Handball News: Connacht Gael Linn Handball success – Cumann Na mBunscol Final’s – Sophie for Leitrim Sports star

Connacht Gael Linn Handball success for Fenagh’s Ruairi and Sophie.

Huge congratulations to Ruairi Mc Kiernan & Sophie Kane who won the Gael Linn 40×20 mixed doubles Connacht final hosted in Collooney Co. Sligo on Sunday last.

Representing their club Fenagh and Leitrim Handball in this novel competition, Ruairi and Sophie entered the alley in Collooney with strong ambition based on their recent form.  Each round was played over three matches consisting of a boy’s singles match, a girl’s singles, match and a mixed doubles match. In their quarter final tussle, the  Fenagh duo went about their business methodically to see off a Claregalway combination by an aggregate scoreline of 43-25 over the three matches.

Playing a duo from Bofield Co. Mayo in the semi-final, the Fenagh combination were made to work all the way through an epic three match marathon which took almost an hour to decide! With everything to play for Ruairi and Sophie needed to get a result from their mixed doubles match!  Bofield took an early 12:4 lead however unperturbed the Fenagh duo rallied superbly playing magnificent handball to take the match on a 15:12 scoreline. This was just enough to see them through to the final by the bare minimum aggregate score of 41:40!

Buoyed up by their tough semi-final games, the Fenagh combination met a formidable brother-sister combination from Moycullen Co, Galway in the Final. Watched on by a full house in Collooney,  Ruairi and Sophie played with confidence and composure in their singles matches beating their opponents by an aggregate score of 30-7 meaning they couldn’t be caught in the doubles match, and the Connacht Gael Linn title was coming to Leitrim.

Ruairi and Sophie now go on to represent Fenagh and Leitrim in the Gael Linn All Irelands finals in the national handball centre in Croke Park in  two weeks’ time.   The first Croke Park appearance for Leitrim in 2025!

 

County Leitrim Cumann Na mBunscol Final’s 2025

Drumshanbo handball alley in the Mayflower was standing room only on Sunday afternoon last for the 2025 Leitrim Cumann na mBunscol Finals.  Seven schools from across the county competed in boys and girls singles and doubles competitions in under 11 and under 13 categories. In what was their first competitive outing for many, all participants showed off great skill and confidence in the alley and their schools and handball clubs can be very proud of their accomplishments.

Pick of the matches on the day was the boys u13 singles final when Mark MacShera representing St Patricks NS Drumshanbo, and Ruairi McKiernan for St Bridget’s NS Drumcong served up a top-class display of handball with some astounding rallies.  However, Mark did enough to ensure the gold medal stayed in Drumshanbo this year. Also, the u13 boys doubles final served up a thriller when the clock ran out with only a single score dividing the St Brigids NS pairing of Sam Conroy and Kian McNabola from the Annaduff dynamic duo of Conor Cox and Enda Sharkey.

In line with the national renaissance in handball it was also exciting to see additional Leitrim schools rejoin this year’s event when Darragh Sutherland who trains with Annaduff Handball club represented Bornacoola NS in the boys u11 singles competition.

A big thank you to all the coaches, parents and teachers who prepared the children so brilliantly for Sunday, and to all in Drumshanbo Handball who looked after everyone so well on the day.

Congratulations to all the winners who now go forward to represent their schools and Leitrim in the Connacht Cumann na mBunscol finals in March.

 

 

Sophie for Leitrim Sports star.

Best wishes to Fenagh and Leitrim Handball’s Sophie Kane who is nominated in the juvenile category in the  Leitrim Sports Star awards next weekend.  Sophie is a brilliant ambassador for Leitrim Handball and her dedication and commitment to the sport makes her a great role model for all young people in the county.  Go néirí léi.