This article is from page 73 of the 2011-09-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 73 JPG
AS THE 60×30 handball season draws to a close, Clare were involved in three deciders on the last weekend of All-Ireland finals, winning two titles to add to Singles medals already captured by Pat Donellan and John Kirby.
All three finals were played at St. Coman’s in Roscommon Town on Saturday. First up was the Ladies Junior Singles final between Tuamgraney’s Ashling Fitzgerald and Aoife McCarthy of Westmeath. Fitzgerald won a great first game 21-19, but despite putting up a great battle, was defeated 21-11, 21-13 in the next two games.
Pat Donellan and Stephen McInerney played Cavan pair Andy Clarke and Dermot Dolan in the Golden Masters B Doubles final. Similar to Donellan’s epic singles final win two weeks previously, the Clare duo were again forced to go the full distance to claim victory in the third game on a 12-21, 21-9, 21-12 scoreline.
After recovering from losing the first game, the Kilkishen clubmen always looked in control and never looked like losing. Also always in control were John Kirby and Jimmy Walsh who won the Ruby Masters Doubles title. In truth the Dublin pair Michael O’Brien and Pat Ryan were no match and cousins Walsh and Kirby won 21-4, 21-1.
The Annual General Meeting of Clare County Handball Board takes place this Wednesday night in Minogue’s Bar, Tulla, at 8.30pm.