Search Results for 'Williamstown'

Pauline Gallagher and Dessie Keegan were among the eight strong Irish men’s and ladies’ teams who competed in the one-wall Federations Cup in Imperia, Italy, last weekend. The Irish women lost in qualifying to Holland and Puerto Rico but qualified for the consolation ELA club. The Irish team saw off the challenge of the Basque Country and France to take the title in style. The team also included Roscommon’s Marianna Rushe, Kerry’s Ashley Prendiville, and Down’s Lorraine Havern. Dessie Keegan helped team mates Charly Shanks (Armagh), James Doyle (Antrim), and Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) to a fifth place finish in the men’s team event following qualifying wins over France and Mexico. However the Irish lost their quarter-final to Puerto Rico. Twenty teams in all competed in the annual one-wall team tournament.

Dessie Keegan and his Dublin partner Eoin Kennedy had a great run in the US Open of handball tournament at Fountain Valley California last weekend.

Frank Macken, fresh from his All-Ireland singles success of last week, added the doubles title with partner Aidan Bell in the All-Ireland golden masters’ doubles final at a packed Williamstown on Saturday afternoon last, once again facing Clare contenders Pat Donnellan and Stephen McInerney as the opening match of a two match card at the Galway venue, got off to a great start.

James Lannon from Boyle in Co. Roscommon achieved a long-held ambition on Sunday by claiming his maiden victory on Mayo and District Motorsport Club’s final autocross of the year. In doing so he became the fifth winner of the popular loose surface series in as many events, in what has been an enthralling season of motorsport at the challenging 2.7 km circuit at Harrington’s Quarry near Swinford. It was also a successful day for local hero James McGreal whose third place finish was enough to ensure he retained the Frank Harrington trophy for overall autocross champion for the second successive year.

The good news story of the week came by way of Ballinrobe handballer Frank Macken, who finally got his hands on a richly deserved All-Ireland medal. Williamstown on Saturday afternoon last was the setting for Frank’s finest hour as he and a fine attendance settled in for the All-Ireland golden masters B singles final against the well-regarded Pat Donnellan for Clare. Macken started well and was never really troubled in the opening game and he secured this one impressively 21 aces to 12. The second was a much tougher affair as Donnellan began to find his feet and the Clare man was making life difficult for the Galway based garda. Macken trailed for much of the game but his superior fitness and determination saw him take the lead at 17 aces to 16 although this on went down to the wire, as a relieved Macken added the second on a 21 aces to 17 scoreline. The win was well deserved and hard-earned but the hours of work put in yielded the desired result on the day. Macken has a decent chance of a second title this weekend as he teams up with Claremorris native Aidan Bell in the doubles final against Donnellan and Stephen McInerney once again at Williamstown this Saturday from 3pm.

Salthill handballer John McMeyler finally got his hands on An all-Ireland medal when he defeated Tipperary challenger Jim Quinn in a hard-fought emerald masters B singles final at Mullingar on Saturday.

St James, the current county minor champions, will take on Corofin in the county final this Sunday at 3.45pm in Pearse Stadium.

The next series of All-Ireland finals gets under way at a number of venues this weekend. Amy Corrigan teams up with Newport’s Leona Ryder as they bid for the ladies’ minor doubles title when they take on Cork duo Catriona Casey and Lisa Aisling as the third match at Thurles this Saturday. The opening match is the Connacht v Leinster girls inter provincial team of 10 tie which has an 11.30am start. Much of the defending champions Connacht team is made of up Roscommon and Galway youngsters with Mayo’s Jennifer Fahy playing an important part in the province’s bid to retain the trophy. The winners meet a strong Munster side in the final the same afternoon at Thurles.

The Galway football board has announced the dates for all the county football finals in junior, minor, intermediate and senior grades over the coming weeks.

• Galway Ladies juniors bowed out of Aisling McGing Championship after meeting Cork in the semi-final at Cork Institute of Technology on Sunday. Galway played with the wind in the first half and were rattled by a goal and two points from Cork in the opening 10 minutes. However, after settling, Galway took to their task and by half time the score was Cork 1-3 Galway 0-6. Galway powered into the second half and, after a goal each from Lucy Hannon and Deirdre Brennan, took the lead. However Cork finished the stronger - Cork 2-13 and 2-08.