Kells Handball Round Up

22 February 2016


All Ireland Senior 40x20 Interclub
Just before Christmas Kells qualified for the Senior Interclub 40x20 All Ireland final. The team was made of Peter Funchion, Patrick Funchion, Dan Breen and Brian Manogue. In the final held in Mallow they came up against top Kerry side Glenbeigh. Unlike most handball games the Interclub final is decided on points so every point is valuable throughout all the games.



Peter Funchion was first out for Kells against Glenbeigh's most experienced player Dominic Lynch. Following two hard fought games they both won a game each. Next up for Kells was Dan Breen and Brian Manogue who took on Jack O Shea and JJ Quirke in doubles. After two tough games the Kerry side held the advantage by a few aces going into the final singles match. Patrick Funchion would take on Rory O Connor for the Munster side in the final game of the day. Patrick completely dominated proceedings throughout playing flawless handball to wrap up the match and bring the All Ireland title back to Kells. Patrick won 21-5, 21-2 which gave the Kells team a winning score of 20 points in total.



This is the first Senior Handball title to return to Kells and continues the clubs great form in Interclub series. Since 2012 Kells have won 4 All Ireland Interclub titles and have been runners up on two occasions throughout various grades.



Gaffney Memorial - 40x20 Ranking Tournament
In the Annual John Gaffney Memorial Tournament, held in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Mayo Patrick Funchion defeated local player Vinny Moran (Mayo) in a tie break in opening game. This set him up against top US pro Sean Lenning winner of the Men's Open Small Ball World Championship this past summer. Patrick gave a brilliant performance against #3 seed Lenning eventually losing 21-16, 21-20 in an enthralling encounter.



Peter Funchion met top Limerick player C.J Fitzpatrick and was defeated in a thrilling match in a tie break. Both players met in last years All Ireland Senior Championship but this time the result was reversed with Fitzpatrick taking victory.



Both lads can be proud of their efforts over the weekend holding their own against some of the top players in Irish and World Handball.



County 40x20 League and Juvenile Championships
Minor League Champion - Conor Murphy
Men's Division 3 Champion - Eoghan Wallace
Men's Division 1 Champion - Patrick Funchion
Boy's U16 Singles Champion - Eoin Brennan
Boy's U17 Singles Champion - Conor Condon
Girl's U16 Doubles Champions - Kym Ryan/Lauren Grace



Second Level Colleges All Ireland Series 40x20
Eoin Brennan representing his school the famed hurling nursery St. Kierans College travelled to Kingscourt the past weekend for the All Ireland series of the second level colleges. Eoin was playing in the Intermediate Singles grade.
Eoin following a great performance in the Leinster final last week which saw him win 21-3 against Meath was down to play Sean Murphy from Tulla, Co. Clare in the All Ireland semi final. Following a tense first game Eoin won 15-13 and then in the second game Eoin was more relaxed displaying the handball he has been playing recently winning 15-6.
His opponent in the final would be Galway player Diarmuid Mukerrins a double medalist at the World Championships in the summer. Eoin playing brilliant handball shocked the Galway player winning the first game 15-7. Mulkerrins however showed his class in the next game winning out 15-7. A tie break would decide the outcome of the All Ireland title and after a short break both players went back in for the third game. Both players gave absolutely everything in the game displaying all the skills of the game with brilliant killshots, passing shots and great serving. After a tense tiebreak it came down to the last point to decide the match with both players tied at 14-14. Unfortunately for Eoin the winning point went to Mulkerrins who took the match and the title 15-14.
Hard luck to Eoin and well done to Diarmuid who both gave it everything in the final. While obviously disappointed Eoin can be very proud of his efforts over the colleges campaign. He still has another year at this level and with a Leinster U16 Semi Final only around the corner the experience gained from playing in this older division will stand to him,



EDTL European Pro Tour - UK Open One Wall Report
Dan Breen travelled to London to take part in the UK Open the first stop of 2016 European Pro Tour and took home the Men's C Doubles with John Hurley from Clare
Dan competed in Men's Open Doubles, Men's B Singles and in Men's C Doubles as a last minute replacement.
Saturday saw the Singles event group stage take place with Dan defeating Colm Turley from Down, James Tilson from the UK and losing out to a Dutch player 11-9. In the final group game of the day Dan met Wexford's Daniel Kavanagh to decide who would go through and who would be knocked out. Following a good start by Breen , Kavanagh the double world champion from Wexford showed his class to defeat the Kilkenny player. Daniel Kavanagh ultimately went all the way to the final losing out 15-14 in the final to John Seso from the USA to claim Silver
Sunday saw the doubles event take place where Dan teamed up with John Hurley from Clare as a last minute sub as the Clareman's partner never showed up. Following facile wins in the group stages against UK and Dutch pairs the Kilkenny/Clare partnership played a UK pair in the semi final winning 15-4. In the final they met Olly Colbert and Joe Sumner also from the UK. Always holding the lead throughout Breen and Hurley won out 15-8 in the end to claim gold
Dan also competed in the Open Doubles with his USA player Greg Calabrese. They defeated a UK pair 15-5 in the opening round before losing out 15-7 to Dan Grant/Daniel Tristao one of the top pairs in Europe. Grant/Tristao went all the way to the final in the Open Doubles before losing to the USA.



Leinster Senior 40x20 Doubles Finalists
Last years beaten Intermediate All Ireland finalists Brendan Burke and Ciarán Neary (Talbots Inch) teamed up again this season to take part in the Leinster Senior Doubles competition. The Kilkenny pair reached the final where they met current Senior 60x30 All Ireland champions Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne from Dublin. Following two close games Dublin won out 21-16, 21-16 to take the title but a great showing from Brendan and Ciarán against two very experienced players. Hard luck to them but they more than held their own. Hopefully they will continue their form in the Intermediate grade coming up soon



Pictures



Pic 1 : All Ireland 2nd Level Colleges Finalists - Diarmuid Mulkerrins (Champion) Joe Masterson (GAA Handball President elect) and Eoin Brennan (Runner Up)



Pic 2 : Leinster & All Ireland Senior 40x20 Interclub Champions (Patrick Funchion, Dan Breen, Willie Roche (GAA Handball President), Peter Funchion and Brian Manogue)



Pic 3 : Leinster Senior Doubles Finalists Kilkenny ( Ciaran Neary and Brendan Burke)



Pic 4 : UK Open Mens C Doubles Doubles Champions John Hurley (Clare) and Dan Breen



Pic 5 : County Juvenile 40x20 Champions