HARPS HANDBALL
Harps Handball
The 40×20 season is coming to a close and the One-Wall season is beginning around the country. There are tournaments in Williamstown, Mount Talbot and Lurgan among others. Entry forms are available on the handball website gaahandball.ie.
A new handball publication called Rollout is on sale in Mc Connon’s in town. The date for next year’s World Championships in Calgary, Alberta Canada has been announced. Play begins on the 11th of August and several Harps players intend taking part.
Last week Louise and Eoghan Mc Ginnity played in the Junior Nationals competition in County Clare. Pride of place goes to Louise who reached the Under 11 Doubles final having defeated Tyrone in the semifinal. She was partnered by Clare’s Chloe Philpott and both girls played very well. Eoghan was playing in a very strong age group and was happy to progress to the semfinal. The club congratulates Emyvale’s Darren Doherty on winning the Under 19 National final in a thriller against Gabhan Mc Crystal.
Don’t forget that our 12-hour Handball Marathon takes place on Saturday, April 26th beginning at 9.30am. There will be refreshments and spot prizes for those taking part. Sponsorship cards should be returned as soon as possible. Our new jerseys are now available.
Darren Doherty with his 19&u national trophy.
EMYVALE HANDBALL
The 2014 Junior Nationals took place in venues across Couinty Clare last weekend, with players in grades from 11 & Under right up to 19 & Under from all over the country competing for national honours. Emyvale’s Darren Doherty was in flying form and made short work of opponents Fitzgerald from Clare and Clarke from Tyrone to win himself a place in the final against the much fancied and number one seed, Gabhain McCrystal from Tyrone. In game one McCrystal took off and before Doherty knew where he was he was 6 0 down. However after a timeout he showed what he could do and clawed himself back into the game. McCrystal forged ahead again and left Doherty fighting at 18 12 down, but once again keeping a cool head and working point after point, Doherty crept back up the scoreline, and managed to win the first 21 20.
The second game continued in much the same vein with Doherty down 9 2 at one point, but once again sheer determination and some super kills saw him catch and pass his opponent and it looked like it was all over at 20 17 to Doherty. McCrystal got back into serve at that point and took this match to a tie breaker when he managed to win 21 20. With one apiece it was all to play for in the short tie break to 11. It was point for point up as far as 6 all and at that stage Doherty showed real class and pulled away to win the tie 11 6 and take the coveted trophy back to Emyvale and Monaghan. Doherty has won the Junior Nationals on two other occasions, having taken the 13 & Under and the 15 & Under titles. He narrowly missed out on the 17 & Under title last year, but this time round he showed great class and super handball skills and is a deserving winner of the blue ribband trophy. Congratulations to Darren and well done. Great result.
