Irish team depart for US Christmas Venture

The cream of Irish junior handball will converge in Tucson, Arizona this weekend for the 56^th USHA Junior Nationals.

In November, the Irish equivalent event in Kilkenny attracted a record breaking 352 youth players and the winners in the key age groups formed the official Irish team.

Ireland’s six representatives in both the boys and girls from 15 to 19 and under are Clare’s Colin Corbett and Colin Crehan, Cork’s Killian Carroll and Catriona Casey, Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin and Roscommon’s Lauren O’Riordain.

The squad managed by Meath’s Tom Sheridan and Tyrone’s Paula Clarke will be hoping to emulate the success that last year’s side attained. In San Diego, twelve months back Ireland dominated and spectacularly captured all the silverware in these brackets.

One starlet who is among the favourites to secure the girls 15 and under is Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin. The current under 16 singles Irish champion in all three codes 40×20, 60×30 and one wall has prepared meticulously for this venture and has benefited recently from the prowess of Ireland’s world senior ladies champion, Antrim’s Fiona Shannon.

“It really helped to take part in the coaching clinics and training sessions with the Irish Development squad and also to have Fiona Shannon train with us has been brilliant. I also spent some time in court to practice shots and have had very competitive games on a weekly basis,” said Ní Churraoin.

The Inverin player defeated Tyrone’s Maeve McElduff in the Irish Nationals decider and believes that the Brackey girl may offer one of the greatest challenges in Arizona. “To be honest I don’t know much about the American girls but Maeve McElduff has been my main opponent all year in Ireland and she is travelling with a group from her club. It is a great honour to represent my country and it will cap what has been a great year for me. I am very excited and really looking forward to the competition and I am very thankful to my coaches and to my club for always supporting me.”

Jet setting for the first time as part of the official Irish team is Clare’s Colin Crehan who qualified when he edged Leitrim’s Donal Wrynn 21-15, 21-16.

Like all the Irish juniors, the Kilkeeshin teenager has trained efficiently to ensure he peaks at the most prestigious junior event on the international stage. “I’ve trained hard for the last two months between challenge games and practising different shots in the court. I’m really looking forward to playing and I’m delighted to represent Ireland because it’s not a chance you get too often. I’m very grateful to my coach, Pat Donnellan, who has trained and taught me a lot about the game and also my club and especially my dad, who has been very supportive.”

The Irish team will have a few days to acclimatize to the generally faster courts stateside when they arrive this weekend and fine tune their strategies before doing it for real at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club on next Tuesday.