8 On Sunday, 25th March in Tulla, Co. Clare, Martin Mulkerrins continued to show his class as one of the country’s finest young handballers by winning the All-Ireland Intermediate Singles Championship and by so doing the Moycullen handball ace has now been promoted to the senior ranks. It is indeed an incredible achievement which is all the more remarkable when one considers that Martin won a minor title only 6 months ago and is now one of the youngest players ever to reach senior status. Mulkerrins’ opponent on the day was the experienced Tipperary man, Ger Coonan from the Ballina club. Conan won the first on a 21-5 score line and the packed gallery in Tulla, including a large Moycullen contingent, felt it was a bridge too far for the young Tribesman and that Coonan, a beaten finalist at this grade 2 years ago, was on his way to an easy victory. But Mulkerrins was to come into his own in the second and with some exquisite serving and kill shots he levelled matters at a game each, winning 2111 to force the final to a tie breaker. Coonan made the first 4 points in the third and both players were displaying speed, power and amazing athleticism in their dual to get the upper hand. Mulkerrins levelled matters at 4 all. A variety of reverse spin and natural spin serves to the right corner were reaping good dividends for the young Moycullen man bringing him to a 15-6 lead and he looked to be all but over the line. However, the premier county don’t lie down and Coonan was to make one last effort, he picked some wonderful ball and narrowed the margin to 16-11 to heighten the already palpable tension. The players exchanged aces to 19-14 before Mulkerrins finished out 21-14 bringing to an end a 2 hour test of skill, stamina and endurance which had the crowd on their feet for a prolonged applause. The young Moycullen ace, at 19 years of age, has now earned the right to play senior handball, bridging a 29 year gap in Galway handball since fellow clubman, Eamon Conneely, was promoted to senior in 1983. It is noteworthy that Moycullen have senior status in hurling, football, super league basketball and now senior handball. HANDBALL : 1-WALL AND BIG ALLEY SEASON Traditionally, summer time heralds the onset of big alley and, in recent years, 1-Wall playing season. Players desert the 40x20 court and participate in the other two handball codes. In the lead-up to the 1-Wall Nationals, several 1-Wall tournaments are organised nationwide – in Galway, the Williamstown and Inis Mór competitions attract a lot of players. At the beginning of July the Nationals were played in The Citywest complex, Dublin, where 8 1-Wall courts and 4 Small Alley courts were constructed in the conference centre. Morgan Darcy brought home the NATIONALS Ruby Masters crown. Mulkerrins claims 60th USHA Collegiate Championship Martin Mulkerrins won the United States Collegiate Handball Open title in Springfield, Missouri, becoming the first Irish champion in over seven years. Mulkerrins, a first year Agricultural science student at UCD, overcame a number of top American and Irish players throughout the tournament. In the final the Galway native, showed experience beyond his years in dispatching University of Texas at El Paso’s Daniel Cordova in a thrilling 11-10 tiebreaker victory to secure the title and the number one spot in collegiate handball in the world. During the tiebreaker Cordova controlled large periods, eventually finding himself one point from victory at 10-6. Mulkerrins at this vital stage showed phenomenal cool, firstly regaining serve and rattling off five quick points to win the title. To put this victory in context, Mulkerrins has become the youngest winner of the event since Arizona’s Luis Moreno won the collegiate title in 2007. Since then Moreno has cemented his place as the United States number one pro player, so who knows what Mulkerrins’ future will hold if his current potential is realised. Martin Mulkerrins of UCD won the Men's Singles Open title over Daniel Cordova of UTEP, 21-8, (12-21), 1110. The American Handball Association has uploaded the game on You-Tube. 3 Gold and 3 Silver for Moycullen Players at the World Championships In total 23 Moycullen players participated in the World handball Championships held in the Citywest complex, Dublin. It was yet another great week for Moycullen handball at the Worlds Handball championships at City west, Dublin, 3 GOLD and 3 Silver Medals were bagged by Moycullen Handballers. In the Women's 'B' grade Róisín Ní Chonghaile, Moycullen, and her Michael Breathnach's partner Sinéad Ní hAinlí took Gold. A little later Morgan Darcy and his partner Jim Ryan from Tipperary claimed a well earned Gold in the Ruby Masters Doubles. Martin Mulkerrins and Kildare's Niall O Connor, who were defending the doubles crown they won in Portland in 2009, added a third GOLD to the Moycullen haul. Nicky-John Clancy won the silver in the veteran grade and Martin Mulkerrins picked up 2 silvers to add to his Gold, one in the One-Wall U19 doubles final and the other in the final of the 40x20 singles. ALL-IRELAND INTERMEDIATE TITLE AND SENIOR STATUS FOR MOYCULLEN ACE Martin, Morgan Darcy, Róisín and Nicky-John BY BRIAN MULKERRINS
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