Amerian dream for Donal – World Champion
To win a world title in any sport is the dream of every athlete. That dream came true last Saturday, when Fenagh and Leitrim handballer, Donal Wrynn won the world U-15 one wall singles title in Portland Oregon USA.
The All-Ireland runner up in the U-15 final earlier this year went to America to the World Championships to gain experience in playing against the top world players. The schedule was very tough, with Donal playing 10 matches (21 games) in 3 days.
Donal competed at U-15 level in three competitions, winning the World Onewall title, reaching the final of the 40×20 doubles with Michael Lalor of Galway as his partner. In the 40×20 single competition he was narrowly defeated at the quarter final state by the eventual champion Padraig McKenna of Monaghan.
In the one wall competition, Donal got a bye in the first round before facing Julio Garcia of the USA, whom he dispatched 11 and 12 in a 15 point game. He faced the number one seed, Barry Nash of Clare in the semi-final with Donal edging out the Clare Supremo 5-4 in a tie breaker. The final saw Donal at his best, defeating Michael Lalor of Galway 15-2, 15-4. to take the world title.
He very nearly pulled off a second title as ironically, he teamed up with Lalor in the 40×20 doubles competition, defeating Costello and Egan of Roscommon in round one, Pumphrey and Walsh of Canada in the quarter finals and Colin Crehan(Clare) and Darren Doherty (Monaghan) before going under to Malone and Nash of Clare in the final.
Donal will fly in tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) into Dublin Airport and it is expected that he will arrive in Rooskey at 7:30pm followed by a stop in Mohill at 7:45pm and finally to arrive to a huge celebration in Fenagh at 8pm.
Many congratulations to Donal on bringing a World title to Leitrim and Fenagh!
Click here to view Donals progress – One Wall – Boys Singles 15 and Under
12-Oct-09 by Handball PRO
