August 2010 Despite an impressive semi-final victory over Mayo, competitive inexperience was still a big factor in the loss by the Doonan partnership to a very competent Roscommon pair in the Doubles final. The Leitrim lads couldn’t manage to get into the first game and thereafter it was always going to be difficult. However, they settled well in the second game to go on to play some excellent handball and will have benefited greatly from their exposure to this level of competition. Final score was 1-21; 9-21. With the annual One Wall Tournament kicking off the following morning, Shane was in action once again this time his doubles partner was Colin McKevitt from Armagh. Unbelievably, they were drawn against the same Mayo pairing of Finn and Maloney in the first round of the competition. The Leitrim/Armagh combination progressed with ease through the first round. They faced Gavin McCrystal and Paul Clarke in the semi-final. McCrystal and Clarke are rated very highly at U16 level, however once again Doonan and McKevitt prevailed in a very tight and exciting game on a 17-16 score line. They then faced Daren Doherty of Monahan and Patrick McRory of Tyrone. This proved to be a bridge to far as Doonan and McKevitt bowed out on a 15-4,15-4 score line. The Fenagh club had a total of seven players in the tournament including Shane Doonan, Alan Doonan, Alan Wrynn, David Wrynn, Caillin O’Rourke, Tony Simms and Aaron McLoughlin. All Players gave a good account of themselves with Tony Simms partnering Aidan Grady of Abbeylara to win the plate. Well done to Shane Doonan and his doubles partners over the weekend. Barbecue Fenagh Handball club held a fundraising barbecue on Sunday last the 1st August. The day proved to be a great success with excellent food and entertainment for all the family. The club would like to thank Fionnula Smith for organising the food and her trustee band of master chef contenders who also did their share, dishing up over 300 burgers on the day. Thanks to Sinead & Noel Conefery for the use of their kitchen facilities and garden and to those who contributed the brilliant spot prizes for our fundraising draw. The many generous sponsors of the event included. Ollie Honeyman – Biacon ltd. Rory Donnelly – Garage. Patsy Wallpole – Central Motors Eugene Morahan – Building contractor Joey & Mary Smith – Smith Monumentals. Paidh Rowley – Rowley plumbing. Brian Wrynn – Construction. The 2010 GAA Handball Summer Camp has just concluded. With over 80 young players attending Gormanston it proved to be one of the best summer camps to date. Fenagh Handball club was represented by Michael and Alan Doonan. Williamstown Handball Club held their inaugural one-wall handball tournament over the weekend 21-23 May. The club hosted over 150 players. Ciara McLoughlin proved to be the star of the Leitrim representation, reaching the finals of the Women’s Challenger Singles competition. Ciara progressed to the final having achieved two decisive wins in both the quarter and semi-finals. Motivated by a large contingent of Leitrim supporters Ciara fought back to take the second game in the final having lost the first and forcing her opponent Bairbre Ni Ainli to a tie breaker. In a captivating tie breaker Ciara fought a brave battle and was only narrowly defeated. The final result was Bairbre Ni hAinli (Galway) bt Ciara. McLoughlin(Leitrim) 15-6, 8-15, 11-7. In the Men’s C Danny Reilly lifted the plate for Leitrim having defeated Mark McCartan of Tyrone. Other Leitrim competitors in action over the weekend included U12 - Alan Wrynn & Alan Doonan U14 - Michael Wrynn U16 – Shane Doonan & Donal Wrynn. Also of interest to Leitrim supporters, Nevan McCartin formerly of Carrigallen handball club, but now representing St. Coman’s Club in Roscommon up against Fintan Creamer from Abbeylara in Longford in the final of the Men’s C competition. This was expected to be a close affair but McCartin proved stronger in all departments. The St. Coman’s club player trained on a number of occasions on the court prior to the tournament and this stood to him against the Longford man. At 4-4 in game 1 McCartin demonstrated why he will be pushing for National One-Wall honours in July with an overall controlled display of good defence and finishing power. Creamer could not match McCartin’s overall play he took game 1 by 15-4. In game 2 McCartin powered his way to a 7-1 lead. Creamer was finding the St. Coman’s player difficult to handle but kept battling away. The Longford man managed to reduce the lead to 8-4 but could not maintain it. McCartin could not be broken down and his overall positioning and clever use of the court was unerring. In the end McCartin came home on a 15-5 scoreline. Well done to all our competitors. Fixtures. June 5 & 6 Fenagh Masters tournament Fenagh Handball club are hosting a Masters tournament this coming June bank holiday weekend. With up to 20 competitors in action it is sure to bring us an exciting weekend of handball. Competitors of note in action over the weekend include Meath’s Walter O’Connor, Mayo’s Kevin Gerathy and Patsy McCann of Sligo. Proceeding start at 12:00 noon on Saturday in Fenagh handball alley. Players will be divided into 8-10 sets of doubles. The quarter and semi finals are expected to conclude on Saturday. Finals will commence at 1:00PM on Sunday, with competitors battling it out for the first Fenagh Masters Leitrim Crystal trophy. All Ireland Juvenile Finals. With a three-venue programme of GAA Handball the All-Ireland Juvenile Championship finals 2010 went ahead at Abbeylara, Cappagh and Tuamgraney on Saturday last April 10th . It was a top class weekend of GAA Handball action, with juvenile players from ten counties sharing honours. In a nail biting and extremely competitive U16 40X20 All Ireland Final Leitrim’s Donal Wrynn lost out with the narrowest of margins to Monaghans Darren Doherty in Abbeylara. In a decisive start to the competition Donal took the first game 21-6 as he delivered a series of rapid fire killer shots. In the second game Doherty found his composure and battled through many long rallies to take the second game 21-12. In the early stages of the tie breaker Donal powered ahead and at one point lead Doherty 6-2. However Doherty made a strong comeback, with both players exchanging point for point in the later half of the game through to match point. The final result was, Monaghan (Darren Doherty) dft Leitrim (Donal Wrynn) 6-21, 21-12, 11-10. Leitrim County GAA handball committee would like to congratulate Donal on his all Ireland silver medal and what was, overall, a very successful championship for Leitrim. Community games Connacht Final. In the Community games Connacht handball final (team of 6) Leitrim lifted a silver medal on Saturday April 10TH Last. With an excellent display of teamwork Leitrim beat Roscommon 6 games to 1 to progress to the final. However in the Final, Leitrim encountered a finely tuned and skilled Galway team, inflicting a 7-0 defeat on Leitrim. Lifting the silver medals for Leitrim on the day were A Doonan, A Wrynn, J Gilheaney, J McGuire, C O’Rourke and J Scollan. In the Connacht Final of the Junior C doubles championship, Leitrim’s Noel Gill & Joel Smith dft Mayo 21-8, 21-11. Unfortunately Maurice O’Donnell had to withdraw from the final, due to a work related injury. Maurice was ably replaced by Noel Gill for the competition. A speedy recovery to Maurice, we hope to see him back in action in the 60x30 championship later this year. 30/3/10 23/3/10 In the all Ireland U16 40 x 20 semi Final Donal Wrynn (Leitrim) beat Dan O'Leary (Carlow) 21 - 19, 21-14. As anticipated this proved to be a gruelling contest, with the talented Wrynn getting the better of a very determined O'Leary in his home court. In the first game, the lead swapped on a number of occasions with Donal finding it difficult to adjust to an unfamiliar alley. While he failed to take advantage of O’Leary’s weaker left hand in the early stages of the game, his overall talent and power brought him through a tough first game 21-19. In the second game, Wrynn established a routine of passing shots and a soft lob serve onto the left wall, which O’Leary found difficult to cope with. In a nail biting finish to the second game Donal served game ball at 20-11. However a determined O’Leary fought hard to stay in the game, forcing Wrynn to serve game ball seven times before he took the final ace and match. Having reached the U15 all-Ireland final last year Donal was determined to make amends and go for gold again this year. He meets Darren Doherty of Monaghan in the Ireland final, possibly in a Tipperary venue on the 11 April. Drumkeerin Juvenile results.
The Connacht Juvenile 60x30 Finals in Ballymoe provided mixed fortunes in results but overall a very worthwhile outcome for Fenagh’s three-man contingent in the U/16 Singles and Doubles deciders. Donal Wrynn confirmed his status as one of the top young players in the game with an impressive victory over long-time adversary Michael Lalor of Moycullen, while the Doonan cousins, Michael and Shane, can feel pleased with their performances though well beaten by an experienced Roscommon pairing of Colm Walshe and Cathal Connelly
The first game in the Singles match was a very hard-fought affair with Donal finding it difficult to translate a clear superiority in power and technique into winning scores against a highly motivated opponent. Indeed the Moycullen lad, with an economy of style and some excellent recoveries, took a 13-9 lead at one point and looked as if he could take the game. However, a change in serve produced some crucial scores to enable Donal to gain control and he powered on to a 21-16 win. The second game never developed into a serious contest as Donal continued to reap dividends from a variety of three-wall serves deep into the left and he steamrolled ahead to take game and match on a 21-5 scoreline.
Donal, Michael and Shane, our U-16 "A" Connacht 60x30 Championship finalists.
Abbeylara One Wall Tournament
Photos from Abbeylara 2010
The Fenagh group in Abbeylara
The U/16 finalists: Shane Doonan, Colin McKevitt , Darren Doherty, Patrick McRory
Leitrim’s Jamie Murray had a comprehensive victory over Pat Moylett of Mayo in the Junior C Final recently in Collooney. Murray always looked the stronger player, using his power shots to great effect both in killing and passing. He ran out a 21-2, 21- 4 victory. Having contested both the 60x30 and 40x20 finals in the last few years Murray was definitely not going to let this one pass him by. A 40X20 final defeat to O’Gara from Roscommon and a 60X30 loss to McDonagh of Galway were disappointing for him last year. A knee injury last winter forced him out of this years 40x20 championship. While not fully recovered from that injury, Murray played superbly on Saturday to take his first adult Connacht championship.
July 2010
GAA Handball summer camp.
Well done to all who took part in One-wall Nationals in Castlebar July 2nd - 4th.
Ciara McLoughlin, Orla Gaffney and Michelle Gaffney- Ladies Challenger
Jamie Murray - Mens "C"
Michael Doonan, Shane Doonan and Donal Wrynn - Boys U --16
Aaron Scollan - Boys U - 14
Alan Doonan, Alan Wrynne and Jarlath Scollan - Boys U - 12
Cormac Scollan Under 10.
Congratulations: to Shane Doonan winner U-16 plate
to Alan Doonan winner U-12 plate
to Donal Wrynn runner up in main U-16 competition
Ciara Mc Loughlin was unlucky to be beaten by one ace in Ladies Challenger.
Jamie Murray was doing very well until he got injured. Jarlath Scollan met Alan Doonan for an all- Fenagh contest. Orla, Michelle, Jarlath, Cormac and Alan Wrynne all did the club proud with great performances.
June 2010
Inaugural Williamstown One-Wall Tournament
June 18 & 19 2010 Feile na nGael
Our team competing in Feile in Clare in June
The eagerly awaited 2010 Feile na nGael on June 18th and 19th in County Clare is rapidly apporoaching and there is no doubt this event is one of the most exciting and noteworthy on the gaelic games calendar. From a handball perspective it promises to be every bit as enthralling as 2009 and the organising Committee have been putting in a huge effort to ensure another highly successful series of competitions. Fenagh Handball club have entered the competition again this year with their schedule of games starting at 3:45PM in Kilrush when they take on Clooney. The Fenagh team includes Tony Simms, Aaron Scollan, Mark Quinn, Michael Wrynn and Mark Leddy.
April
18/4/10
March
Results.
Over the weekend Leitrim's Ladies Connacht champions encountered tough opposition at the All Ireland semi-final stage of the championship. Last years junior C singles all Ireland champion, Mary Shanley travelled all the way to Kilkenny city on Saturday to play Marie T O 'Neill. Mary had to bow out to a much more experienced player. Her Kilkenny opponent
dominated the game throughout. Also on Saturday at Roscommon Ciara McLoughlin battled with great heart against a very accomplished player in Aoife McCarthy of Westmeath. The doubles pairing of Michelle Gaffney & Lenora Nellis also found the same Aoife MCarthy with doubles partner Niamh Egan a formidable duo.
Juvenile B Championship finals at Castlebar.
U12D Ruadhan O Curraoin & Oisin O Cualain (Galway) dft
Jarlath Scollan & Alan Wrynn(Leitrim)15-9,15-10.
U16S Colm MacDonnachadha (Galway) dft Paul Hazlett 15-4, 15-6.
U17S Tony Keane (Galway) Defeated James Hazlet (Leitrim) 15-14,15-10.
All Ireland Semi-Finals.
Ladies Junior C at Mullingar.
Aoife McCarthy & Niamh Egan (Westmeath) dft
Michelle Gaffney & Lenora Nellis (Leitrim) 21-11,21-8.
At Roscommon Aoife McCarthy(Westmeath) dft Ciara McLoughlin (Leitrim) 21-10,21-5.
In the Ladies Junior at O Loughlins Kilkenny.
Marie T O'Neill(Kilkenny) dft Mary Shanley (Leitrim) 21-5, 21-6.
Fixtures.
Enter County Juvenile B team of 6 at Salthill Monday 5th April.
Trials to pick a Leitrim team for this competition are ongoing.
Community games semi-finals at Oxfield County Sligo on Saturday 10th April.
Leitrim will be represented by the Fenagh Club with an U13 team.
Entry forms for the Irish Nationals competition and the Williamstown One-Wall Tournament are available for download from the irish handball homepage. Also available from your local club
Donal Wrynn reaches second consecutive all-Ireland Final.