Michael
Black Memorial
60x30
Invitational Tournament
July
9th - 11th
Please
See Below for Full Report and Photos
Senior
Results
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Tom
Sheridan/Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh
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Tom
Sheridan/Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh
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(20),
7, 8
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Michael
Finnegan/Carl Browne
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Kells
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Colin
Keeling/Barry Goff
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Sat,
10th 4pm
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(14)
13, 8
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Colin
Keeling/Barry Goff
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Colin
Keeling/Barry Goff
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(19),
5, 5
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Dessie
Keegan/Joe McCann
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Kells
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Sunday,
11th
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Keeling/
Goff
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12.30pm
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21-16,
21-12
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Brian
Carroll/Robbie McCarthy(Jnr)
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Brian
Carroll/Robbie McCarthy(Jnr)
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12,
15
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Gavin
Buggy/Dominic Lynch
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Kells
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Brian
Carroll/Robbie McCarthy(Jnr)
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Sat,
10th 3pm
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(17),
20, 4
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Nicholas
Anthony/Paul Mullins
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Eoin
Kennedy/Michael Gregan
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8,
3
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Eoin
Kennedy/Michael Gregan
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Junior/
Masters Draw
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Anthony McConnnell/Joe
Cummins
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John
Molloy/Peter Flanagan
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18,
19
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John
Molloy/Peter Flanagan
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Crossakiel
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John
Molloy/Peter Flanagan
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Sat,
10th 10.30am
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(20)
9, 4
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Jimmy
Reilly/Michael Gaynor
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Jimmy
Reilly/Michael Gaynor
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14,
(19), 3
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Patrick Clerkin/James
Brady
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Kells
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Sunday,
11th
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Farrell/McCarthy
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11am
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(8)
15, 9
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Stephen
Quinn/Peter Reilly
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Robert
McCarthy (Snr)/Mark Farrell
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17,
(14), 8
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Robert
McCarthy (Snr)/Mark Farrell
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Crossakiel
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Robert
McCarthy (Snr)/Mark Farrell
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Sat,
10th 5pm
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16,
17
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Pat
McGovern/Ray Cunningham
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Pat
McGovern/Ray Cunningham
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(15),
12 Lynch ret. Inj.
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Christy
McGovern/Joe Lynch
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Michael
Black Memorial Tournament 2010 – Report and Photos Courtesy Peter Flannagan
The weekend of 9th-11th July saw the first running of the Michael Black Memorial Tournament in Kells Handball Club. With action from the top senior handballers in the country and the best of the local adults and juveniles there was something for all over the weekend.
Play kicked off in Kells at 7pm on Friday evening in the Masters/Junior tournament as Jimmy Reilly and Michael Gaynor overcame Cavan’s Patrick Clerkin and James Brady 21-14, (19-21), 11-3. Peter Flanagan and John Molloy narrowly saw off Anthony McConnell and Joe Cummins on a 21-18, 21-19 score line.The Masters and Junior tournament continued on Saturday in Crossakiel Handball Club where Robbie McCarthy Snr and Mark Farrell got the better of Stephen Quinn and Peter Reilly again in a tie break winning 21-17, (14-21), 11-8 and Pat McGovern and Ray Cunningham fought through a tough battle to win (15-21), 21-12 as Christy McGovern and Joe Lynch had to retire due to Lynch picking up a back injury before the tie break could begin.
The senior action got underway in Kells on Saturday morning. First up were Brian Carroll and Robbie McCarthy as they took on Gavin Buggy and Dominic Lynch. As two of the most promising young stars on the senior circuit, Carroll and McCarthy put on a formidable display as they progressed to the semi finals winning 21-12, 21-15. Reigning All-Ireland singles and doubles champion Eoin Kennedy was partnered with Wicklow’s Michael Gregan and the pair wasted little time on their way to a 21-8, 21-6 victory over Nicky Anthony and Paul Mullins. The other half of the senior draw was contested a lot more closely. Recently crowned US Nationals 40X20 champions Tom Sheridan and Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh who had yet to be beaten in any 60X30 clash as a doubles pairing, came up against Carl Browne and Michael Finnegan. In front of a packed crowd in Kells the pair were pushed all the way to a third game after relinquishing a 20-16 lead in the first game. They advanced on a score line of (21-20), 21-7, 11-8. In the last quarter final, long-time doubles partners Mayo’s Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann clashed with Wexford’s Barry Goff and Colin Keeling. The Mayo men got off to a flying start and led 10-2, but the Wexford pair turned the game around to lead 13-11, and then extended this lead to 19-15. However, the Mayo pair managed to clinch the game 21-19. Goff and Keeling then hit top form and went on to take a devastating 21-5 win and an 11-5 tie break victory.
Action then reverted back to the Masters/Junior semi finals. Peter Flanagan and John Molloy overcame Michael Gaynor and Anthony McConnell who stood in for an injured Jimmy Reilly, (20-21), 21-9, 11-4. In the other semi final Pat McGovern and Ray Cunningham lost out to a stronger Robbie McCarthy Senior and Mark Farrell 21-16, 21-17.
The day’s best action however, was produced in both the senior semi finals. Brian Carroll and Robbie McCarthy were first to book their final place as they just got the better of Eoin Kennedy and Michael Gregan winning (17-21), 21-20, 11-4. With Gregan moving at a blistering pace, and both Kennedy and Carroll renowned for their speed in the court this game was a real thriller. Kennedy and Gregan dominated the first game and held an 18-12 lead. Carroll and McCarthy fought hard, but could only manage 17 before Gregan ended the game with a sublime right corner kill. The second game was ace for ace up to 16 before Kennedy and Gregan pulled away once more. It looked like they were set to take the game, but Carroll and McCarthy fought tooth and nail to come back and take the game by one ace. Spurred on by their second game win, Carroll and McCarthy shot into the lead in the tie break. They took an early 6-1 lead before their opponents managed to claw 3 more back. But Carroll and McCarthy only needed one more visit to the service line to finish out the game 11-4.
The second semi final saw previously unbeaten Tom Sheridan and Ducksy Walsh go down at the hands of Barry Goff and Colin Keeling.Sheridan and Walsh showed superb understanding of each other’s game to storm into a 13-6 first game lead. Goff and Keeling battled well but the 60X30 stalwarts had the experience needed to close out the first game 21-14. The Wexford men came back stronger after the break however and pushed Sheridan and Walsh to the limit. With Goff displaying impressive all round play the men from the South-East took the second game 21-13 taking this game to a decider. With a place in the final at stake both sides gave their all in the tie break. Sheridan and Walsh put on an age defying display with Walsh covering well at the back and Sheridan diving in for many low balls. Goff and Keeling carried their form into the tie break leading 6-1. Tom and Ducksy levelled the game at 6 all and the sides drew level again at 8-8. But this was as close as the veterans got as Goff and Keeling closed out the tie break 11-8 and with it put an end to Sheridan and Walsh’s doubles reign in the big court.
Sunday’s action commenced at 10am as some of the local juveniles displayed their skills in front of a packed Gallery. Danny Dunne and Daniel Farrelly paired up against Jonathon McGovern and Lauren Farrelly with the latter pair winning 21-14. McGovern then paired up with Evan Sheridan to overcome Robert Fox and Colin McGovern 21-12.
The Masters/Junior final was then keenly contested by Kells’ Peter Flanagan and John Molloy and Crossakiel’s Mark Farrell and Mullingar’s Robbie McCarthy Senior. The Kells pair got off to a flying start with Molloy in fine form.Taking the first game 21-8 it looked like it was to be a one sided affair, but McCarthy and Farrell had other ideas. They took an early lead in the second game which they retained with some expert finishing from McCarthy, to win 21-15. The tie break saw Molloy return to the form he found in the first game but the Kells pair only once held the lead as Farrell and McCarthy persevered to take an 11-9 victory.
The stage was now set for the open final with the Michael Black Memorial Cup up for grabs. Before play got underway the new viewing gallery was officially opened by club Stalwart Tony Friary. Speaking to the capacity crowd Friary said it was great to see such huge interest again in handball at both a local level and at national level, and that with such interest hopefully the sport will grow in popularity. After the official opening the players took to the court to a rapturous applause.
The Wexford pairing of Barry Goff and Colin Keeling have the honour of being the first names to be engraved on the Michael Black Memorial Cup, much to the dismay of Meath’s Brian Carroll and Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy.
Goff and Keeling got off to the perfect start taking a 4-0 lead. Carroll and McCarthy however have formed a strong bond, playing together since their junior years and were determined to put their stamp on game.With some clinical finishing from McCarthy and Carroll covering huge ground to pick balls, the young pair battled to a 9-6 lead.A great back wall shot from Keeling found Carroll out of place, and as he struggled with the return Goff was waiting to tuck the ball away into the front right corner.From there the Model County duo really found their stride. Taking a 17-12 lead they had the more youthful pairing right where they wanted them.With Goff once again in excellent form from every position in the court Carroll and McCarthy just couldn’t find an opening.Carroll struggled to find his serve and landed the ball on Goff’s hand too many times, setting the Wexford man up for some splendid kills. McCarthy had a good serve to Keeling from which they made four more aces, but the Wexford pairing closed out the game on their next visit, winning 21-16.
The play followed a similar pattern in the second game. Keeling was coming more into the game now and found a good three wall serve into the right which Carroll struggled to return.At 9-3 up they were looking comfortable until a flat kill by Carroll got his side in to serve. With the Meath man’s serve now more finely tuned they were able to close the deficit, their plight helped further by McCarthy’s strength in executing perfectly timed passing shots. Keeling and Goff were not to be out-done however and they constantly drew their opponents out of position making room for kill shots which neither player turned down. Somehow the Wexford duo managed to up their game another level and it was too much for Carroll and McCarthy as the Model County men got their hands on the trophy with a 21-12 win.
The Late Michael Black’s daughter, Mary, was on hand afterwards to present the cup to the deserving winners. She congratulated all four players and said it was great to see such a high level of handball being played in the club Michael dedicated so much of his time to and that he would be proud to see the court and gallery looking so well.
With
Thanks To:
Headfort
Arms Hotel, Smith’s Pub, Super Valu, Cole’s Cost Cutter, Martin Donnelly,
Walter O’Connor, Paddy Duff Footwear, Masita Sportswear, Round Tower Pub,
Philip Kiernan, Muldoon’s Pub, Carrick House Pub, Kells Stores, Kells Credit
Union, Murphy’s Funeral Directors, Flower Innovations, A & M’s Newsagents,
Kiernan’s Pub, James Allen, Abbey House, Geraldine Olohan, Kells Town Council,
Johnny Brady, Thomas Byrne, Brian Curran, Brendan Muldoon
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