Leitrim Handball news

Connacht Minor Title For Leitrim

Fenaghs Shane Doonan and Donal Wrynn took the Connacht 40×20 Minor Doubles title on Sunday last in St Comans Roscommon when they defeated Galways Eanna Kelehan and Conor Noone on a score line of 21-6, 21-10. As the score suggests the Fenagh duo were in complete control with the Galway pair no match for the strength and skill of the Leitrim men. This win secured Donals second Connacht Minor Title having won the Connacht Minor 40×20 Singles title 2 weeks ago. The Leitrim pair now meet the Ulster Champions in the All-Ireland semi-final on March 10th.

Cuman na mBun Scoil Finals

The Leitrim Cuman na mBun Scoil 40×20 Finals were played in Drumshanbo on Sunday with St Caillains NS Fenagh and St Patricks NS Drumshanbo taking part in The Boys u11 section. Fenagh St Caillains emerged victorious with Cormac Scollan defeating Fergal Moran 15-7, 15-7 and Eoin McLoughlin and Fergal McLoughlin defeating Ciaran McMorrow and Gareth Gilmartin 15-2, 15-3. They join Robert Maguire u13, Oisin McLoughlin and David Wrynn u13D, Paula Gallagher u11 and Elizabeth Honeyman u13 in The Connacht Finals in Roscommon on February 25th.

Leitrim Handball Board AGM

At the recent AGM the following officers were elected:

Chairman: Jamie Murray, Vice Chairman John Joe Byrne

Secretary: Joel Smith, Ass Secretary: Mary Shanley.

Treasurer: Stephen Wrynn, Ass Treasurer: Martin Logan

PRO:Niall Scollan, Pat Wrynn.

Our out-going Chairman Peter Heaney was not up for re-election as he is now Connacht Council Chairman. This is the first Leitrim Handball Board without Peters involvement since it was established and without his drive and vision handball would be non existent in Leitrim. We wish him well in his new role.

National Congress

Leitrim is hosting this years congress on March 18th in The Landmark Hotel.

 

 

13-Feb-12 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Handball News – 28 March 2010

Results.

Over the weekend Leitrims Ladies Connacht champions encountered tough opposition at the
all Ireland semi-final stage of the championship. Last years junior C singles all Ireland champion, Mary Shanley travelled all the way to Kilkenny city on Saturday to play Marie T ONeill. Mary had to bow out to a much more experienced player. Her Kilkenny opponent
dominated the game through out. Also on Saturday at Roscommon Ciara McLoughlin battled with great heart against a very accomplished player in Aoife McCarthy of Westmeath. The doubles pairing of Michelle Gaffney & Lenora Nellis also found the same Aoife MCarthy with doubles partner Niamh Egan a formidable duo.

Juvenile B Championship finals at Castlebar.

U12D Ruadhan O Curraoin & Oisin O Cualain (Galway) dft
Jarlath Scollan & Alan Wrynn(Leitrim)15-9,15-10.

U16S Colm MacDonnachadha (Galway) dft Paul Hazlett 15-4, 15-6.

U17S Tony Keane (Galway) Defeated James Hazlet (Leitrim) 15-14,15-10.

All Ireland Semi-Finals.

Ladies Junior C at Mullingar.
Aoife McCarthy & Niamh Egan (Westmeath) dft
Michelle Gaffney & Lenora Nellis (Leitrim) 21-11,21-8.

At Roscommon Aoife McCarthy(Westmeath) dft Ciara McLoughlin (Leitrim) 21-10,21-5.

In the Ladies Junior at O Loughlins Kilkenny.
Marie T ONeill(Kilkenny) dft Mary Shanley (Leitrim) 21-5, 21-6.

Fixtures.

Enter County Juvenile B team of 6 at Salthill Monday 5th April.
Trials to pick a Leitrim team for this competition are ongoing.

Community games semi-finals at Oxfield County Sligo on Saturday 10th April.
Leitrim will be represented by the Fenagh Club with an U13 team.

Entry forms for the Irish Nationals competition and the Williamstown One-Wall Tournament are available for download from the irish handball homepage. Also available from your local club.

 

 

30-Mar-10 by Stephen Wrynn – Handball PRO

Handball Heroes of Connacht – Mary Shanley & Fenagh

The Provincial Award winners have all been announced and now its time to get the glad rags on for the GAA Handball National All-Star Awards Banquet on Friday 4th December. Connachts 14 nominees are eagerly awaiting the Awards night, with some top names amongst the list.

Player of the Year nominee, Mayos Dessie Keegan, has been one of the top senior handballers over the past few years and this year joined forces with Joe McCann to dethrone reigning champions, Cavans Paul Brady and Michael FinnÓgan in the Senior 40×20 Doubles Final.

"It was a very exceptional year for me winning the Senior Doubles with Joe, but I suppose it was how we won the final, and who we defeated that made it really special," said Keegan.

"Michael (FinnÓgan) and Paul (Brady) are two world class players, and only a handful of people have ever Brady, so it was an unbelievable win for us."

Connacht handball had a very successful 2009 and hosted one of the most memorable events of the year, the One-Wall Nationals, in Breaffy House, Castlebar.

"It was a superb event and I think it showed everyone what can happen when new ideas are brought to the table," said Keegan. "

Connacht has the potential to be a very strong province in handball and there is plenty of untapped talent here; the Roadshow earlier in the year proved that."

Awarding talent will be top of the agenda on December 5th, and all five Connacht counties will be represented on the night. Following her All-Ireland Junior success, Leitrims Mary Shanley is the provinces Female Player of the Year. Her club, Fenagh, is also nominated for the Club of the Year Award, following a very successful 12 months for them.

Mayo have Stephen Cooney and Pauline Gallagher as the Young Player of the Year nominees in the male and female categories and both players had outstanding success in 2009. Masters Player of the Year Award in Connacht went to Pat Hopkins (Mayo) who collected his first All-Ireland title earlier in the year.

Galways Martin Mulkerrins, who brought home two World Championship titles from Portland, is the Youth Player of the Year nominee, while fellow double world champion, Roscommons Lauren O Riordan is the Female Youth Player of Year nominee.

The National Awards Banquet will be a very special occasion, honouring many of the stars and many dedicated individuals within the sport from every province and the Connacht Official of the Year Award went to Galways Tony Audley, from the Moycullen club. Clubperson of the Year went to the well-deserving, Tadhg Ó Churraidhín from Galway, who has worked tirelessly in his club, Cumann Michael Breathnach.

Coach of the Year went to Newports Liam Burke, who has been a stalwart of handball in Mayo for many years, while Sligos Paddy Walsh is the Special Achievement Nominee. Hall of Fame winner in Connacht is Galways Mike Keady, and the Connacht Team of the Year went to the Ballymoe Junior Interclub Team, following their All-Ireland success in 2009.

 

 

26-Nov-09 by GAAHandball.ie

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

Fenagh

Fenagh Handball Club held their AGM recently. More news later.

 

 

12-Apr-09 by Peter Heaney

All Ireland title for Mary

Mary Shanley from Kilclare, achieved the ultimate glory in winning the All Ireland Ladies Junior title in Croke Park today – Sunday 5th April.

She defeated Ashling Behan from Laois 21:15 &  21:11. It is just reward for this  hardworking, talented player and a great achievement for her personally and for Leitrim Handball.

Well done Mary..a full report and profile on Marys achivement to follow later.

Meanwhile Donal Wrynne from Fenagh put in a gallant performance in the All Ireland 40×20 Boys Under 15 Singles recently.  Unfortunately his Cork opponent, Patrick Herlihy, came out on top on a scoreline of 21-19, 21-7.

 

 

05-Apr-09 by Brendan Christy – Handball

Leitrim in Croke Park

In August last a group from the Na Fianna Handball Club in Dublin, came to the Fenagh Handball court to play a friendly with a Leitrim selection. It was a very enjoyable day, so it was decided then that a return would be made to the Na Fianna club before the end of the year.

This took place on Saturday the 1st of December, as a group from Fenagh, Drumkeerin and Drumshambo Clubs made there way to the Na Fianna Handball Court, which is no other but the famous Croke Park court.

It was a great occasion for these youngsters just to be in this famous court but also to have the opportunity to play here, and play they did in both the 40×20 and the 60×30 courts. All it being a friendly occasion,there were many competitive matches on the day. The friendship that were formed on the first meeting in Fenagh were obviously not forgotten,and friendship were quickly renewed.

A trip of the great Croke Park took place, taking in the dressing rooms, Corporate areas, press rooms..etc..a very interesting tour,and everyones thought was that the place looks even bigger when it is empty!

It was a great day everyone enjoyed it,and is now penciled in as a annual event, and hopefully a overnight to go with it next year.

Many thanks to the Na Fianna Club for there hospitality and helpfullness and especially Kevin and Frank,two guys who work really hard at this level of coaching their juveline players,and have a great way with them in this regard.

 

 

15-Dec-08 by Brendan Christy – Handball

Handball – 60 x 30 Championship Final

The Leitrim 60 x 30 Championship has beenÓgoing on for the last three weeks with preliminary games been played in Fenagh and Drumkeeran Alleys. 24 Players took part. The final was Played in Fenagh on Sunday 7th Dec between Eddie Lee from Fenagh and Danny Reilly from Gortletteragh.

Two great games of Handball ended in Eddie Lee winning out the Final. This is the first time the 60×30 championship has been played for in a number of years due to work going on at both alleys

The New perpetual Shield Presented by Dessie and Seamus Doyle for the Doyle Family in Honour of their Father Tom a renowned handballer in his day.

Tom was instrumental in the construction of the 60 x 30 alley in Drumshanbo some years ago and introducing handball to the Drumshanbo area.

Leitrim Handball Board would like to thank the Doyle family for donating the Shield for this competition.

Photos now in the Gallery

 

 

10-Dec-08 by Martin Logan

Fenagh win Matthew Dolan Cup

On Sunday the 2nd Nov the 60×30 handball season came to a end with the Finale of the Matthew Dolan Memorial Cup competition taking place in Fenaghs new handball court.

The finale of this Doubles competition was between Fenagh and Drumkeerin, and is held in the memory of the late Matthew Dolan R.I.P.

All matches are Doubles and features Boys Under 14,  Boys Under 16 , Juveniles, Girls, and Senior mens.

It is played 2 games to 15 and each game won takes a point!

The Under14 match, was between Cathal McCauley and Paul Hazlette, Drumkeerin,  Sean Doonan and Cillian O Rourke, Fenagh. This ended all square with each team getting a game.

Next was the Under 16 and Fenagh was represented by Andrew Wrynn and Michael Doonan, and Drumkeerin by the McHugh brothers Patrick and Felim. The Drumkeerin lads won this game 2-0

The Juvelines were next on Court with the impressive Donal Wrynn and Enda McLoughlin (F),  and James Hazlette and Michael Gallagher (D) facing each other! The Fenagh pair were very strong in this grade and ran out comfortable winners!

The match now stood at 3 all,as the Girls took to the court with Michelle McNama and Shauna Clancy (D) taking on the Fenagh pairing of Ciara McLoughlin and Michelle Gaffney. A good entertaining game saw the teams share the points, leaving the teams level, as the heavyweights took to the court, the Seniour mens finale!

Fenagh represented by their Captain Jamie Murray and Ed Lee, facing Joel Smyth (Cap) and Junior Hazlette and what a exciting and entralling game it was with some great rallies, kills and had the crowd getting behind their team vocally and made a very exciting finale!

The Fenagh lads proved to strong in the end winning on a score of 15-11, and 15-13 but it was a lot closer that the scoreline suggests,with the Drumkeerin lads serving at 13 -11 for the game but Feneagh showed great character to get back in and take the match.

A special word for Junior Hazlette, who relatively knew nothing about handball until very recently,and really put in a great performance,and one would not figure this fact watching him on Sunday.

A great days handball was enjoyed by a large crowd of young and old and the Matthew Dolan Memorial Cup was presented to the Fenagh Captain, Jamie Murray by the Dolan family.

See pictures of the day in the Gallery.

 

 

06-Nov-08 by Brendan Christy – Handball

Young Handballers impress in New Competition

On Sunday October 19, eleven Juvenile Handballers from Leitrim took part in a newly introduced competition introduced by Connacht Council and spearheaded by Juvenile Chairman Francis McCann,and Senior Chairman Hugh McGarry.

The Boys and Girls seeded Doubles 60×30 Under 14 competition saw all five Connacht Counties represented in a unique competition where a player was drawn to partner a player from another county.

The promoting of this type of competition is the development of the young handballers game,but also to develop the

player in communicating and forming friendships,and to this end it was a huge success as players from different counties paired together could be seen chatting and laughing on the practise courts together.

The importance of this type of competition,and format was illustrated by the presence of Handball President Tony Hannon,as well as Hugh McGarry and Francis McCann.

They were rewarded with great matches on the day,with the eventual winners Conal Walsh of Roscommon and Kennan Brennan of Mayo,defeating Paul Hazlette of Leitrim and Enda Connelly of Roscommon.

The Plate finale also had Leitrim representatives with the winners,Shane Doonan of Leitrim and Gary Kelly of Mayo defeating Adrian Forde of Leitrim and Conor Forde of Galway.

The Girls competition had Leitrim success with Michelle McNama, Deirdre Davitt, and Michaelaigh Nolan all having success representing the County.

 

A big word of thanks to the sponsors of this event::  Envirogreen and Mr Hugh McGarry.

 

 

01-Nov-08 by Brendan Christy – Handball