IRISH HANDBALL NATIONALS
Charly Shanks & Catriona Casey are the 2016 Irish Nationals champions after both claimed dramatic tiebreak wins in tonights finals in Colaiste Feirste, Belfast.
The Armagh man Shanks stormed to the opener 15-4, before Mulkerrins came from 7-1 down in the second to win a dramatic game 15-14 and force the tiebreak. Mulkerrins took an early 2-0 lead in the tiebreak before Shanks won five points in a row to lead 5-2. From there the Lurgan man pushed and and sealed the win 11-5.
In the Ladies Final, Catriona Casey added to her recent All-Ireland win by defeating big rival Aisling Reilly, despite Reilly cruising to a 15-7 first game win. Casey responded immediately though with a dominant 15-4 second game win before continuing her fine form into the tiebreak, winning 11-3.
Monaghan Handballers put up a good show at the Nationals. In the men’s B, three out of the four semi finalists were Monaghan men, Gavin Coyle,Conor O Gorman and James Gavigan. All three had some very impressive wins in the early rounds of what is a very compedative grade but inevitably there can only be one winner. Conor faced off against Gavin in the first semi. Both guys gave it their all but Gavin came out on top sending him to the final. In the second semi James came up against Danial Relihan from Cork. Danial started at a ferocious pace and won the first quickly. In the second James found his form and a great battle ensued. Unfortunately James couldn’t close it out and was narrowly defeated in the second sending Danial to meet Gavin in the final.
The final was a display of handball that even the great Paul Brady would be proud of. Like in his semi against James, Danial started at a blistering pace and even with some amazing gets and lightening reactions Gavin couldn’t stop the rot. The tide turned in the second and Gavin went on a killing spree and blew Danial out of the water. The tie-breaker was an epic battle with serves gets and kills wowing the crowd with Gavin coming out the winner 11-9.
In the Golden Masters Paul Cassidy won through to the final where he came up against the legendary John Herlihy. Herlihy still has all his precision and agility. Mid way through the second game Paul seemed to have the measure of him but it was too late and Paul had to settle for runner up.
