There were wins for the two Roscommon Handball representatives in the Connacht Juvenile ‘B’ 60×30 Handball Finals held in Belcarra, County Mayo yesterday (Saturday).
Although he only turned 10 last week Eoghan Carthy dominated the Boys Under 11 singles grade. In his Semi-Final he easily accounted for Mayo’s Oisin Brady before taking on Galway’s fancied Stephen Kelly in the Final. In the early going there was very little between the two, but Eoghan’s excellent serving and clever use of both sides of the court gradually wore down his very game opponent. Showing superb concentration and footwork Eoghan never relented and ended up a very deserving 15-5, 15-4 winner.
In the match of the day Carragh Kennedy won the Girls U12 singles title by beating her great friend and rival Skylann Ni Mhaille. There is no doubt both girls are easily ‘A’ standard players, but somehow ended up playing in the ‘B’ competition and they gave the crowd an absolute thriller.
Carragh was the more powerful hitter, but Skylann was the more consistent and after a slow start from Carragh the whole match was a back-and-forth affair. Skylann won the first 15-11. Carragh then went 12-3 up in the second before going 14-12 down, only to save three game balls and nick it 15-14. The third was nip-and-tuck before Carragh finally got over the line 15-13 in a high quality match that will long be remembered. Earlier Carragh had a comfortable semi-final win over Mayo’s Emma Leneghan.
All-Ireland 60×30 Handball Juvenile ‘A’ Finals
Roscommon Handball will be represented by three competitiors in the All-Ireland Juvenile ‘A’ 60×30 Handball Finals in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan on Sunday next, October 16.
It will be a family affair as Oisin and Fionn Cusack join Halid and Magomed Yakhyaev in trying to bridge a seven year gap since Roscommon last won a Boys Juvenile championship title. The Cusacks face the Barry brothers from Kilkenny in the Under 17 doubles. Halid Yakhyaev takes on Waterford’s Kavan O’Keefe in the Under 17 singles. His brother Magomed will play Meath’s Daniel Farrelly in the Under 15 singles.
As one would expect the opposition is very strong, but the St. Coman’s lads have prepared well and there is no doubt they will give everything they have in an effort to take home the honours.