Report by Williamstown HC
Last Sunday saw Galway’s Conway brothers take on Ciarán Neary and Brendan Bourke in the Intermediate Doubles final held in Nenagh Handball Club, Co. Tipperary.
In a thrilling encounter that went to three games and lasted nearly two and half hours the Galway pairing of Ollie and Pat Conway took the honours 16/21, 21/10, 21/16. Kilkenny started very well and raced into a 7/1 lead early in the first game. With the Galway side not playing particularly well they still managed to keep in touch before Kilkenny again powered their way around the court to take the first game 21/16. With Neary bossing the left corner with sublime kills and Bourke causing havoc with his steady gameplay, Kilkenny seemed to have the upper hand.
However the Conway bros were not about to go down without a fight and fight they did in the second game. With the sides evenly balanced at 10/10 in the second game, Ollie opened up with some clinical kills from both inside and outside the service area. Before the long the game had turned on its head and the Conways were serving to tie up the match at a game each. With a game ball serve, a kill from Pat off the back we were into a third and final decider.
This proved to be a hectic game and with the tempo upped by both sides, points were swopped to and forth to 8/8. Kilkenny then went ahead 12/8 and seemed to have the momentum. However the Pat’s serve came good and before long Galway were up 16/12. Again Kilkenny fought gallantly back to 16/16. But at this stage it was clear that fatigue was going to be a factor after some long draining rallies.
With Galway back in serve thay served t0 20/16. Tired Galway hands gave Kilkenny another chance at a comeback but they could not capitalize. With Galway serving for the match, Kilkenny’s return came off the glass back wall and was duly killed by Galway! And so came to an end another great spectacle for handball and the promotion of the Conways to the senior grade in the 40/20 code.
It has to be said however that this game was played in a very sporting fashion with both teams calling picks against themselves. The Player of the match was also given to Kilkennys’s Brendan Bourke who had a very steady game on the right handside.
Thanks also must go to the Nenagh Club and to Paddy Collins, Ballina club, who refereed the tie.