The cream of Ireland’s Juvenile Softball players converged on Thurles today to battle it out for the delayed 2020 MyClubShop.ie All Ireland titles in the Softball code. Five counties in all competed today with Cork topping the medal table with TWO titles, while Kilkenny, Roscommon and Sligo all taking one title back to their respective counties to complete a very successful day of Handball.
In the Boys U16 Singles Final Sligo’s Cormac Finn was in sensational form against Kilkenny’s Conor Holden in a high-quality match. Finn powered his way to take the first 15-1 as he controlled the game from start to finish with some excellent serving and killing shots. The second game was also controlled by the Sligo player but Holden fought hard but trailed 4-11 before Finn finished off the game to take the title 15-1, 15-4.
The game of the day was the Girls U14 Singles Final with Cork’s Carmel Kelleher against Kilkenny’s Katie Brennan. Kelleher took an early 5-1 lead before Brennan levelled at 5 all and then led 9-5. The Cork girl then levelled the game at 11 all before going on to take the first game 15-11.
Game 2 was equally as good with the pairing level on 4 occasions by the time it reached 7 all with little between both girls. Brennan with some great round the wall serving went 12-7 up before taking the second 15-7 to take us to a tie-break.
Kelleher started well in the third game and led 7-0 and extended this lead to 12-4 before Brennan fought back to trail 10-12. The Cork star went 14-10 up with some great 3 wall serving into the right corner but the Kilkenny lass did not give in and came back to trail 13-14 before Kelleher closed out the game to take the title and match 15-11, 7-15, 15-13.
Cork also claimed gold in the Boys U15 Singles as Hayden Supple defeated Kilkenny’s Michael Brennan in two games 15-7, 15-13 whilst Kilkenny's Eimer Barron was an impressive winner of the Girls U15 Singles when she overcame Tipperary’s Christine Percy 15-7, 15-4.
Finally, in the last game of the day Roscommon’s Siobhan Treacy had a tight two game win over Kilkenny’s Lauren Power on a 15-6, 15-10 score line.
Congratulations to all the players, parents, coaches, referees and sincere thanks to the host clubs of Thurles/Lahorna for their hospitable and finally thanks to all that travelled to support these Juvenile Softball Finalists.
GAA Handball Softball Juvenile All Ireland Finals 2020 - Results
Saturday 30th October 2021
Thurles
- GU14S Cork (Carmel Kelleher) dft Kilkenny (Katie Brennan) 15-11, 7-15, 15-13
- GU15S Kilkenny (Eimer Barron) dft Tipperary (Christine Percy) 15-7, 15-4
- BU15S Cork (Hayden Supple) dft Kilkenny (Michael Brennan) 15-7, 15-13
- BU16S Sligo (Cormac Finn) dft Kilkenny (Conor Holden) 15-1, 15-4
- GU17S Roscommon (Siobhan Treacy) dft Kilkenny (Lauren Power) 15-6, 15-10