The 8th Irish One-wall
Nationals 2004 by Michael McGee
Dessie Keegan from the Ballaghedeerean Club in Mayo claimed his second
One Wall National title in four years with a straight sets victory over the
reigning champion Carl Browne from Meath in an entertaining final writes
Michael McGee.
Sligo yet again hosted the event
on July 10/11th last and the Committee led by the experienced Conal
Cannon and Secretary John Mc Loughlin deserve all the plaudits. Again, there was a big entry in excess of
125 entries in events ranging from Boys and Girls U-14 right up to Diamond
Masters. Sligo IT, Ballymote and Collooney courts were used. When I arrived on Friday evening John
McLoughlin and his team were putting the final changes to the Ballisodare Open
Court where Sunday’s finals were due to take place. Unfortunately, their hard work was in vain, as frequent showers
on Sunday morning forced the organizers to hold the finals indoors in the
Collooney Court. Saturday’s qualifying games started at 9.00
am and continued right through until 8.30 that evening. With full days,
qualifying matches being played in Sligo IT, Collooney and Ballymote on the
Saturday. I was based in Sligo in IT
where the Boys and Girls U-14, and C
singles took place. One of the matches
of the day was between Caolan Daly from the Carrickmore Club in Tyrone up
against the Ian Mc Loughlin from Mayo (a young Dessie Keegan in the
making). Daly last years U-14 champion had to battle all the way
before finally coming through narrowly.
On the Sunday morning, games started at 9.00 with all the Cup and Plate
Semi-finals still to be played off. The
viewing gallery quickly filled up and just about held everyone that wanted to
view the finals. Eventually the first
of the finals began with the Girls U-14 decider between Siobhan Gilligan from
the Abbeylara Club in Longford up against Leona Doolin from Roscommon. It was a repeat of last years decider in
which Gilligan won but this time Doolin turned the tables winning by 15-11,
15-8.
Two in a row for Caolan Daly
Next on the programme was the Boys U-14 final between Caolan Daly from
Carrickmore aiming for two in a row against his club mate Conor Grogan. It was a fantastic contest between the two
stars. Grogan played the better
handball in the early stages going 7-3 up but Daly then clawed his way back
point by point to draw level with Grogan at 7-7. Scores were again tied at 10
all. Daly looked to have it wrapped it
up when serving for the first game at 14-11 but Grogan with great battling
qualities saved game ball and got two points before he double faulted giving
Daly the advantage of serving game ball once again. Grogan again saved the game and had his chance of winning the
first game but could not avail of it. It was frantic action at the end of game
one before Grogan just held out to win after Daly’s return shot out over the
left side giving Grogan a narrow first game win by 15-14. There was not much to separate either in
game two. Grogan full of confidence
raced into an 8-3 lead before Daly hit a purple patch gained and hit four points in a row. Grogan showing a little inexperience rushed
a number of shots as Daly drew level
soon after. It was a very close contest
with scores also level at 11 and 12.
Daly managed to get the remaining three points to snatch a win thus
setting up the first tiebreak in this years finals. After scores were level at 2-2 Daly took control while the young
Grogan seemed to lose confidence in his own ability and a number of wayward
shots cost him dearly in the end. In
the end, Daly completed a memorable two in a row winning the tiebreak by 11-3.
LAWLOR WINS TITLE FOR THE KINGDOM
In the Girls U-16 Final, there
was an all Kerry representation between Karen Lawlor and Ashley
Prenderville. Again, it was a great
contest Lawlor lead early on in game one by 4-0. Prenderville gaining in confidence hit back to level at 4-4. It was very close up to point number
11. Lawlor got the lucky breaks at the
right and served an ace to take the first game by 15-11. With scores level at 3-3 in game two
Prenderville had chances to go ahead but in her next two serves she tossed her
hand out on both occasions and Lawlor was not able to go clear and build up a
lead. It was Prenderville who looked
the sharper going clear at 6-3. Both players were very even and traded
points. It was finely balanced at 9-9
but Prenderville receiving great encouragement from her father got the next six
scores to bring it to a third and deciding game. In the tiebreak Lawlor
proved the stronger hitting 5 points in a row and she was getting great
power in her shots while Prenderville’s challenge fell away. In the end, Lawlor was the worthy winner
winning the tiebreak by 11-3.
Before the Senior Final commenced Tony Hayes President of the Irish
Handball Council spoke and mentioned it was his third year to attend the One
Wall Nationals in Sligo and said on behalf of the IHC thanked Conall Cannon and
John McLoughlin for an excellent job very well done and this was greeted with a
great round of applause from the packed gallery. Hayes mentioned that he would like to see One Wall introduced
into the schools. It is also a great
way for people to come and enjoy themselves.
Hayes on behalf of the Irish Handball Council made a special
presentation to Conall Cannon for his dedication and commitment in organising
the Nationals over the past six years.
KEEGAN IS BACK
Next was the big one between
Carl Browne the champion and the challenger Dessie Keegan from Mayo, Keegan served first and forced Browne go
full stretch to return it and Dessie put the ball nicely away to get off the
mark. Keegan looked the more impressive when building up a commanding 7-1
lead. Keegan put in a great service to
Browne’s right, which the Meath man returned, and Dessie put the resulting
return down the right as Browne anticipated the shot going to his left. Dessie was now 8-2 to the good.
Keegan with awesome serving forced Browne to rush his shot over the sideline
with the Mayo man six points ahead (9-3) Dessie got an excellent ace with the
ball landing perfectly at the back line for 10-4. Browne began to play great handball when serving two gems of aces
of his own to Keegan’s right side. Keegan
was serving for the first game at 14-7 but Browne the Meath Brave heart that he
is never give up and with accurate serving combined with a number of errors by
Keegan saw Browne edge ever closer to Keegan’s lead. For point number 14 Browne had a tremendous ace to Keegan’s right
as the Mayo man did not even have time to move over as the ball was spinning
towards the back wall before he could attempt to return it. Dessie managed to get Browne out and take
the first game as Browne’s return ended up going over the sideline giving
Keegan a rather lucky first game win by the narrow margin of 15-14. At 3-3 in the second Dessie asserted his
authority and hit for home with a big 14-3 lead. Browne as in game one fought back magnificently forcing Keegan either
to shoot from far out or to rush his shots.
Browne had a nice tap into front wall for point number nine but it was
to prove to be his last score. Dessie
took his second One Wall title in four years with a straight passing shot down
the right as Browne lay stranded on the floor.
DALY DEFEATS DONNOLLY IN ALL CARRICKMORE FINAL
In the Men’s C Final was an all
Carrickmore final between Darragh Daly and Michael Donnolly. Daly had much the better start hitting
Donnolly for seven. Daly with a fine
over hand serve was waiting for any weak returns from Donnolly at the front
wall and gained a number of scores from this tactic. Daly proved the better player in game one winning convincingly by
15-7. Game two seen Donnolly giving it
everything his performance greatly improved as he fought level at 7-7. Both players fought for supremacy and
Donnolly certainly was not going down without a fight he drew level at 12, 13 mark. Daly got the two important scores when he
passed Donnolly on the left side and on game ball, Donnolly shot wide of the
front wall to give Daly the title. In
other finals Marion Kennedy from Galway beat Mairead O’ Riabhaigh- O’Duill from Armagh by 6-15, 15-5, 11-3 in the
Ladies final. There was an historic
final between Francis Carroll and his son Brian from Kells. In the end it was
the young Carroll who came through by 15-12, 15-9. Robbie McCarthy Snr Westmeath kept up his winning sequence in the
Nationals when getting the better of Francis McCann of Sligo in three games by
6-15, 15-13, 11-5. In the Golden
Masters Peter Larkin from Monaghan defeated Richard Willoughby the reigning champion
by 15-6, 15-4. Nicholas Clancy Galway
defeated Tom O’ Connor from Wicklow in the Diamond Masters by 15-4, 15-4.