Leitrim Handball News

Action in the Connacht 60×30 Championship continued at the week-end with the Singles Championship at semi-final stage. There were five Leitrim Handballers in action: Martin Raftery (Intermediate), Leo Logan (Junior), Joel Smith (Junior B), Barry McDonagh (Junior C) and Ed Lee (Emerald Masters). Despite playing some top class handball none of Leitrims finest progressed to the finals. The Intermediate semi-final was played on Friday night in Williamstown between Drumshanbos Martin Raftery and Ollie Conway (Williamstown). This was Rafterys first time to play in the Intermediate Championship and he took the game to the experienced Conway, losing the first game 21-17, taking the second with a comprehensive win 21-9, but narrowly lost the tie break 21-18. In the Junior semi-final Leo Logan came up against a stronger Denis Creighton (Roscommon) in Roscommon on Saturday losing on a score line of 21-15, 21-14. The Junior B semi-final was played in Collooney between Joel Smith and Jason Earlis with the Sligo man taking the game 21-11, 21-15. In Junior C Barry McDonagh took on Mayos Aidan Connachton in Castlebar where he was defeated on a score line of 21-8, 21-10. To round off a disappointing week-end for Leitrims handballers Ed Lee was defeated in the Emerald Masters semi-final by Michael Hearty (Mayo), after taking the match to a tie break losing the first game 21-8, winning the second one 21-18, he lost the tie break 21-12.

The 60×30 Doubles semi-finals are fixed for this week-end with Leitrim having home advantage. The Intermediate pairing of Martin Rafery and Donal Wrynn, and Minor pairing of Jarlath Scollan and Alan Wrynne play in Fenagh on Sunday with a start time of 3.00pm where they face Galway opposition.