This article is from page 59 of the 2011-02-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 59 JPG
TUAMGRANEY’S Diarmaid Nash again tasted national handball success with a stunning victory at the All-Ireland Intervarsities Championships in Kingscourt, Cavan over the weekend. Representing NUI Galway, Nash won the Men’s Open title when he defeated Tipperary man Fergal Collins in the final. Nash had overcome Waterford’s David Walsh and Kilkenny man Nicholas Anthony in the quarter and semi-final respectively.
Nash’s Tuamgraney and NUIG clubmate Niall Malone also reached the Open semi-finals with an impressive win over ITT’s Shane Hedigan but Ballina man Collins had too much for Malone on the day and the reigning All-Ireland under 21 Champion went into the final against Nash. The Scariff native came out on top in Sunday’s decider 21-18, 21-7.
There was also victory for Clooney’s Lisa Loughnane (University of Limerick) when she claimed the Ladies B title with an 11-7 tie-break win in the final against Linda Connolly (RCSIA). Nash’s win in Cavan capped a busy but successful weekend for the Tuamgraney club at adult and juve- nile 40×20 levels. Friday night saw Munster Secondary Schools Championship wins for Alice Akers and Clodagh Nash. Alice (Scariff CC) won the Girls Junior Singles title while Clodagh (Ursuline Convent, Thurles) took the First Year’s crown after defeating Tuamgraney clubmate Katie Minogue (Scariff CC) in the final in Capagh, Limerick. Ciaran Malone (Scariff CC) reached the Boys Schools Intermediate Munster final but went down to Kilkishen’s Colin Crehan (Ard Scoil Ris) in a tie-breaker in Cappagh on Saturday. Barry Nash will this week be involved in the Leinster Schools championship, representing Cistercian College, Roscrea. Meanwhile, in the County Juvenile Championships, Tuamgraney will be represented in the under 12B Singles (Cian Minogue), Under 13B Singles (Ian Murray), Under 16A Doubles (Barry Nash, Patrick Fitzgerald) and Minor A Singles (Ciaran Malone). All five will be bidding to add to county titles won by Tuamgraney players Clodagh Nash (under 12) and Alice Akers (under 16). Tuamgraney will also be well rep resented in this year’s Munster adult Championships. Paul Healy played Under 21 Singles and Doubles (with Chris Ryan, Newmarket) for the county while Ciaran Malone will also play both Singles and Doubles (with Jamie Lynch, Kilkishen) at Minor grade. Malone has already won his first-round singles game as has Ciaran Walsh (Junior B Singles) who also partners Tom Kirby (Shannon) in Doubles.
Diarmaid Nash and Niall Malone will once again be gunning for glory when they compete in both Singles and Doubles at Intermediate and Senior grades. Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Ashling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady are all in line to represent Clare in the Munster Ladies Championship in what is already shaping up to be a very busy spring for Tuamgraney Handball Club in what is the club’s centenary year. Tuamgraney will also play League semi-finals in divisions 2 and 3 next week.