Productive weekend for Co. Galway handballers in various competitions

COLÁISTE na Coirbe students, Ciana Ní Churraoin and Roisín Ní Chonghaile claimed the junior girls doubles All-Ireland handball title with a facile two games to nil win over St. Mary High School, Lurgan’s, Niamh Coleman and Alana Doran at Kingscourt on Saturday last.

It was the second successive title for the talented duo who also claimed the 60x30 honours at the end of last year. Galway featured in a number of provincial finals on a weekend that saw more that a fair share of postponements and cancellations.

Alan Kelly and Michael Lalor claimed the minor doubles title with a comfortable win over Mayo challengers, Padraig Lydon and Peter Callaghan on a 21-13, 21-13 scoreline while Martin Conneely took the golden masters A singles title with a hard-earned 21-17, 21-18 victory over Michael Heraty from Aughagower.

Mike Shaughnessy and Willie Corcoran were Galway’s other winners as they easily brushed aside the challenge of Roscommon duo, J J Carroll and Paddy McDermott in two games. There were master’s singles defeats to Mayo and Sligo for J J Farragher, Gerry Lardner, Padhraic O’Flatharta and Gerry O Flatharta.

Meanwhile, Ollie Conway put in a fine performance against Kilkenny’s Nicholas Anthony in his senior singles qualifier but lost out narrowly 21-18, 21-19 at Crinkle on Sunday last.

St. Mary’s host the provincial 40x20 final from 11am on Sunday and while there are a number of outstanding semi-final ties against Sligo and Leitrim to be decided, Galway will feature in most of the finals against Roscommon and Mayo opposition.

Cian O Conghaile in the under 12 singles and Nathan Feeney and Stephen Raftery should fare well in their grade, while Desmond Conneely under 13 singles and Daniel Lydon and James Dempsey in the under 13 doubles play Mayo in two further finals.

In under 14 doubles Ross Walsh and hAnraoi Whyte will take on Brian Mannion and Michael Fallon of Roscommon for a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals while the match of the day will probably be the under 16 doubles final in which Conor Noone and Eanna Keleghan play experienced Roscommon duo, Colm Walshe and Conor Egan.

Stephen Tobin and Martin Flanagan face Mayo duo Alan Ryder and Diarmuid Browne of Mayo who has a surprise semi-final win over a fancied Roscommon pair at the weekend. The All-Ireland Gael Linn finals take place this Saturday, probably in Leixlip, and Eimear Ní Bhiadha and Cian Ó'Conghaile carry Galway’s hopes.