Last weekend the Juvenile handball players of county Wexford provided a feast of big alley handball as the county juvenile handball finals took place in many venues over the county in fantastic high spirits with some fantastic performances on the court from many plays.
The 60 x 30 juvenile championships’ saw a total of 11 clubs and 107 player taking part and last weekend saw months of hard work by players and coaches turn into a show piece of the beautiful game.
Richard Lawlor from St Joseph’s club in Wexford town met his club colleague Richard Browne in the under 10 final and it was a repeat of the final from the small alley court earlier in the season. Richard Lawlor delivered the double of honours by winning this game, however, he was once again pushed all the way by his club mate and this tough competition that they provide each other should see them become very good players.
James Creane took the honours in a very close under 11 final as he got the better of Todd Hynes from St Mary’s. James Creane from St Joseph’s was beaten by the same opponent in the 40 x 20 singles final so he gained some revenge in this great game between the two clubs of Wexford town.
Patrick Boland completed a perfect season in the under 12 grade by capturing the title against Anthony Butler from Ballyhogue. Both of these two fantastic talents are awaiting Leinster finals in the coming weeks as Butler goes in search of the under 12 singles title. Meanwhile, Patrick Boland (Templeudigan) and Adam Walsh will compete for the major honours in the under 12 Leinster final shortly.
Thomas Hall from Castlebridge sits at the top of the tree in under 13 singles after winning a gripping final against Daniel Kavanagh from St Joseph’s. Kavanagh was the under 13 40 x 30 singles champion earlier in the year but Hall who missed the small alley season made sure to claim the honours in his favoured court by winning a very exciting game.
Féile na nGael skills winner only a few weeks ago, Oisín Foley from Castlebridge, took the under 14 singles title as he was made to produce his top game in a close final against Seamus Sinnott from St Martin’s.
The under 15 singles decider was a dual between two club mates from Bridgetown. Aaron Wright Power and Liam Shannon faced off in what promised to be a very exciting clash . On this occasion it was Aaron Wright Power who delivered the title to the club. However, one feels that training next week between these two impressive players could see a different result with the inter club rivalry a joy to watch last weekend.
The under 16 finals was one of the most anticipated mouth watering finals of the weekend and the final did not deliver as Gaelon Riordan from Ballyhogue was crowned champion against his old rival Oisín Foley from Ballyhogue,one thing is for sure these two names will be soon breaking into the adult ranks of Wexford handball and should be potential champions in the future through a wide variety of grades.
There was some very exciting finals played out in the B singles finals also over the weekend and Lukas Zilonis win in the under 11 B singles final added an international element to the results and his win was one of only a few fantastic B finals.
Under 10 B singles final
Cian Browne (Coolgreaney) beat Cian Kehoe (St Joseph’s)
Under 11 B singles final
Lukas Zilinois (St Joseph’s) beat Jake Clancy (St Joseph’s)
Under 12 B singles final
Enda Minogue (Ballyhogue) beat Luaras Zilinois (St Joseph’s)
Under 13 B singles final
Gavin Connolly (Templeudigan) beat Zigymantas Sniezka (St Joseph’s)
Under 10 C singles final
Cathal Connolly (Templeudigan) beat Gavin Murphy (St Joseph’s)
Girl’s Juvenile 60 x 30 finals
The young lady handballer’s of county Wexford are driving a new force of female handball that is sweeping county Wexford .Last weekend saw the talented girls of county Wexford take to the courts for the finals of the 60 x 30 season.
Cliodhna O’Connell from Coolgreaney collected the first title on offer last weekend with a very good win over Niamh Miller from Ballymitty in what an exciting opening to the girl’s finals.
Emer Phelan and Eva Creane from St Joseph’s were sent to dual it out on the big alley court and ended up meeting each other in the final of the under 11 singles. It was a very close and tremendous game of handball with Emer Phelan coming out on top on this occasion to collect the gold medal.
Róisín Walsh made it a second title for the St Joseph’s club when she also won an all St Joseph’s club final by beating her friend and club mate Aoife O’Neill in a gripping decider that had the supporters from all clubs very happy looking at the displays of handball by both players.
Chloe Cash (St Joseph’s) and Courtney Browne from Coolgreaney clashed in the final of the under 14 singles and it was Chloe Cash who completed a hat trick of success for the Wexford town club by defeating a gallant opponent Browne who will see her day come in the near future as both players possess the talent to become national heroes on the handball scene in the future.
Leinster 60 x 30 semi finals
Wexford secured five more final berths in this year’s 60 x 30 Leinster handball season with some great wins over the past week across the province.
David Kenny from Castlebridge, who is already in the junior B singles decider, secured a spot in the final of the Junior B doubles as he was joined by his Castlebridge club mate Diarmuid Smyth to beat Kilkenny brothers Brendan and Diarmuid Burke in ruthless fashion last week.
The purple and gold outfit won this south east derby on a 21-15, 21-5 score line.
Ballymitty duo Shane Rossiter and Jimmy Moran won an all Wexford Masters B doubles semi final as they got the better of John Roche and Malachy Whelan in a gripping final ,with the finals score line of 21-6, 11-21, 21-7 showing how good a game of handball this was.
Eugene Kelly was a very easy winner in the Over 35 B singles as he cut down Woods, Kevin Woods on a 21-0, 21-5 score line.
Pechelli English was unable to make it a clean sweep for Wexford players last week as he lost out to Billy Bourke from Kilkenny in the semi final of the Silver Masters A singles ith the Noresider producing the good on a 21-4, 21-11 score line.
60 x 30 Juvenile Leinster Semi Finals Results
Under 12 singles
Anthony Butler Wexford beat Carl Cribben Kildare
Under 13 doubles
Daniel Kavanagh /Alan Browne Wexford defeated Jack Tobin /Kevin Diggins Kildare
Under 13 singles
John Murphy Kildare beat Liam Shannon Wexford.
