This article is from page 69 of the 2011-04-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 69 JPG
CLARE’S status as the leading county in the country for underage handball was showcased over the weekend when five All-Ireland titles were won between action that took place in Offaly and Roscommon.
First up in Crinkle on Saturday were the O’Callaghan’s Mills pairing of Jacob Loughnane and Ciaran Cooney. They came up against the Sheridan brothers form Meath and although they won the first game on a 15-5 scoreline they were edged out for the title.
Next up were Natasha Coughlan and Michelle Nihill of the Clooney Club in the Under 15 doubles crown. The Banner girls won the first game by 15-6 and although they were second best in the next game they recovery to take the title in impressive fashion.
The Coughlan family was well represented in the finals as next up on the card was the Under 14 doubles final where Fergal Coughlan and Jamie Keane took on a very formidable Wexford pairing.
This battle went to a tie-breaker after the first two game were shared before the Clare pairing clare took control with Coughlan exhibiting great control and composure and Keane solid in attack took the decider with a comprehensive 15-6 scoreline.
Last on the card was the boys Under 14 singles between Brian Fahy of Tulla and Daniel Curry of Wicklow. The last time these two met Curry just got the better of young Fahy, so he was out to make amends.
The first game went Fahy’s way only for Curry to bounce back and claim the second but the Tulla young- ster had the final say with a 15-6 win in the tie-break game.
The second part of the weekend took Clare competitors to St Colman’s Handball Club in Roscommon on Sunday where Clare’s contingent continued on their winning ways.
Tulla’s Colin Corbett and Niall Bolton took on a very strong Tyrone pair in the under 16 doubles – they lost the first game but showed their resolve to bounce back and claim the title thanks to winning the final game by 11-5.
Clare’s memorable weekend was then completed by Colin Crehan in the Under 16 singles when he faced down Monaghan’s Darren Doherty, who was a recent winner of the US National Under 15 title.
However, Crehan was up to the challenge, displaying great court intellect, great passing shots and court control in overwhelming his highly rated opponent on a 21-14, 21-11 scoreline.
The Banner County secured a total of 6 of the 15 All Ireland Juvenile Championship titles played to date with significant triumphs in the blue ribband Boys Under 14 and Under 16 Singles and Doubles competitions. With representation in one last final still to be played, the future is unquestionably very bright for the Munster county on this evidence.
The spread of titles from the 15 All Ireland Juvenile Championship Finals played to date is: Clare (5), Galway (2), Kerry (2), Armagh (2), Roscommon (1), Meath (1), Tipperary (1) and Limerick (1). Results Saturday @Crinkle
BU15D: Evan Sheridan, Dylan Sheridan (Meath) dft Jacob Loughnane, Ciaran Cooney (Clare) 5-15, 15-9, 15-4 GU15D: Natasha Coughlan/Michelle Nihill (Clare) dft Aisling Maher/Denise Love (Kilkenny) 15-6, 11-15, 15-6 BU14D: Fergal Coughlan/Jamie Keane (Clare) dft Seamus Sinnott/Ben O’Shea (Wexford) 15-3, 9-15, 15-6 BU14S: Brian Fahy (Clare) dft Daniel Curry (Wicklow) 15-12, 12-15, 15-6 GU17D: Hannah OBrien/Aine McInerny [Clare] v Lauren Barco/Mary Buggy (Kilkenny) to be refixed Sunday @Coman’s, Roscommon GU16S: Ciana Ni Churraoin (Galway) dft Maeve McElduff (Tyrone) 21-7, 21-4 BU16D: Niall Bolton, Colin Corbett [Clare] dft Patrick McCrory, Pol Clarke (Tyrone) 13-21, 21-13, 11-5 BU16S: Colin Crehan [Clare] dft Darren Doherty (Monaghan) 21-15, 21-12 BU15S: Daniel Hayes (Tipperary) dft Eugene McGeough (Monaghan) 11-15, 15-9, 15-10 GU17S: Cornelia Prendiville [Kerry] dft Niamh Farrell (Monaghan) 21-9, 21-1 GU15S:Anna Prendiville [Kerry] dft Amy McGrane (Kildare) 15-14, 15-9