Men’s
Open Herman Mendez ( USA) dft
Wally Armano (Puerto Rico) 9-15, 15-7,
11-1
Ladies
Open Karen McConney (USA) dft
Michelle Melendez (Puerto Rico) 15-14, 15-11
Ladies
B Amy Corrigan ( Mayo) dft
Leona Ryder (Mayo) 31-7
Ladies
Ch. Kathleen Briedenhaan (UK) dft
Tara Taylor (Roscommon) 24-16
Men
23 & Under A Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick) bt
Ciaran Burke (Mayo) 19-16
Men’s
23 & Under B Dan Breen (Kilkenny) dft
Shane Walsh (Kilkenny) 31-8
Men’s
B Peter Hughes (Wexford) dft Niall Flynn
(Longford) 20-17
Men’s CGer
McGrath (Carlow) dft Daniel Fenlon
(Kilkenny) 23-12
Men’s
Ch. Martin Havern (Down) dft Liam O’Ceallaigh
(Ros) 19-10
MAS
Aengus Cunningham (Roscommon) dft Niall
Kerry (Tyrone) 17-16
SMA
Sean McNally( Down) dft
Joe Dowling (Mayo) 27-9
GMS Eamonn
Conneely (Galway) dft Francis McCann (Sligo)
25-13
EMA
Dermot Doolin (Roscommon) dft Peter Larkin
(Monaghan) 26-12
DMA
Morgan Darcy (Galway) dft Sean Devlin (Louth)
23-10
RMS
Colm O’Cualain (Galway) dft
Tadhg O’Curraidhin (Galway) 21-10
GU10
Sinead Havern (Down) dft Chloe Lydon (Unknown)
11-10
G12
Ella Donellan (Clare) dft
Heather Spellman (Galway) 27-10
G14 Emer
Beatty (Galway) dftAineO’Keffe
(Kildare) 31-15
G16
Ciana Ní Churraoin (Galway) dft
Maeve McElduff (Tyrone) 24-12
G18
Catriona Casey ( Cork) dft
Raquel Garcia (USA) 24-12
BU10D
D Curran, L McBride (Tyrone) dft D Farrelly.
C McCartan (Mh/Tyrone)
21-10
B12
Diarmuid Mulkerrins (Galway) dftTiarnan
Agnew (TBA) 28-18
B14
Niall Allison (Tyrone) dft Fergal Coughlan
(Clare) Scores TBA
B16
Johnny Woods (Tyrone) dftPól
Clarke (Tyrone) 19-11
B18
Joshua Garcia (USA) dft Killian Carroll
(Cork) 29-12
Plate
Results
MO
Niall Malone(Clare)bt
James Doyle (Armagh) 18-14
Ladies
B Lisa McAleer (Tyrone) dft
Aileen Quinn (Kildare) 15-11
Ladies
Ch.Michelle
Warren (Tyrone) dft Maria Curran (Tyrone)
20-16
MB
Paul Lambert (Wexford) dft Padraig O’C arroll
(Limerick) 12-6
MC
Shane Briody (Cavan) dft
Kevin Meehan (Sligo) 16-3
M23
& U B John Hurley (Clare) dft Daniel
Murray (UK) 13-9
Men’s
Ch Edward McCavitt (Armagh) dft
John Fitzgerald (Kilkenny) 13-4
SMA
Padraig Maguire (Kildare) dft Michael O Culain
(Galway) 19-2
GMAS
John Cawley (Clare) dft Liam Burke (
Mayo) 15-8
G12
Leah Doyle (Kildare) dft Ciara Mullan
(Tyrone) 14-10
G14
Elaine Mitchell (Galway) dft Aoife Quinn(Sligo)
16-11
B12
Ben Devlin (TBA) dftOdhran
Quinn (Sligo)19-9
B14
Desmond Conneely (Galway) dft Michael Varley
(Dublin) 20-8
B16 GabhainnMcCrystal
(Tyrone) dft RyanMullan
(Tyrone) 10-7
B18
Niall Malone (Clare) dftJamie
Lynch ( Clare)
The
cream of World one-wall talent came to Castlebar for the 2011 Irish One-Wall
Nationals which were held in the Breaffy House Sports Complex from 31st
June -3rd
July last. The sports complex had 5 one-wall courts with games going on
simultaneously and two new outdoor courts were added this year. A record
entry of over 500 players in the TG4 sponsored event seen new records,
new champions emerge. Peurto Rico and U.S
sent their top handball teams and they charmed the Irish Handball fraternity
with their outstanding one-wall skills.It
was truly amazing. Italy & England were also represented. On the Thursday
there was an International challenge event between USA, Puerto Rico, England
& Ireland.Wally Amaro
& Michelle Melendez became the 1st winners of the inaugural
TG4 International Challenge with an 41-25
win over USA’s Pee Wee Castro & Karen McConney.There
was also an International challenge in the Boys U-18 grade with Cork’s
Killian Carroll defeatingJosh
Garcia U.S. with a stunning performance winning11-9
in a timed contest.
On
Saturday presentations were made to all the visiting delegations by Irish
Handball President Walter O’Connor
The
Juvenile grades continue to throw up news stars and standards continue
to reach new levels There was eye catching displays by Maeve McElduffTyronein
her18-12 win over Roscommon’s Lauran
O’Riordan and Cork’s Killian Carroll 17-10 defeat over the ever improving ConalMcKevitt
from Armagh in the knockout stages.
All
the Juvenile finals were keenly contested. Josh Garcia & Killian Carroll
had a fantastic battle in the Boys U-18 final with the American just holding
out from the gallant Carroll. Johnny Woods from the famed Tyrone nursery
took the U-16 singles title while Cork’s Catriona Casey defeated Racquel
Garcia U.S.A 20-13 in another great final. Cianna Ni Churraoin won the
Girls U-18 final and there wins for Tyrone’s Niall Allison & Emer
Beatty Galway at U-14 level.It can
only be a matter of time when Ireland will also dominate the one-wall code
with such unstoppable Irish talent coming through in Juvenile ranks at
the present time.
Aengus
Cunningham Roscommonhad
a terrific battle with Tyrone’s Niall Kerr Tyrone. Kerr beat Cunningham
11-9 in the Williamstown tie breaker and another absorbingmatch
finished 17-17 at the end of the time game. Cunningham just edged it 5-3
in extra time. Galway’sEamon
Conneely Galway got the better of Sligo's Francis McCann for the 2nd
yearin an row to win theGolden
Masters final
Tyrone’s Ruairi
Kelly caused a major shock when knocking reigning champion Charly Shanks
out in the quarters. Herman Mendez defeated Irish No.2 Robbie McCarthy
with a powerful performance.U.S.A’s
Pee Wee Castrothe
little man with the big heart finally brought Diarmuid Nash’s great run
to an end with an 31-10 victory. Wally Amaro
ended U.S. WilliamPolanco chances of a win on
Irish soil with a solid showing coming through by 23-9.
In
the ladies semi-finals Roscommon’s Marianna Rushe was not overawed by top
Puerto Rican player Michelle Melendez. Rushe brought the fight to the munch
vaunted South American and stunned Melendez winning by 15-13 with an
faultless display in game 1.Melendez
knew she was in a battle and duly stepped it up a gear. Rushe display never
wilted but Melendez intensity increased as she powered her way to the second
game by15-1.
Rushe received some coaching from her coach Michael Naughton
during the 5 minute interval and not even the close proximity of a mobile
TV camera overhead could detract them as they plotted an Irish win.However
Mendez over whelmed the young Roscommon & Irish star in the tie breaker
by 11-1 to reach the final.Last
Year’s Ladies champion Lorraine Havern came up against top U.S. player
in Karen McConney and Havern too battled
with the World champion.Havern pushed
the New Yorker all the way before McConney
winning it by 15-12, 15-4.Tyrone’s Ruairi
Kelly the last remaining Irish player in the Men’s open singles took on
Wally Amaro in the 1st semi-final.The
athletic Amaro won but Kelly gave a very
encouraging display especially in game 2 when he relaxed and tested Amaro
to the full.Amaro’s
team mate Herman Mendez powered his wayto
the final with dazzling display of finishing over Pee Wee Castro from the
U.S.
McConney’s
Magic
Irish
Handball Manager Chris Curran introduced the ladies finalists Michelle
Melendez & Karen McConney to the large
crowd now assembled. Carrickmore’s Darragh
Daly refereed the final. Melendezgot
off to a great start when serving an ace straight away to McConney’s
left with the U.S.player
hardly moving. Melendez moved 3-1 ahead but McConney
hit back immediately to level things up at 3-3. Scores were again tied
at 4 each.Melendez hit a number of
winning volleys and McConney missed a sitter
at the front wall giving Melendez a fortuitous score and into the lead
by 8-4. Undaunted McConney rallied to again
tie the scores at 8-8 after Mendez tossed out her hand with 2 faults. Mendez
then took a time out.Mendez playing
superbly took a 3 point advantage at 13-10 and looked to have the 1st
game in the bag. McConney is a great battler.
An excellent return with the ball just dropped in at the back line again
had the sides even at 13-13 with the tension mountingall
the time. McConney had the greater resolve
but Melandez forced the New Yorker to serve
game ball 3 times before taking game one by 15-13.
Into
game 2 Melendez fought hard to keep in contention after McConney’s
early dominance. The match was delicately poised at 6-6 but McConney
asserted her excellent handball skills with some sublime finishing and
quick fire serving.Melendez began
to miss opportunity’s and her concentration
waned as McConney sensed glory and she
went for it. Melendez couldn’t stop McConney’s
momentum as the World champion took an historic Irish title by 15-7. After
the presentation McConney was interviewed
by Chris Curran for TG4 "This
is one of the most memorable events I have played at and the handball,
hospitality and enjoyment I have taken from this have been awesome”.
Tony
Hannon made the presentations and following interviews we got ready to
witness the men’s final.
Amaro
astonishing
Chris
Curran introduced first Wally Amaro whom
he described as the Usain Bolt of One Wall
handball and then Herman Mendez in his colourful red and blue Peurto
Rico shirt with the number 1 emblazoned on it.Both
players embraced before the final got underway.The
skills by both players had to be seen to be believed. Time and time again
they picked what looked like winners and their speed of both feet around
the court was astonishing. Their serving, hammering the ball with such
ferocity had to be seen to be believed. Awesome raw power the Irish followers
have rarely seen in one wall handball. Two of the
world’s heavy hitters in One-Wall demonstrating amazing athleticism all
over the court. The match was very even 4 times during game 1.Mendez
with tremendous power serving. He rotated his shoulder out fullybefore
unleashing a “bradyesque style stinging serves
to Amaro.Amaro
was certainly up for it in game 1 as he covered every inch of centre court. Amaro
sprayed the ball around the court keeping Mendez guessing at times. At
8-8 in the opening game both players had chances to build on it. Instead
it was Amaro who surged clear with devastating
fire power.He finished game 1 brilliantly
diving full stretch for an expertly executed roll out. Amaro
taking game 1 by 15-9.
Mendez
World class
Amaro
had the better start in game 2 going 3-0 ahead. Then
all Ireland seen what the wonderful and magical Mendez is capable off.Mendez
with a smashing volley levelled it at 3-3 with the large crowd giving a
generous round of applause.Scores
were also tied at 4 & 5.It was
all Mendez after that as he brought the Mendez heart and passion to his
game.Amaro
could not break down the stranglehold Mendez had now on the match no matter
what he tried. Mendez was equal to what Amaro
had to offer. Mendez began to weave his magic and thrilled the spell bound
Irish supporters with his skills and finishing. Amaro
a top player himself was hapless to do anything about it as Mendez notched
up score after score.Mendez brought
the game to a tie breaker with a 15-5 blast.
Mendez
stunning Irish One-Wall victory
In
the tiebreker Mendez scintillating skills
was clearly evident giving a master class display. Mendez was simply irresistible
with his thunderbolt serves and relentless work rate. Amaro’s
first game opening flourish became a quick memory. Mendez took a firm grip
on proceedings notching up 10 points in a row.Amaro
gained a solitary point and gave a wry smile knowing the contest was as
good as over. Amaro put the ball over the
right side and Mendez became Irish One-Wall champion. Both players embraced
after the final ended. World Handball President Pat Brennan made the long
journey from Canada to make the presentations to Amaro
and Mendez.Mendez thanked GAA Handball
for the invitation and thanked Amaro for
a great game and dedicated his win to his son. Both players were interviewed
by TG4 shortly afterwards.Everyone
is already looking forward to the 2012 Nationals where more records, more
pulsating handball from the Puerto Ricans, unbelievable
handball from the U.S.A. team and incredible performances from our Irish
stars will be witnessed.
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| Wally Amaro r-up with Herman Mendez Men's Open Champion | Karen McConney Ladies winner with Michelle Mendez r-up Ladies Open |
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| Pat Brennan (Workd Handball Council President) with Herman Mendez | Killian Carroll Boys U-18 runner up with Josh Garcia U.S. Boys U-18 winner |