Two weeks ago the World Handball Championships concluded with a number of spectacular finals at juvenile and adult grades. There were several fantastic highlights from these major championships, not least the extraordinary standard of juvenile boys and girls handball.
Roscommon is no exception to this and the county was reasonably represented across all juvenile grades in both 40×20 and 1-wall codes.
It would be fair to say, however, that initiatives being promoted by the County Board, including training of coaches, juvenile blitzs and school demonstrations will need to be capitalised upon by the further facilitation of the
…
Two weeks ago the World Handball Championships concluded with a number of spectacular finals at juvenile and adult grades. There were several fantastic highlights from these major championships, not least the extraordinary standard of juvenile boys and girls handball.
Roscommon is no exception to this and the county was reasonably represented across all juvenile grades in both 40×20 and 1-wall codes.
It would be fair to say, however, that initiatives being promoted by the County Board, including training of coaches, juvenile blitzs and school demonstrations will need to be capitalised upon by the further facilitation of the game at schools and club level.
Recent strategy discussions in Roscommon have highlighted the loss of some playing spaces in schools over a generation and the potential impact this may have in developing young players. Schools in Roscommon have traditionally being important nursery grounds for honing skills and reflexes of young handballers and many coveted handball titles were (and continue) to be won at primary and secondary level.
As detailed in last week’s reports, Damien Martin and Rikki O’Gara had a fantastic win in the Men’s World Championships A Doubles in Citywest last month. In a number of grades, Roscommon players lost out narrowly in tight matches. None more so than Fiona Tully, who earned her place on the official Irish team for this event, lost out to the eventual winner in the Worlds in the semi-final (11-8).
Other narrow losses were recorded for Curraghboy’s Cormac O’Brien and Philip O’Connor (Men’s B Doubles semi-final loss), Denis Creaton of Lisacul (quarter-final loss in the Men’s B Singles), Michael Naughton (semi-final loss in the Over 70’s Singles and Doubles), Chris Doolin and Niall McGrath (quarter-final loss in the Men’s A doubles) and Lauren O’Riordan (Ladies 19 & under defeat). Lauren and Fiona did pick up coveted silver medals in the Ladies 19 & under doubles and Girls 15 & Under doubles, respectively. Fiona picked up a silver medal in the Girls 15 & under 1-wall singles, showing her competitive status in all codes of handball. One quick mention about the showpiece that was this year’s Worlds.
Great credit must go to GAA Handball for hosting a spectacular event at Citywest. The facilitation of most games in the one complex was a new and welcome venture for handball events in Ireland. American visitors and GAA representatives were hugely impressed by the facilities on offer.
Paul Brady wowed audiences once again with his amazing athletic ability and he will certainly go down as one of the best 40×20 handballers of all time. He secured a fourth successive World Open Singles Title this year, to add to his nine consecutive All-Ireland 40×20 Senior titles. Incidentally, he went over to California last week and won the US Open of Handball’s flagship singles event, which contained the top pro American players. Fiona Shannon of St Paul’s Belfast was pipped in the final of the ladies Open Singles Final in the World Championships, denying her an equal feat in the World Championship records.
With the World Handball Championships fresh in our memories, the GAA Handball calender moves along swiftly to the 40×20 championship season. The Interclub titles are up for grabs at Junior B, Junior, Intermediate and Open grades. This year sees a radical overhaul of the format of this competition.
There will be no singles as part of the team of four format and instead combined points from two games of doubles will decide the result. More controversially, the games will now be timed and scores will be awarded on winning any rally, not just while serving. This pilot format will take convincing, given that strong serving is neutralised somewhat, as is a strong offensive (killing) game.
Roscommon will compete in the Junior B, Junior and Open grades and County Championships will take place at the end of November in St Coman’s, Lisacul and St Brigid’s Curraghboy.
Mount Talbot Handball Club hosted its club 1-wall finals last weekend in the Mattie McDonagh Centre in Ballygar.
Titles were up for grabs in juvenile boys and girls events and in a number of adult grades, including the flagship Men’s and Ladies Open titles. Anticipation was strong for this event, following the recent participation by members in the 1-wall grades in the World Championships. The club continues to go from strength to strength.
Roscommon People
Issue: 9th November 2012
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