One-Wall Nationals 2010 Report
- by Michael McGee
|
The Irish One-wall Nationals seen a record four hundred participants, took place from July 2nd- 4th last at the Breaffy House Hotel Sports and Leisure Complex in Castlebar. The Nationals once again welcomed a top English team led by Peter Cohen to the Western venue. With a number of new names making the breakthrough and also the Juveniles the Nationals continue to throw up more welcome surprises. Sean Kerr just 12 years of age from the Brackey Club in Tyrone showed remarkable skills beyond his age gave awe inspiring performances all weekend. He was duly crowned U-12 singles champion when he got the better of another young star of the future in Desmond Conneely of Galway. In the Men’s open qualifying grade there were early wins for Robbie McCarthy jnr, James Doyle, Charly Shanks & Peter Cohen who shocked Mayo’s Dessie Keegan at the quarter final stage. The semi-finals were played on Sunday morning. Charly Shanks was less than impressive against James Doyle while Robbie McCarthy cruised past Peter Cohen. Tony Healy conducted a coaching course for the young juvenile players early on the Sunday morning which was very well received. All the young players received a handball coaching DVD, handballs and some spot prizes from Irish Handball Officials.The finals were played on Sunday in a full programme. The Men’s C grade had the biggest number with 36. Last year’s runners up Shane Heraty from Mayo made no mistake this time round but had to be at his best to dispose of Kilkenny’s Ciaran Neary in a absorbing final. A number of the Masters finals proved equally exciting Down’s Sean McNally proved the early favourites tag when he accounted for Aengus Cunningham Roscommon 19-15 in a great final. Leixlip’s Vinny Wrynn defeated last year’s winner Morgan Darcy by the minimum in the Diamond Masters. In the Juvenile grades Colin Crehan who wasn’t known outside of Clare until the weekend made his present felt. Crehan defeated Darren Doherty & Donal Wrynn both World Champions to claim his and Clare’s only title at the Nationals. Crehan’s great display was too much for Wrynn in the Boys U-16 final. The Girls U-18 final was an all Mayo affair with Leona Ryder getting the better of Amy Corrigan 18-16 in a close and exciting final. With the finals played down to the last two in the Men’s & Ladies finals the tension was building. |
 |
 |
In the Ladies final
Mayo’s Pauline Gallagher was up against Lorraine Havern from the Saval
Club in Down. It was the Mayo girl who started brightly going into
a good 9-3 lead. Gallagher with strong serves continued to keep distance
between her and the Saval club player. Havern added on 3 more but Gallagher
had the overall strength to take the opening game by 15-6.
Left:- Leona Ryder, Amy Corrigan,
Tony Hannon, Killian Carroll and Niall O'ConnorHavern rushed into an 5-1 lead in the second and Gallagher did very well to pull back 5 points . Havern piled on the pressure and try as she did Gallagher to stem the tide. Havern pulled well clear and eventually taking game two by the same margin 15-6. Havern & Gallagher gave it everything
for the win in the tie breaker and scores were level at 4 & 5. The
Saval star began to asset her authority and with great power shots she
gained a number of important winners close in. Gallagher called a time
out and when play resumed she had fought back to be only 8-7 behind but
it proved to be her last score as Havern finished strongly winning an exciting
ladies final by 11-7 in the tie breaker. Lorraine’s Dad, Brian was overjoyed
with his daughter’s success. Irish Handball President Tony
Hannon made the presentations and both girls were interviewed by Chris
Curran afterwards for Television.
Pic Above- One-wall Nationals
youngest champion - Sean Kerr reciving the Boys U12 Trophy
|
| In the Men’s final reigning champion Charly
Shanks from Armagh was up against the 2006 winner in Westmeath’s
Robbie McCarthy Jnr. Shanks was relentless in game one and took a
big lead of 12-1. McCarthy when in serve tossed out his hand a number of
times. Late in game 1 he began serving to Shanks’s left hand . Shanks
got a peach of an ace when served a lightening quick serve straight to
McCarthy’s right with the Westmeath man hardly having time to move. Shanks
taking game one impressively by 15-3.
Robbie Jnr opened with intent going 4-0 up. Shanks looked all fired up for the challenge hit back to draw level at 4-4, and hit the front with some clever points and lob winners went into a big 11-5 lead. Unfazed by this McCarthy played some scintillating handball thereafter. McCarthy controlling the centre rallied strongly and shut Shanks out of the danger zone. Shanks had to run hard to return many of McCarthy’s angled shots. Mc Carthy had the momentum built up and drew level at 11-11. McCarthy doubled faulted on his next serve but Shanks could not take real advantage. Both players displaying amazing skills first Shanks with a great dive to level again at 12-12 and then McCarthy dazzled the crowd when somehow he got to the ball over on the right a tight angle with a remarkable dive winning the score with the crowd showing their appreciation with a great round of applause. McCarthy got the next 2 points but served game ball out over the line. Shanks managed to get 1 further score as McCarthy took game two with an ace to Shanks’s right side. Again the large crowd were going to be treated to a tie breaker game. McCarthy took a big 6-1 lead in the final game and looked to be heading for victory. Shanks summoned up all his fighting qualities and produced some quality winners out of the top drawer when needed most. McCarthy’s picking of what liked certain winning scores from Shanks was a real treat to watch. Shanks luck returned when McCarthy shot over the left side line with Shanks out of court over on the right with only a tap in required instead he took the wrong option. It was now level at 7-7. Robbie put the next ball out and Shanks killed for 9-7. McCarthy then fell awkwardly .He picked himself up gingerly with what looked like an ankle injury. Robbie Snr called an injury time out and he worked frantically to get Robbie Jnr back into action. With the injury time allotted game resumed but within 30 seconds it was all over as Robbie put out 2 returns. Shanks retained his One-Wall title but only just. |
 |
 |
Afterwards I asked
Charly his thoughts on winning the One-Wall.
“The One-Wall is a
fun tournament and I enjoyed playing in it. It got me over the disappointment
of last week playing in Texas in the US Nationals. It was great to
come down here for a fun weekend and not to have any sort of real pressure
like you do for the 40 x 20. Just to come down and enjoy to play handball.”
You took the
first game fairly easily 15-3 but then Robbie came back and took
the second and in the tie breaker he was 6-1 up. Were you afraid
that Robbie could have went on and won it at that stage?
“The first game started
well and I was keeping the pressure on him and keeping the intensity high.
Robbie was making a number of hand errors. In the second he upped his game
he made some great shots and really put it up to me. He continued
that on at the start of the 3rd game and got off to a blistering start.
I knew if I just kept digging, digging that my opportunities would come.
I found a bit of form when 6-1 down and was able to run off a number of
aces to get back into it.”
Final question I asked
Charly - Will you be back to do the 3-in-a-row? “ I will
be going to the U.S. Nationals next year and it if fits in like it does
this year I will definitely be back. It is good fun and enjoyable and that
is why I am here.”
Irish Handball President
Tony Hannon congratulated the finalists for a fantastic contest and congratulated
the English team for taking part. “They added an extra dimension to it”
said Hannon. He congratulated the organizing committee for
all their hard work and also to the Breaffy House Hotel for their fine
facilities. The sponsors were also thanked O’Neills, Ladbrokes, Coco-Cola
& Michael Donnelly. Finally he thanked “the parents, players
all taking part in a special sporting occasion.”
|
 |
 |
| Above:- Charly Shanks
and Lorraine Havern Men's and Ladies Open Champs
Top - Richard Willoughby - Emerald Masters Champion with Tony Hannon |
Above
U23 Champion and One-Wall Specialist Caolan Daly with Runner-up C J Fitzpatrick
Top Masters Singles Champion - Down's, Sean McNally with Tony Hannon CLLE President |
 |
 |
| U16 Pres. Martina McMahon (r-up) Tony Hannon and Lauren O'Riordan Champion | Men's C Winner - Shane Heraty with Tony Hannon |
 |
 |
| Girls U14 Champion - Cianna Ní Churraoin with Tony Hannon | GMS Champion Eammon Conneely and sons with Tony Hannon |
 |
 |
| Galway Winners all - Bobbi NihAinli, Seamus E O'Fatharta and Cianna Ní Churraoin | Robbie McCarthy Jr. serves out in the Men's Open Final to eventual winner Charly Shanks |
Irish One-Wall Nationals
2010 Finals Results from Castlebar
Men’s Open: Charly Shanks
(Armagh) dft Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) 15-3, 13-15, 11- 7
Ladies Open: Lorraine Havern
(Down) dft Pauline Gallagher (Mayo) 6-15, 15-6, 11-7
Men’s B Michael Donnelly
(Tyrone) dft Darren Flynn (Longford) 24-14
Men’s C Shane Heraty (Mayo)
dft Ciaran Neary (Kilkenny) 19-15
Men’s U23: Caolan Daly (Tyrone)
dft C J Fitzpatrick (Limerick) 20-15
Ladies B: Niamh Egan (Westmeath)
df Anita Ganguly (England) 23-13
Ladies Challenger: Bairbre
Ní hAinlí (Galway) df Michelle Warren (Tyrone)
Girls U12: Niamh Coleman
(Armagh) dftEimearNíBhiadha(Galway) 20-17
Girls U14: Cianna Ní
Churraoin (Galway) dft Maeve McElduff (Tyrone) 19-15
Girls U16: Lauren O’Riordan
(Roscommon) dft Martina McMahon (Limerick) 20-13
Girls U18: Leona Ryder (Mayo)
dft Amy Corrigan (Mayo) 18-16
Boys U12: Sean Kerr (Tyrone)
dft Desmond Conneely (Galway) 23-11
Boys U14: Johnny Woods (Tyrone)
dft Paul McKay (Tyrone) 17-6
Boys U16: Colin Crehan (Clare)
dft Donal Wrynn (Leitrim) 24-16
Boys U18: Killian
Carroll (Cork) dft Niall O’Connor (Kildare) 31-13
Masters: Sean McNally (Down)
dft Aengus Cunningham (Roscommon)19-15
Golden Masters: Eammon Conneely
(Galway) dft Francis McCann (Sligo) 11-8
Emerald Masters: Richard
Willoughby (Wicklow) dft GeroidO’Flatharta (Galway) 19-12
Diamond Masters: Vincent
Wrynn (Kildare) dft Morgan Darcy (Galway) 16-15
Ruby Masters: Seamus E O’Fatharta
(Galway) dftTadgh O’ Curraidhin (Galway) 20-13