Handball
Congratulations to our new Ulster 2015 champions Tiarnán O’Rourke, Eoghan Mc Ginnity and Deivydas Kaklauskas and also to our 7 silver medalists.
Tiarnán O’Rourke did the double as he followed up on his Ulster Under 12 doubles win in 2014 by winning the U12 Singles 2015 at Kingscourt on Sunday last. He amazed a full gallery of spectators with his handball skills in his 2-game victory over the number 1 Tyrone player Jonathon Owens. The scores were 15-7 and 15-5. Without doubt his opponent had all the handball knowledge but Tiarnán’s court craft was superior. It took the Harps player some time to adjust to the court but, with some astute advice from his coach Martin, he gradually imposed his authority on the match with great kill shots but more importantly with excellent recovery shots. He eventually wore down his opponent over many long rallies and fully deserved his Ulster title.
Next on court was our multi-talented Under 13 Singles player Eoghan Mc Ginnity. While there are no certainties in sport our coach reckoned that an Ulster title was assured such was the prowess of Eoghan in training. However a bout of flu had hampered him before the final. Added to that was the fact that his Cavan opponent was a tall, powerful player. We needn’t have fretted as Eoghan dismantled the threat with superb handball. He put on a magnificent display of intelligent handball leaving his opponent chasing shadows. This was a comprehensive display of all that is good in the game with a multitude of skills on display. Eoghan won in 2 straight games 15-1, 15-2. Incidentally this was also a double for Eoghan as he won the U12 singles in 2014.
The third title came from the partnership of Deivydas Kaklauskas and Mellan’s Ryan Harnett in Under 13 Doubles. Tyrone proved able oposition but the Monaghan players had trained hard for this final and duly won the first game with points to spare. Deivydas can have moments of sheer brilliance interspersed with periods of mediocrity and, but, for the assistance of his partner, the end result could have been different. The second game could have gone to either team as it was finely balanced throughout. However good teamwork saw Ryan and Deivydas just edge victory 15-6, 15-13.
Sympathy. St.Mellans Handball Club would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Callery family on the sudden and untimely death of Stephen, Stephen was a very active member of our club until his retirement from the game due to injury sometime back, he represented the club and county with distinction in league and championship matches over the years and was also greatly involved in the administration of the club, we offer our sympathy to his wife Mary, son’s Niall, Declan and Enda and his daughter Emer and also to his mother, brothers, sisters and the wider Callery family, Stephen will be sadly missed by all, Ar dheis De go raibh an anam.
Juvenile Ulster Championships. The Juvenile Ulster Championship finals took place at the weekend past in Kingscourt, we had 7 players from the club that represented the county at the finals, first in action and our only success was Ryan Harnet as he was partnered by Deivydas Kaklauskas from the Harps in the U13 Doubles final, there they faced Brian Mc Aleer & Fintan Mc Namee from Tyrone, the boys got off to a great start and controlled the first game taking the lead from the off the won it 15-8, the 2nd game also start well for the Farney pairing but mid way Tyrone came back into it and using their time-outs cleverly they stalled the Tyrone fight back and at 13-13 got a bit of luck as a replay was called as on their last hand they got a second serve and made no mistake they won it 15-13 to a great cheer from all in attendance, next in were the U12 girls in court 3, in it Mia O Reilly and Eithne Boyle dawned the “Blue & White”, this was the girls first major outing at this level in any sport and probably the occasion got to the girls a little as a strong Tyrone pair of Clodagh Mc Namee & Dervla Farley won 2 games straight, the Tyrone girls had a brilliant serve and this goes to show at this level how important a good serve is, but in the 2ndgame the girls began to grow in confidence and they started to mix it with the girls but lost it 15-2, never the less this experience will stand to the girls in future tournaments, then in court 1 and court 2 at the same time we had 4 players in action, in the U15’s Gary Mohan and Cormac Mc Kenna(SHM) faced Tyrone boys of Ronan Curran & Shanes Grimes, the boys lost both games 15-6, 15-6, looking from the outside this was a very win-able game the difference was the Tyrone boys kept their game simple and kept the ball alive, but with more practice we could have taken this title, the U16 final saw Aaron and Ryan Mohan facing another Red Hand pair of Turlough Clarke & Daragh Cavanan, this was a more powerful game and the 1st game was a tit for tat affair but the Tyrone pair were just sharper and more clinical winning it 21-17, the second game saw Tyrone taking the lead and then an time-out injury took the wind out of Ryan’s sails from which I don’t think he re-covered fully from but like the U15 game some basic errors saw the boys undoing and they lost it 21-5, yet again more practice is needed when you get to this level if you want to succeed, so it wasn’t 4 in a row for boys but never the less all gave their best, let’s hope next year will prove a more productive year, congratulations to all other county players that took titles and hard luck to those like some of our own club players who came so close to success but were narrowly defeated.
Table Quiz. Our annual “Table Quiz” is penciled in for Friday the 27th of March @ 9pmin St.Mellans Complex, funds are going towards One Wall facilities at the national schools in the area, so we are asking all parents and the wider community to please come out and support the club.
Juveniles County Double Championships. The club has forwarded names to play in Juvenile county double championships that are penciled in to take place weekend the 21st of March throughout the county, so keep practicing and good luck.
Adult County Championships. Still no schedule for the finals of our 3 club men..
