Handball Scene

By Paddy Collins

It was a busy weekend for Handball with both Juveniles & Adults contesting All Ireland Finals.

On Saturday in Tuamgraney, Tipperary had three girls on the Munster Inter-Provincial team. Emily Monaghan & Katlyn Ryan Dempsey from Ballina, and Molly Joyce from Newport. They were up against a very strong Leinster team in the final and were defeated 87 to 56.

Next on the programme in Tuamgraney was the Boys U12/13 Team Final against Kilkenny where the Tipperary team of Alfie Finn, Conor Nolan & Shay Lonergan (Carrick-on-Suir), Paddy Delaney & Johnny Delaney (Cashel) and Joe Finch & Gearóid White (Lahorna) had to settle for silver medals.

In the Adult grades, Tipperary players were in three Leinster venues on Sunday.

In Crinkle, Billy Mullins from Clonmel had an easy victory in the Over 70 Singles beating Mayo’s Eugene Moloney 21/1, 21/3.

In the Diamond Masters ‘A’ Singles, Clonmel’s Kevin Mullins lost to Tom McCormack from Mayo by the narrowest of margins, 11/10 in a tie-break.

In the Golden Masters ‘B’ final, John Kennedy from Silvermines was beaten by Josian Oskocz from Sligo 21/16, 21/9.

In Clogh, Kilkenny, in the Golden Masters ‘A’, Ballina’s Martin McInerney had a tough encounter with Conor Maxwell from Dublin. After some long rallies, the Dublin man came out on top 21/14, 21/10.

Ballina’s Karen Monaghan contested the Ladies Over 35 Singles against Meath’s Sinead Forde who cruised to an easy 21/5 first game win. The second game was close early on until Karen, with some great serving and passing shots, went on to win 21/14. In the tie-break, the Meath girl looked to have the game won when leading 7-0 but a great fightback by Karen saw the game level and although Forde went served twice more, the title went to Tipperary winning 11/7.

In Kilfane, in the Junior ‘B’ Singles, David Reilly from Ballyporeen was very unlucky, losing out in a tie-break 11/6 to Dan Connors from Wexford.

In the Under 21 Singles Final, Evan Carey from Ballina was up against Jamie Barron from Kilkenny. The Tipp man put in a great effort but the scoreline didn’t reflect how close the game was, especially in the first.