9 SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR GALWAY HANDBALLERS 2012 has proved to be a very successful year for Galway Handballers. With Ireland hosting the World Handball Championships minds were focused at an early stage and the training definitely paid off with Galway well represented in 40x20, 60x30 and One Wall competitions throughout the year. We would like to thank the Galway County Board for their generous support during our preparations for the World Handball Championships and indeed their support throughout the year. World Championships The Citywest Arena in Dublin hosted the 2012 World Handball Championships in what proved to be a monumental event in World Handball. The purpose built 21 court arena attracted unprecedented crowds to a handball event and the glass showcourt proved to be the main attraction hosting some spectacular games over the ten days. Galway Handball was well represented with 120 entrants from 9 different clubs ranging in age from Under 10s to Over 75s. After 10 days of intensive battle on the courts a number of Galway players emerged with Gold and Silver Medals. Pride of place goes to Ciana Ni Churraoin of Micheal Breathnach Handball Club who emerged with 3 gold medals, winning the U17 40x20 Girls singles, the U17 One Wall Girls singles and the U19 One Wall Girls doubles. This was a fantastic achievement from the golden girl of Galway Handball. Martin Mulkerrins of Moycullen Handball Club also had a very successful campaign winning gold in the U19 40x20 Boys doubles where he was partnered by Niall O’Connor of Kildare. Martin also won silver medals in the U19 40x20 Boys singles and the U19 One Wall Boys doubles again partnered by O’Connor. More Galway success came when Roisin Ni Chonghaile of Moycullen Handball Club teamed up with Sinead Ni hAinli of Micheal Breathnach Handball Club to win the gold in the 40x20 Women’s B doubles. The evergreen Morgan Darcy of Moycullen Handball Club won gold in the 40x20 Mens Ruby Masters doubles where he teamed up with Jim Ryan from Tipperary. Morgan Duggan of Annaghdown Handball Club came close but had to settle for a silver medal in the 40x20 Masters B singles. Heather Spellman of Williamstown Handball Club teamed up with Eimear Ni Bhiadha of Micheal Breathnachs Handball Club to win a silver medal in both the U13 Girls One Wall doubles and U13 Girls 40x20 doubles. In the Veterans One Wall singles the evergreen Nicky John Clancy of Moycullen Handball Club won a silver medal. Many other Galway entrants progressed through to quarter final and semi final stages and it is a credit to the preparation and training undertaken in the build up to the worlds. In all it was a tremendous 10 days of handball with 2000 players from 15 countries taking part in a showcase of world handball. Congratulations to all the medal winners and indeed all who participated and we now look forward to the 2015 World Handball Championships in Calgary, Canada. All Ireland 40 x 20 Championships In the All-Ireland 40x20 championship Galway players contested a number of adult and juvenile finals. Moycullen’s Martin Mulkerrins won the Intermediate singles final while brothers Eamonn & Martin Conneely of the same club won the Golden Masters A doubles title. Gerry ‘Springer’ O’Fatharta of Micheal Breathnachs completed a notable double when winning the Diamond Masters B singles title and then teaming up with Meaiti O’Fatharta to win the doubles title. Elsewhere Galway players to lose out in All Ireland finals included Pat & Ollie Conway in the Intermediate doubles, William Corcoran & Mike Shaughnessy in the Golden Masters B doubles, Denis Phelan & Brendan McNeela in the Silver Masters B doubles, Morgan Duggan in the Masters B singles, Denis Phelan in the Golden Masters B singles, Trevor Hannon in the Over 35 B singles and Morgan Darcy in the Ruby Masters singles. At juvenile level Ciana Ni Churraoin of Micheal Breathnach won the U16 singles title while Heather Spelman and Elaine Mitchell of Williamstown won the U15 doubles title. Irish 40 x 20 Nationals Kingscourt hosted the annual Irish 40x20 Handball Nationals where the cream of Irish handall talent came together to showcase their talent. While Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) and Aisling Reilly (Antrim) won the respective Mens and Ladies Open finals, Galways main focus of interest lay elsewhere with a number of players reaching the final stages. Pride of place goes to Martin Mulkerrins (Moycullen) on winning the Boys 19 and under singles final defeating Niall O’Connor (Kildare) in an enthralling final 21-19, 21-18. Ciana Ni Churraoin (Michael Breathnach) was dominant in her victory in the Girls 17 and under singles displaying a maturity beyond her years. Ciana last years U16 All-Ireland champion brushed aside the challenge of Lauren O’Riordan (Roscommon) last years minor all-ireland champion on a scoreline of 21-14, 21-10. Both Martin & Ciana went on to represent Ireland in the World Handball Championship being held in Citywest in October. In other finals Morgan Duggan (Annaghdown) secured his first nationals title in the Masters B singles with a hard fought victory over Jason Judge (Mayo) on a scoreline 21-12, 21-19. Denis Phelan (Moycullen) was defeated in the Golden Masters B singles final by Conor McDonnell (Monaghan) 21-12, 21-16. Morgan Darcy was defeated in the Ruby Masters singles final by Seamus Graham (Antrim) 21-19, 2111. Collette Connaughton (Williamstown) was defeated in the Ladies Challenger singles final by Christina Donoghue (Offaly). All Ireland 60 x 30 Championships In the 60x30 championships all of our success came at juvenile level. Heather Spelman and Elaine Mitchell of Williamstown won the U14 doubles title while Eimear Ni Bhiadha & Anna Ní Odhrain Ní Mhurchú of Micheal Breathnachs won the U15 doubles title. Ciana Ní Churraoin followed up on her 40x20 title win by winning the Girls U16 singles title. There were final defeats for Martin Mulkerrins in the Intermediate Singles and Doubles where he teamed up with Ollie Conway of Williamstown in the latter. Moycullen’s Seamus O’Conghaile also lost out on the double when he was defeated in the U21 singles and doubles finals. Seamus teamed up with Alan Kelly in the doubles final. Diarmuid Mulkerrins & Cian O’Conghaile lost out in the boys U14 doubles while Conor Noone from Moycullen lost out in the boys U16 singles. One Wall Nationals The One Wall Nationals were hosted by Citywest Arena in Dublin and again Galway Handballers were well represented throughout the grades. Ciana Ni Churraoin of Micheal Breathnach continued her fine form by winning the Girls U17 singles and then teaming up with Lauren O’Riordan to win the Girls U19 doubles title. Elsewhere Morgan Darcy of Moycullen and Colm O’Cualain of Micheal Breathnach competed in an all Galway Ruby Masters Singles final where the Moycullen man won out. On the topic of One Wall Handball we congratulate Williamstown Handball Club and Inis Mor Handball Club on once again running very successful competitions this year. One Wall handball continues to grow in the county with many schools now erecting one wall courts. New One Wall courts have also been erected in Aras Bothair na Tra Salthill and Leitir Mór. We would like to thank all the clubs, schools, teachers, coaches, players and parents for their continued efforts which have evidently paid off in 2012. World Medalist – Morgan Duggan Annaghdown Handball Club Ciana Ni Churraoin Triple World Gold Medalist World Medalist Heather Spelman of Williamstown Handball Club
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