Monaghan County Handball Notes (07/02)

St.Mellans Handball Club

Cumann na mBunscol. Seven of our club members headed to Belfast last Wednesday for the Cumann Na mBunscol Ulster Finals, for Deravoy NS we had Shay Mc Kenna in the Boys U11 Singles, Shane Kelly & Paidi Mc Carey the Boys U11 Doubles and Daragh Mc Carey in the Boys U13 Singles, for Clara NS Danielle Meehan Clara was in the U13 girls singles and for Knockconan NS Eimear Mc Anenly & Ashling Mc Kenna was in the girls U13 Doubles, Shay in the U11 singles got to the semi-final only to be pipped by Tyrone, in the U13 singles Darragh also made the semi but was defeated by Cavan, but in the girls U13 doubles representing Knockconan NS Eimear Mc Anenly & Ashling Mc Kenna made the Ulster Final, a superb performance girls on getting to the final, and was only pipped to the Gold by the bare minimum but still brilliant to get there and this will give all confidence for future tournaments, a big thanks to all teachers & parents for organising and traveling with the pupils to all venues.

Boys U11 CNBS Singles Shay Mc Kenna Deravoy NS County Wnr

Boys U13 CNBS Singles Darragh Mc Carey Deravoy NS County Wnr

CNBS Ulster Finalists Eimear Mc Anenly Danielle Meehan & Ashling Mc Kenna

Girls U11 CNBS Singles Naofa Mc Meel Clara NS County R-up

Juvenile Coaching & Leagues. The new juvenile doubles leagues for the juveniles is up and running, this will replace the coaching sessions for all except the younger ones on a Monday evening, they will remain the same time slot, the new league will take us up to the beginning of March and then we will look at extended the handball season if needed depending on football and weather conditions!!!!

Adult Club Singles & Doubles. The adult club singles 3rd round of fixtures are out, the “Robert O Reilly Engineering” Cup (D1), “Gola Woodworks” Cup (D2) & “Tunnel Kerr” Cup (D3) are all up and running, good luck everyone, please check fixtures for time and ensure you are available.

Adult County Championships. Last Wednesday evening the Harps hosted 2 county finals, in “Nov B Final” Karl Mc Meel from Mellans took on Darragh Roe from Corduff, this was a tightly fought contest that could have went anyway, but unfortunately Darragh just got those few shots that got him over the line, in the first game no one was giving an inch, it was point for point throughout with Darragh winning 21-18, the second game started of the same with no one really taking a foot hold, that was until about 10-10 then Darragh got on a roll and was serving game ball 20-12, then Karl settled and mixed up his serve and point by point clawed it back to 18-20, and after serving several times for game Darragh got the winning point to take the title 21-18 again, a brave performance from Karl but just fell that small bit short for victory, after that in “Nov A” Joe Kelly played Barry Finn from Corduff, this was a game that Joe never got going in, from the get-go Barry controlled proceedings, he just had too much of an array of shots for Joe to deal with, Joe never gave up and threw everything at it but was defeated 21-6, 21-4, hard luck boys, then in the “Junior Final” it was an all club affair as Eoin Treanor took on Fergal O Neill Monday evening past, in the first game neither player was giving much way until 11-11 then Fergal found his groove, with a slow lob serve from the right and just coming off the back wall he was punishing any sort of bad returns from Eoin and was picking him off around the front, and so Fergal closed out the first game 21-14, the second game he didn’t let up and kept the pressure on Eoin with the same routine of play, and in doing so took the second game 21-10 and the county Junior Title, well done all players on a good years campaign in the county championships.

Junior Final ’23 Fergal O Neill Wnr St.Mellans Eoin Treanor R-up St.Mellans

Nov A County Final Barry Finn Corduff Wnr Joe Kelly St.Mellans R-up

Nov B County Final Karl Mc Meel St.Mellans R-up Darragh Roe Corduff Wnr

Ladies County Open. The inaugural “Ladies Open” is being finalised and we will soon have fixtures out.

Ulster Adult Championships. Good luck to Joe Kelly V Diego Di Folco Cavan & Patrick Mc Kenna V Steven O Neill Antrim Junior B Singles Sunday February 19th in St.Mellans Registration. If any member still hasn’t paid their “club Membership” can do so through Foireann,, so go to www.foireann.ie and get registered and paid up, any issues contact a member of the committee, NB players are not eligible to play in county, provincial or All Ireland events if not registered with Croke Park.

Alley Bookings. If not able to make your allocated slot to play your games please make everyone aware that a “Free Time” slot is available, please be mindful of especially our “younger” players to give them as much access to the alleys as possible, thank you.