connacht title. Earlis defeated Mayo’s Patrick Cummins in straight games in an impressive display. His opponent on Sunday J.J. English defeated Wexford’s Bryan Kehoe in the Leinster final. If Earlis can maintain his great form this year and keep mistakes down to the minimum he has every chance of advancing to the final.

For Patrick Fox & Stanley Harte both from the Collooney club have also arrived at the semi-final stage following an inspiring Connacht campaign at U-17 doubles. Fox & Harte accounted for Mayo’s Nathan Massey & Alan Kenny in the provincial final. The duo have the ability of progressing further but will have to be more clinical when opportunities arise. In the Connacht final they allowed their Mayo opponents back into it especially in the first game but managed to regain their composure to take the opening game. In the second Fox & Harte produced moments of magic before seeing out the game in fine style. In Kilkenny’s Darragh O’Shea & Mark Dowling there won’t be any second chances and  Fox & Harte will have to keep their composure and perform to the standards the duo are well capable off. Sligo Juvenile players have been starved of success at Juvenile level for the past number of years but Jason Earlis, Patrick Fox & Stanley Harte are all talented handballers and have the skill and determination to reach the finals.

All-Ireland Juvenile 60 x 30 championships semi-finals
Sunday 15^th September in Kilfane Co.Kilkenny at 11 a.m.
  
Boys U-17 singles: Jason Earlis (Sligo) v   J. J. English  (Kilkenny)
 Boys U-17 Doubles: Stanley Harte & Patrick Fox (Sligo) v Darragh O’Shea & Mark Dowling (Kilkenny)

Jason Earlis Boys U-17 Singles

                                       Patrick Fox & Stanley Harte Boys U-17 doubles

Connacht titles for Earlis, Fox & Harte

"Opening the door" - Jason Earlis Connacht U-17 singles  60 x 30 champion 

Connacht titles for Ealis, Fox & Harte writes Michael McGee.

Juvenile players are continuing their huge potential and this was evident in the Connacht Juvenile Championships which took place in the newly opened 60 X 30 court in Belcarra on Saturday. Sligo was represented in the Boys U17 singles & doubles & Girls U16 singles.  Sligo made it a U-17 double with Jason Earlis singles & Stanley Harte & Pat Fox all securing titles for the Yeats County.

Earlis from the Castleconnor club who has already cemented a great season for the Sligo teenager when he was part of the Castleconnor side that won an historic first Connacht Interclub 60 x 30 title in July. Earlis had a terrific battle with Galway’s Ronan O’Beolain in the semi-final but came through  a testing challenge by 21-12, 21-12. In the final he defeated Mayo’s Pat Cummins comprehensively by 21-5, 21-4. Earlis will meet the Leinster champion in two weeks time in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Representing Sligo in the doubles was an all Collooney combination of Stanley Harte Jnr & Patrick Fox  who defeated Mayo’s Nathan Massey  & Alan Kenny in a hard fought match. The Sligo players  went into an 16-8 lead but let it slip with a Mayo comeback. Harte & Fox’s shot selection let them down at times and in a tense finale to the first game Sligo held their nerve and took the opening game by 21-17. In the second a more relaxed Harte & Fox played exceptional handball and took complete control with superior finishing winning out by 21-7. Harte & Fox will now face Leinster champions in Kilkenny’s Darragh O’Shea & Mark Dowling in the All-Ireland semi-finals. Sligo’s prospects of a treble at the Connacht finals ended when Aoife Quinn was defeated by Roscommon’s Fiona Tully in straight games in the Girls U-16 singles final.

Sligo only representatives in the All-Ireland handball 60 x 30 championships semi-finals Francis McCann & Martin Golden lost out to Meath’s Christy McGovern & John “ Boy” Molloy from Meath by 12-21, 13-21 in the Golden Masters A doubles.  McCann recovered sufficiently from an injury the previous week to play the game and gave a terrific display. Despite McCann’s gutsy performance the Meath duo’s overall strength unhinged Sligo and paved the way for the win for the Royal county men.

Connacht Juvenile A 60 x 30 championships finals:

Boys U17 singles:  Jason Earlis (Sligo) dft  Pat Cummins (Mayo) 21-5, 21-4

Boys U-17 doubles: Stanley Harte & Patrick Fox (Sligo)  dft  Nathan Massey & Alan Kenny (Mayo) 21-17, 21-7

Girls U-16 singles:  Aoife Quinn (Sligo) lost to Fiona Tully (Roscommon) 6-21, 5-21

All-Ireland 60 x 30 championships semi-finals

Golden Masters A doubles:  Francis Mc Cann & Martin Golden (Sligo) lost to Christy McGovern & John Boy Molloy (Meath) 12-21, 13-21