Ballaghaderreen secure senior club title

Ballaghaderreen claimed their fifth successive All-Ireland senior 40x20 club title at the expense of a game Coolboy of Wicklow at Abbeylara on Sunday last. Dessie Keegan opened for the Mayo side where he once again faced an in-form Michael Gregan. The Wicklow ace made life very difficult for the Mayo powerhouse in the first game, which he won comfortably 21 aces to seven. Keegan, at this stage a veteran of these team encounters, responded well in the second, which suffered a five minute delay due to a wet court, as he made his Wicklow opponent work much harder for each ace. Keegan took this game 21 aces to 15 to leave the Mayo side trailing by eight aces going into the doubles. Vincent Moran and Paul Flynn put in a fine performance to secure a good 21 aces to 12 win in the first game against Coolboy’s Pat Quaile and Michael Lennon. The second was a much closer affair which the Ballagh duo just won by a singles ace. With this slender advantage it was all up to Joe McCann who took on Johnny Willoughby in the final match of the afternoon. McCann was made to work very hard against a much-improved Willoughby and he did just that, winning the first game 21 aces to 17. This still left McCann needing 16 aces for victory in the final game of the evening. McCann kept a cool head and achieved the target at 16-14 to give Ballaghaderreen the well deserved victory. Much credit must go to the Coolboy lads who certainly pushed the Mayo champions all the way but overall Ballagh had the better balanced team on the day.

Showdown Saturday

Indeed it was a particularly busy weekend for Joe McCann who teamed up with Mayo football star Andy Moran for the GAA handball showdown on Saturday last at Croke Park. The duo had a fantastic run in the 40x20 event and reached the final only to lose out to Cork’s star handballer Tony Healy and partner Donal O’Connor on a 28 aces to 22 scoreline. However there was better news for Mayo in the ladies in 60x30 final as ace footballer Cora Staunton teamed up with Roscommon handballer Deirdre Donohoe to clinch the ladies’ doubles title at the expense of Aisling Reilly of Antrim and partner, Derry footballer Katie McAuley, on a 30 aces to 22 scoreline.

 

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