CROSSAKIEL HANDBALL REPORT 2011 There was mixed fortunes for Crossakiel players in the 1st round singles of the Leinster championships. By Michael McGee
M
ichael Gaynor had a fine 219, 21-12 victory over Laois’s Larry Brennan and followed it up defeating Oliver Ryan of Carlow 21-18, 21-20. Mark & John Farrell went down to Wexford & Dublin opponents respectively while Steven Quinn fell to Offaly’s Noel Murphy 21-12, 21-14 in Delvin. Eugene O’Reilly & Peter Flanagan last year’s runners-up got their Leinster Campaign off to a winning start with a facile win over Offaly’s Darren Madden & Alan Guinan by 21-1, 21-3. Michael Gaynor & Mark Farrell played outstanding handball in Ballymore Eustace to defeat one of the title contenders in Kilkenny’s Paul Clifford & Sean Quigley. In a frenetic start to the game Gaynor & Farrell quickly found themselves 18-4 down in game 1 but staged a remarkable recovery to hit back taking the opener by 21-18. In the second the Meath men were sharper and held out for a 21-15 win. Pat McCabe & James O’Higgins fell to Kildare’s Damien McCarthy & Neville Doyle in straight games as did John & Vinny Farrell to Andrew Dowling & Michael Donovan of Laois. Michael Gaynor went out of the singles against Kilkenny’s Ger Anthony over 3 games final score was 17-21, 2114, 15-21. The Club held its Agm on Friday January 21st last and all the officers were re-elected. Michael Gaynor & Mark Farrell exited the Leinster doubles championships going down to Wexford’s Justin Heffernan & Danny Linden by 15-21, 18-21 in Leixlip. Unfortunately for Eugene O’Reilly & Peter Flanagan they met the same fate when they went down to Kilkenny’s Anthony Martin & C.J. Delaney by 21-9, 15-21, 321 in Mullingar. Crossakiel’s Eugene O’Reilly reached the quarter finals of the 2011 Irish 40 x 20 Nationals. Eugene came through safely in
the round 16 match over Galway’s Pierce Lalor. Eugene easily winning game 1 by 21-2. The Galway man was forced to retire early in the 2nd with an injury. In the quarter final Eugene was defeated by Wexford’s Darren O’Toole by 21-15, 21-4. Crossakiel defeated by strong St. Canice’s team in Interclub championships Crossakiel took on St. Canice’s D team (Kilkenny) in the 1st round of the Leinster Interclub championships in Ballymore Eustace . The Crossakiel team were Michael Gaynor, Mark Farrell, Eugene O’Reilly, Pat McCabe and Vinny Farrell. Unfortunately the lads went down to the Kilkenny Club by 63-97. Michael Gaynor got the team off to a great start winning his singles match by 21-14, 21-20. However the doubles team of Pat McCabe & Eugene O’Reilly could not keep the lead as the doubles lost by 11-21, 6-21. Mark Farrell last singles player was up against a very strong St. Canice’s player and registered 4 points. With St. Canice’s so far ahead the 2nd game was not played The Crossakiel team on the evening was Michael
Gaynor, Eugene O’Reilly, Pat McCabe, Mark Farrell and sub Vinny Farrell. Michael Gaynor & John Leahy take Kells 60 X 30 Tournament final Crossakiel players entered in the Kells Intermediate/Masters tournament and Eugene O’Reilly & Michael Gaynor reached the final. Eugene partnered Joe Lynch as they overcame Peter Flanagan & Steven Quinn by 17-21, 21-15, 2110 and then Anthony McConnell & Micheal Sheridan by 21-16, 21-3 in their semi-final. Michael Gaynor & John Leahy overcame Mark Farrell & Jimmy Reilly. In the final Michael Gaynor & John Leahy defeated Eugene O’Reilly & Joe Lynch by 2110, 21-14. In the 1st round of the Leinster 60 x 30 championships Eugene O’Reilly defeated Kildare’s Gary Balfe by 21-15, 21-7. Mark Farrell went down to a strong Laois opponent in Michael Donovan by 921, 12-21. In the Junior doubles Steven Quinn & Vinny Farrell almost pulled of a shock victory over Offaly’s Conor O’Brien & Brian
A group of Crossakiel juvenile players receiving their training certificates
Doherty by 17-21, 16-21. Pat Mc Cabe & Richard Farrell lost out to Brendan & Diarmuid Burke from Kilkenny in straight games. Michael Gaynor & Mark Farrell made a winning start in the doubles defeating Gary Balfe & Myles Carroll 21-18, 21-12. O’Reilly reaches One-Wall Nationals quarter-finals Eugene O’Reilly took part in the Men’s B singles in the One-Wall Natioinal and reached the quarterfinals. In this 1st game he had a great win over Mayo’s Noel McLoughlin winning comfortably by 19-13 but was unlucky to be pipped at the post by Galway’s Pat Conway in the quarter-final. It was a record breaking nationals with 500 taking part. Peurto Rican Herman Mendez won the Men’s final while Karen McConney from New York became the ladies champion. Eugene O’Reilly & Peter Flanagan crashed out of the Leinster Junior B doubles championships when suffering a surprise 15-21, 18-21 defeat to Offaly’s Kevin Cooke & Sean Ryan in Mullingar. Crossakiel host successful Irish 60 x 30 Nationals weekend Crossakiel hosted the Jun B & B doubles divisions over the weekend of July 9th/10th last. Crossakiel's Eugene O' Reilly & Peter Flanagan reached the quarter-finals of the Junior B Doubles narrowly going down to Kilkenny's Lawless & Hosey by 30-31. Over the weekend players from Limerick, Kerry,
Roscommon, Galway, Tyrone, Wexford all played in the Crossakiel court and all were very impressed with the facilities. McCabes provided refreshments to the players over the weekend. Eugene O' Reilly having had a marathon battle with Kilkenny in the quarters still somehow had the energy for a marathon day of refereering games from 9.30 am - 9.45 p.m. Eugene was ably assisted by Steven Quinn & Mark Farrell together with Vinny Farrell. Steven & Eugene were interviewed by the TG4 cameras outside the court on Saturday. Overall it was a very successful weekend for the Crossakiel handball club showcasing its handball facilities on the national stage. Hopefully it won’t be too long before Crosakiel will be hosting All-Ireland handball finals. Club Chairman gets Married There was great celebration on Friday 15th July last when our chairman Steven Quinn married Jacquie Duignan. The happy couple got married in Girley Church in Fordstown with the reception in Cabra Castle in Kingscourt. It was a great pleasure for me to say a few words at the wedding reception and to present a piece of inscribed crystal on behalf of the club to Steven & Jacquie. Eugene O’Reilly had an excellent and hard fought win over John O’Neill Kilkenny by 21-12, 18-21, 21-12. Unfortunately in Arklow in the quarter finals Eugene was beaten by a very good player in Wexford’s David Kenny by 17-21, 421. Despite matching Kenny all the way in game one Eugene fell away in game 2. Still it was progress for Eugene as he nears the Provinical win he deserves. Hopefully in 2012 this will happen. Michael Gaynor & Mark Farrell long journey to Castlebridge for a refixed Junior B doubles tie was in vain as they were defeated by Wexford’s David Kenny & Diarmuid Smyth by 11-21. 8-21. Quinn emerges as Club league champion
Aaron Shields, Rebecca Shields, Conor Farrell with Christopher Clinton at the front
The Crossakiel 60 x 30 summer league was
Peter Flanagan, Kells winner of the Men's B singles final at the U.S Open of Handball with Crossakiel’s Eugene O' Reilly on the right
organised with 2 groups of 7 players a mixture of juvenile and adult players. It began on Monday August 1st and ran for 6 weeks. The summer league was completed and club chairman Steven Quinn came out on top. The semi-final was a real cliff hanger between Steven & Mark Farrell. This match could have went either way. There was very little between the players but Quinn just about edged it by 31-28. Pat McCabe came through the other semi. With the scare Quinn received in the semi-final standing to him he powered his way to a final win over Pat McCabe. Overall it was an entertaining league and thanks goes to Eugene O'Reilly who devised the league, draws, times etc. Neary & Hughes clinch McDermott Cup in Crossakiel The Crossakiel Club brought down the calendar on a memorable 60 x 30 season. Kilkenny’s Ciaran Neary & Peter Hughes Wexford teamed up to win the 2nd Annual McDermott Cup doubles competition for Junior/Masters players on Sunday 9th October last. Teams from Leitrim, Galway, Kilkenny, Wexford, Kerry, Louth and Meath took part. Dan Riordan made the longest journey to the Meath venue when travelling all the way from Kerry to the tournament. Sixteen players took part. The plate final was won by Peter Reilly & Joe Cummins who defeated Leitrim’s Donal Wyrnn & Eddie Lee by 12-21, 21-18, 21-5.In the final of the McDermott Cup Ciaran Neary & Peter Hughes faced Leitrim’s Jamie Murray & Martin Raftery. In a very exciting final Neary & Hughes held off a determined Leitrim challenge to win by 21-7, 21-17, 21-11. Steven Quinn thanked the support of the Committee and players & Kells
Handball Club. Fergal McCabe was also thanked for the refreshments for the Juveniles. Fenian Reilly for his sponsorship and to Jacquie, Valerie & Lisa Quinn for providing the food and refreshments on the day. Neary’s & Hughes success in Crossakiel was a fitting end to an excellent year in the 60 x 30 courts. McDermott Cup final: Ciaran Neary & Peter Hughes Kilkenny/Wexford) dft Jamie Murray & Martin Raftery (Leitrim) 21-7, 1721, 21-11 Plate final: Peter Reilly & Joe Cummins (Meath) dft Eddie Lee & Donal Wrynn (Leitrim) 21-12, 19-21, 21-5 Eugene reaches U.S. Open final Eugene O’ Reilly reached the final of the U.S. Open of handball in Los Cabelleros Fountain Valley California in the Men’s B grade. Eugene defeated Mark Kosielak of Murriate California in the semi-final by 21-5, 21-15. In the final he played Kells club man and doubles partner Peter Flanagan. Unfortunately for Eugene it was Peter that prevailed in the final by 21-12, 21-11. A great achievement by Eugene reaching the high’s early in the season and the new year should bring the 2010 coach of the year more success in the handball courts. JuvenilesEarly in the season the young players had challenge matches with Drogheda, Lexlip, Abbeylara and St. Patricks.The Christmas Juvenile competition took place in Moylagh on Sunday January 2nd last. Gary Reilly for the 2nd year in a row retained the Juvenile Christmas win with an 15-5, 15-10 win over Johnny Reilly. In the semi-final Johnny had an exhausting 10-15, 15-5, 15-8 win over a determined Cormac Gilsenan while Garry Reilly had the easier passage to the final with an 15-9, 15-4 victory over Sean Rice in his semi-final. Jack Tunney & Killian McCaffrey also took part. In the 1st round of the Leinster Juvenile 40 x 20 A championships played in Drogheda John Reilly lost to Louth Gary Kelly by 9-15, 13-15 while there was better news for James Baugh in the U-17 singles where he had a fine 21-17, 21-13 win over Brian Collins also Louth. In round 2 James Baugh received a walkover from Mattew Thibault from Wicklow while Cormac Gilsenan & Conor Rice fell to Wicklow’s Daniel & Jim
O’Leary by 9-21, 6-21. Cormac & Conor were the All-Meath pairing in the U-16 doubles. In the Leinster U17 doubles Gary Reilly & Johnny Reilly caused a huge shock when they ousted Wexford’s Darren Lambert & James Maddock in the 3rd round of the Leinster Juvenile A 40 x 20 championships at U-17 doubles level by 21-14, 17-21, 11-6. The feat was all the more remarkable considering Johnny Reilly was a late replacement for Jack Tunney. Reilly & Reilly took the 1st game by 21-14 but were caught by the Wexford lads in the second with the Slaneysiders recording a narrow win in game 2. In the tie breaker and urged on by Johnny Reilly Snr & Kevin Reilly the Royals roared back into contention. Getting the breaks at the right time the duo held firm despite a spirited comeback by Wexford. At the end of a fantastic match Gary & Johnny had beaten a strongly fancied Wexford side. Disappointment for Crossakiel players in Leinster finals There was heartbreak in Ballymore Eustace for our young stars when both the U17 Singles & doubles teams were beaten in finals on Sunday March 6th last. James Baugh had a daunting task of trying to defeat Dylan Walsh son of the legendary Michael “Ducksy” Walsh of Kilkenny handball fame. Walsh was superior all round. While Johnny Reilly & Gary Reilly also suffered “final blues” defeat to Corey Fay & Cian O’Dalaigh in the U-17 doubles finale. The Dubliners who reached the All-Ireland U-15 doubles semi-final 2 years ago had the greater experience on the day and used it to telling effect. Still James, Johnny & Gary can be very proud in their efforts on reaching the Leinster final at their 1st time of asking a remarkable achievement by all accounts. Also appreciation to their coaches and Parents for helping the Club’s young stars reach this year’s Provincial final. Gilsenan and Reilly reach final The semi-finals of the Crossakiel Juvenile championship were played. Cormac Gilsenan caused another shock in these championships when defeating a fancied Gary Reilly in 2 games by 15-7, 15-14. Reilly it has to be said was recovering from the effects of the flu and this had a major bearing
on the match as his normally high energy levels dropped. He was well in control of game 2 and was serving to bring the match to a tie breaker. However Gilsenan’s great battling display come to the fore and he came back strongly from being 714 behind and amazingly took the match by the minimum 15-14 in the end. In the 2nd semi-final there was a drama between Johnny Reilly & Conor Rice. Reilly took the 1st game by 15-9. Game 2 was very evenly contested but somehow from somewhere Rice dug deep and even with the lights going out he still managed to hold his nerve to win an exciting game 2 just edging it by the minimum 15-14. In the tie breaker Reilly rallied again and just had that little bit extra to win a thrilling tie breaker by 11-7. Reilly is Club 40 x 20 Juvenile champion Johnny Reilly powered to an emphatic win in the Club Juvenile final when accounting for Cormac Gilsenan in the final by 15-7, 15-3 in Moylagh on Monday 28th March last. Gilsenan could not reach the heights of his semi-final win. Reilly was the stronger in most areas and won in straight games. Over 25 of the Clubs Juvenile players witnessed the finals and all received certificates for participating in the Club Juvenile championships. Leinster Juvenile Team Championships Meath U-16/17 team of 4 made up of an entire Crossakiel club team made their exit at the semi-final stage of the Leinster team championships when going under to a stronger Kilkenny team in
Johnny Reilly Jnr, winner of Club's Juvenile 40 x 20 singles championship, with runner-up Cormac Gilsenan
Ballymore Eustace. Conor Rice, Cormac Gilsenan, Johnny Reilly & James Baugh all played well but the overall Kilkenny challenge proved that little bit stronger on the day.Meath Conor Rice, Cormac Gilsenan, Johnny Reilly & James Baugh (Meath) lost to Niall Mulkerrins, Ronan Egan, Richy Falsey and Eoin Doyle Kilkenny 5472 McCabe, Rice & Tunney reach Leinster semi-finals Crossakiel had 5 representatives in the Leinster Juvenile B championships opener v Dublin. Eoghan McCabe displayed great tenacity to come from behind to secure the win by 15-13, 1-15, 15-8. Christropher Clinton & Ricky McDermott lost out in the Boys U14 & 15 singles repectively while Conor Rice & Jack Tunney had safe passage with straight sets wins over their Dublin opponents. Unfortunately in the semi-finals the trio of Eoghan McCabe, Conor Rice & Jack Tunney were all beaten by Kildare opponents. There was a huge number back training for the Juvenile 60 x 30 season. Training began on Monday 23rd May and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Eugene O’Reilly, Mark, Vinny & Richard Farrell, Michael Gaynor & Steven Quinn gave up their time freely coaching. James Baugh & Johnny Reilly runners-up in U-17 doubles plate final Our U-17 doubles teams got great experience in the Irish 60 x 30 Nationals. Cormac Gilsenan & Conor Rice had the daunting task of trying to defeat Limerick’s Padraig Quish & Eamon Davern All-Ireland minor champions in round 1 both they and James Baugh & Johnny Reilly put up good performances against superior opponents. Baugh & Reilly were then beaten in the U17 doubles plate final. Crossakiel Juvenile 60 x 30 doubles league In the Crossakiel Juvenile team league in the 1st round Johnny Reilly/Cormac Gilsenan dft James Baugh/ Conor Rice in a hard fought match winning 15-11, 12-15, 11-7. In the 1st round of the Leinster juvenile 60 x 30 championships Eoghan McCabe and James Harrington lost narrowly to Conor Smyth & Dylan
Quegan 15-14, 4-15, 10-15. “Blue evening” for Crossakiel players in Leinster championships There was no success for Crossakiel players in the Meath colours as both teams faced strong Dublin opposition in the Leinster Juvenile A 60 x 30 championships played in Crossakiel. Crossakiel’s Rebecca Shields making her debut partnered Emily Sheridan Fox in the Girls U12 doubles but lost out to Niamh Rock & Niamh Gleeson from the capital. The girls were over run in game one but amazingly were in front 12-11 in game 2 before Dublin got the last 4 winning scores to put an end to the Meath girls great comeback. The U17 doubles pair of James Baugh & Gary Reilly were easily brushed aside by Dublin’s Cian O’Dalaigh & Corey Fay. Johnny Reilly & Gary Reilly were defeated by the Dublin duo in this year’s Leinster U-17 doubles 40 x 20 final. It was expected that Baugh & Reilly would put it up to the Sky Blues in the big court but disappointedly it never materialized. Fay & O’Dalaigh ran out comfortable winners in the end. Conor Rice & Cormac Gilsenan suffered the same fate in the Boys U-16 doubles GU12 Rebecca Shields/Emily Sheridan-Fox) lost to Niamh Rock/Niamh Gleeson 1-15, 12-15 U17D James Baugh/Gary Reilly lost to Cian O’Dalaigh / Corey Fay (D) 1-21, 6-21 U17 S: Johnny Reilly (Meath) conceded walkover to Stephen Dwyer (Kk) U-16 doubles: Cormc Gilsenan & Conor Rice lost to David Mahon & Eamon Landy 3-21, 4-21 Crossakiel’s Eoghan McCabe & Chris Clinton represented Meath in the Leinster B Juvenile Championships in Crinkle. Unfortunately both players were out of luck and were beaten in straight games. McDermott Cup –Juvenile competition The Juvenile tournament took place in the McDermott Cup and resulted in wins for Leah Doyle in the Girls U-12 round robin. Conor Farrell & Donal Farrelly were victorious in the Boys U-12 doubles
while Christopher Clinton & Peter Smith took home the Boys U14 doubles trophies. Just before the McDermott Cup the final of the U17 doubles took place James Baugh & John McGovern were successful wining in 2 games over John Reilly & Ricky McDermott. Next October Ireland will host the 2012 World Championships in City West Dublin with custom built handball courts on site. An estimated 2,000 players from 33 Country’s are expected to come to Ireland. Already live TV for the main finals will be shown. Crossakiel should have a number of club players taking part and competing against the World’s best. The Club will be just 2 years in existence since its re-opening (in November 2009) by the time the World Championships come around. The “youthful” club have made huge strides in such a short space of time. It will be a proud moment in the club’s history to have a team competing on the world stage at the World handball championships. On behalf of the club I want to wish all club Officials, players, supporters, sponsors and their families a happy and holy Christmas and for a prosperous 2012 Obituaries Alan Quigley: March 24th 2011. Uncle of Steven Quinn Club Chairman. Suddenly at Naas General Hospital. Carter (nee Wall) Glenidan, Collinstown, Co. Westmeath) May 17, 2011, at the Mater Hospital. Daughter of Phil & Vera (Former Chairman Crossakiel Handball Club) Jacqui, after a short illness, bravely borne; deeply regretted by her husband John, daughters Emma, Niamh and Áine, sister Mary, mother-in-law Betty, brothersin-law Brendan, Des and Martin, sisters-in-law Mags and Ita, nephews Ian, Edward, Stephen and Darragh, relatives, friends and neighbours. McCabe (nee McGrane) of Miltown Kilskyre. Thursday 11th August 2011. Nan Mother of club player Pat McCabe. Mattew Reilly of Drumcondra Dublin. Tuesday October 4th 2011. Uncle of John Reilly Club Treasurer. Late of Kieran Carnaross. http://www.crossakielhandball.com