Kells GAA Handball Club, Meath retained the GAA Handball All Ireland 60x30 Senior club crown today Saturday 14th November. They defeated Ballaghadereen Mayo by the slimmest of margins. After 6 game it came down to a single ace when Kells edged this thriller of a finish on a 98-97 scoreline.
These two great clubs have completely dominated the Open Senior section of these championships for the last decade. Kells have claimed the Open title on four previous occasions (2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014) and Ballaghaderreen have bagged the Open crown no fewer than seven times during that same period (including four consecutive titles, 2004-2007 and three successive titles, 2009-2011), so the latest clash of these "heavyweights" was eagerly anticipated.
In the first singles match of Saturday's final Brian Carroll played Joe McCann over two games. Joe took the first 21-17 in a tight game which could have went either way. The second was a lot more conformable for the man from the west as Joe took it 21-4 to give Ballaghaderreen a good early 42-21 lead.
In the doubles match Dessie Keegan and Paul Flynn defeated the Kells pairing of Tom and Michael Sheridan over two game on a scoreline of 21-16, 21-19 to extend the Ballaghaderreen lead to 84-56.
Finally in the second singles match Kells Gary McConnell played Ballaghaderreen Vincent Moran. Gary played really well in a tight first game to take it 21-8 to leave Kells trailing 77-92. Moran and Ballaghaderreen only needed seven aces to take the title back to the west for the first time in four years but they just came up short by the slimmest of margins when McConnell put in a stellar performance to win the final game on a scoreline of 21-5 to the rapturous applause of the Kells supporters.
The Intermediate title was won by the Hospital club Limerick who went one better that last year. In the semi final they defeated Williamstown (Galway) 98-62 (18-21, 21-18, 21-14, 21-2, 17-7). In the final they were up against the Leinster champions Clogh of Kilkenny. This strong Hospital team were just too strong for the Kilkenny opposition and they won the final 84-38 (21-19, 21-5, 21-4, 21-10) without the last match being played.
Meanwhile, in the Junior competition Tyrone side Breacach defeated Coolboy (Wicklow) in the semi final 126-72. In the final they played the Munster championships Cashel of Tipperary. This proved to be a very tight final with little between both clubs but in the end the Breacach club won 99-81 to clinch the Junior title for this year.
Finally in the Junior B competition which was played last weekend in Lahorna, Tipperary. Cork club Boherbue overcame Loughrea, Galway 84-36 in the first semi-final while Ballymore Eustace, Kildare received a bye from Kingscourt, Cavan in the other semi-final. In the final the fresh Ballymore Eustace team saw off the Boherbue team on a scoreline of 65-37.
2015 GAA Handball 60x30 Interclub Championships Results
Saturday 14th November
OPEN in Kells, Meath
- Semi Final 1: Ballaghaderreen (Mayo) W/O Ballina (Tipperary)
- Final: Kells (Meath) dft Ballaghaderreen (Mayo) 98-97
Sunday 15th November
INTERMEDIATE in St. Comans, Roscommon
- Semi Final 1: Hospital (Limerick) dft Williamstown (Galway) 98-62
- Final: Hospital (Limerick) dft Clogh (Kilkenny) 84-38
JUNIOR in Kells, Meath
- Semi Final 1: Cashel (Tipperary) W/O Moycullan (Galway)
- Semi Final 2: Breacach (Tyrone) dft Coolboy (Wicklow) 126-72
- Final: Breacach (Tyrone) dft Cashel (Tipperary) 99-81
Saturday 7th November
JUNIOR B in Lahorna, Tipperary
- Semi Final 1: Boherbue (Cork) dft Loughrea (Galway) 84-36
- Semi Final 2: Ballymore Eustace (Kildare) W/O Kingscourt (Cavan)
- Final: Ballymore Eustace (Kildare) dft Boherbue (Cork) 65-37