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
WHILE THE next group of adult handballers were doing the county proud in Offaly and Roscommon, the current crop did their bit to ensure it was a memorable weekend for the county as representatives secured victory in three from four semi-finals down for decision. It means the Banner County will contest a total of six All-Ireland finals.
Diarmaid Nash, Cathal Hannon and Masters pair Teddy O’Hanlon & John Cawley were all victorious in semi-finals over the weekend. Nash travelled to Claremorris to take on Stephen Cooney (Mayo) in Intermediate Singles and came away with a comprehensive 21-6, 21-11 win. This had been expected to be a very tight affair but from early on it was clear that the Tuamgraney man was always in contol, his supreme fitness giving him the edge.
Nash was also able fire off a string of low, powerful serves that the Connaught champion had little answer to. Nash will face a stiffer test in the final with Tyrone’s Ruairi Kelly waiting after the Red Hand man defeated Meath’s Carl Browne in the other semi. A tight affair was also expected in Clooney on Sunday and this one didn’t disappoint. Tulla clubman Cathal Hannon progressed to the Junior Singles final against Paul Lambert (Wexford) after he outfought Roscommon man Denis Creaton in a three-game thriller. Hannon won the first 21-11 before going down 21-15 in the second but rallied in the third and, playing some great shots, finished strongly to win 21-12.
On Staurday, John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon (Golden Masters B Doubles) were also made to batlle through three games before seeing off Galway’s Mike Shaughnessy and Willie Corcoran in Shannon. Having started slowly, the Clare pair came through on a 7-21, 21-10, 21-13 score. The Shannon-Tuamgraney duo will now play Kildare (Paul Ruane and Cyril Carr) in the decider. On Friday night, Sarah and Paula Loughnane were comprehensively beaten by Mayo in the Ladies Junior B Doubles semi-final.
Looking ahead, this weekend is Weekend 1 of All-Ireland Adult Finals and Clare will once again be aiming for silverware. Diarmaid Nash and Niall Malone take on Kilkenny duo Brian Manogue and Nicholas Anthony in the much anticipated Intermediate Doubles decider in Cappagh. In Ladies Intermediate Doubles, Anne Marie Fitzgerald and Lisa Loughnane will be carrying the underdogs card when they face Wicklow in Leixlip while John Cawley will be confident of taking the Golden Masters B Singles crown when he plays Meath’s Jimmy Reilly in Crinkle. Weekend two of All-Ire- land finals, featuring our semi-finals winners from the weekend just past, will be April 9 and 10.
All- Ireland Adult 40×20 Semi- Finals:
Diarmaid Nash (Clare) beat Stephen Cooney (Mayo) 21-6 , 21-11 (Cathal Hannon (Clare) beat Denis Creaton (Roscommon) 21-11, 15-21, 21-12 John Cawley/Teddy Hanlon (Clare) beat Mike Shaughnessy &Willie Corcoran (Galway) 7-21, 21-10, 21-13 Ciara McMenamon, Clodagh McMenamon (Mayo) beat Sarah Loughnane, Paula Loughnane Clare) 21-4, 21-3
Fixtures:
All-Ireland Adult 40×20 Finals,Weekend 1 SATURDAY 9th APRIL: in Leixlip, Kildare, 3.30pm: Ladies Intermediate Doubles: Lisa Loughnane/ Annmarie Fitzgerald (Clare) v Shauna Hilley/Sandra Barnes (Wicklow) SUNDAY 10th APRIL: in Cappagh, Limerick, 2pm: Intermediate Doubles Final: Nicholas Anthony/ Brian Manogue (Kilkenny) v Diarmuid Nash/Niall Malone (Clare) SUNDAY 10th APRIL: in Crinkle, Offaly, 2.30pm: Golden Masters B Singles Final: Jimmy Reilly (Meath) v Clare (John Cawley (Clare)