Optimism in Dublin Juvenile Handball Circles - Michael McGee Reports on a great evening's sport at 

Croke Park where the Co. Dublin 40x20 Juvenile Championships took place.

Ninety years ago the Easter rising took place in Dublin.  In today’s terms another rising also quite significant is taking place in the Capital.  The fortunes of Dublin handball at Juvenile level has seen a renaissance in recent years writes Michael McGee  On Friday evening June 16th last a number of finals took place in Croke Park. The gallery was packed with players and parents eager to see their sons and daughters doing well.  The U-12 plate final was between Adam Ronayne and Cian Daly. Daly who is the son of Dublin Juvenile Chairman Frank Daly.  Cian Daly  did all he could to stay in the contest but Ronayne had not little bit more handball ability and won by 15-6, 15-8.  In the third and fourth place off  Niall McKenna defeated Evan Masterson 15-4, 15-5.  Pictured Left:-Ciaran O' Sullivan, Patrick Collins winners U-17 doubles, John Downey, Cathal Walsh, Ruairi Downey runners up
	The Boys U-17 final took place between Ruairi Downey & Cathal Walsh who up against Paddy Collins & Ciaran O’ Sullivan.  Collins &  O’ Sullivan were the bigger combination but Downey & Walsh didn’t let that upset them as they battled bravely to the very end of the contest.  Downey was serving well and Walsh after a shaky enough start got better as the game wore on.  At 6-6 in the first Collins played inspired handball to pull clear at 10-7. Young Cathal Walsh   has the potential of developing into a really fine player in the years ahead.  Collins & O’ Sullivan were never headed  even though Downey/Walsh narrowed their lead to 13-12 at one stage . Collins/Sullivan got the next three scores to take game one by 15-12.  Collins & O’Sullivan opened up a big 11-4 lead in the second.  Walsh showing why he will be a star in Dublin handball circles played some excellent handball and with Downey playing solidly on the right. They made a gallant effort to get back into the match after a poor start and amazingly with great heart drew level at 11-11.  After this fright Collins/Sullivan regrouped and got the remaining four points for victory to end an entertaining final by 15-11
Pictured Above: -Lisa McKenna winner, John Downey sponsor Dub Juvenile 2006, with Cliona McCullagh runner up U12 singles plate In the girls U-13 final Lisa McKenna proved too strong for 11 year old Cliona McCullagh.  Cliona who won the U-11 Cuman na mbunscoil Leinster final earlier this year will also be a future star for the sky blues  Immediately after the finals were played John Downey made the presentations and generously presented the Dublin Co. Juvenile Board with sponsorship this year.  Jimmy Heffernan then took the players for a Coaching session in the 60 x 30 court and taught them many new skills. Pictured Left :-Frank Daly Chairman Dublin Juvenile Board, John Downey Sponso Dublin Juvenile Handball 2006r, Pat Ryan Treasurer
	Afterwards Dublin Juvenile Chairman Frank Daly kindly gave me a few minutes of his time and stated that Oldtown are starting up a club again  with 30 players under 12, Brian Borus have 17 players. Na Fianna club would have 40 Juveniles and St. Brigid’s have approx 30 more  players.  At the moment 80 Juveniles are registered in Dublin.  The Chairman singled out Cliona McCullagh  “we have great hopes for her”stated Daly.  Pierce Caulfield in his first year playing handball  reached the U12 A semi final in Leinster and also the U-13 B Leinster semi-final.  Robert Ruthledge, Patrick Collins, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Cathal Walsh they are all up and coming players according to Daly. The Chairman  is optimistic that the County will be pushing the top two in Leinster,  Kilkenny and Wexford for major honours in handball over the next few years.  Daly himself started handball in 1971 and won many Dublin Co. Championships as a Juvenile and 6 All-Irelands titles at adult level. Frank has won   2 Senior Dublin Championships. He has yet to win a Dublin senior singles championship  but my time is past especially with Eoin Kennedy around he declared.
Cian Daly r-up, Adam Ronayne winner U-12, John Downey, Evan Masterson 4th place, Niall McKenna 3rd all U-12	Frank is confident that the U-12 players they have at the  moment will progress and be successful at U-15 level.  “That is what we are building towards. We are also intending to start a lower age group Under 7/8 Christy Donnelly will be helping out with this initiative.  Basically we want to see kids taking part and enjoying themselves and hopefully they will keep it up in College and keep the game going especially in the 60  x 30 court ended Daly.
John McKenna, Aidan McCullagh, Gerard Downey, Kevin McKenna Dublin Juveniles	Jimmy Heffernan gives a coaching session in the 60x30 court
Results of Dublin Co. Juvenile  40 x 20 Championships U-12 singles: Pierce Caulfield U-12 doubles: Joseph Varley & Eoin Prendergast U-13 singles: Naoise Greene U-13 doubles: Naoise Greene & Diarmuid Greene U-15 singles: Saran Greene U-15 doubles: Fergal Walsh & Robert Ruthledge U-17 doubles: Patrick Collins & Ciaran O’Sullivan