Yesterday saw the conclusion of the provincial competitions in the Men’s and Ladies Senior Open Singles played off in each province. There was some great handball played in all four provinces over the weekend with the results being as follows.
In Connacht it was a case of roles reversed from 2015 as Moycullen’s Martin Mulkerrins had to dig deep to record a 21-8, 15-21, 21-4 win over Ballaghadreen's Joe McCann. In the Ladies competition Ciana Ni Churraoin was given a w/o by Lauren O’Riordan.
In Leinster it was a McCarthy double as Aoife won the Ladies Senior Singles title when she defeated Kilkenny’s Ciara Mahon 21-6, 21-15 in the final yesterday. This win and that of her brother Robbie’s mean the McCarthy’s once again holds both Leinster 40x20 Senior Singles titles after Robbie took the Men’s title last weekend.
The Munster’s championships were probably the most competitive of all. The Mens final was between Limerick’s CJ Fitzpatrick and Clare’s Colin Crehan. This turned out to be a three game thriller which either player could have won but in the end CJ took home the title 21-16, 15-21, 21-18. The Ladies final was equally as tight with Cork’s Catriona Casey being pushed all the way by Limerick’s Martina McMahon. Casey took the first game 21-15, but McMahon took the second 21-20 to force it to a tie-break. The tie-break was equally as tight but the experience Cork lady just edged it 21-15.
Charlie Shanks is once again the 2016 Ulster 40x20 Senior Champions after yesterday’s final in Coláiste Feirste, Belfast. Armagh man Shanks defeated Ricky McCann Antrim 21-9 and 21-8 to book his place in the All Ireland series. In the Ladies Final Aisling Reilly had to concede to Lorraine Havern of Down after picking up a injury at the She’s Ace event a week earlier.
The Men’s provincial winners and runner up’s now progress to the All Ireland stage with entry forms for the Mens Singles Back Door and the Ladies Open Singles and Doubles Championships sent out to county secretaries official email address last week and are to be returned to the national office by this coming Friday the 29th January.
Connacht 40x20 Open Singles Championship Results
Leinster 40x20 Open Singles Championship Results
Munster 40x20 Open Singles Championship Results
Ulster 40x20 Open Singles Championship Results