The Annual Coiste Siamsa 40x20 Championships were hosted at St. Coman’s Handball Club, Roscommon on Thursday 4th February 2016. Due to the wide spread of Coiste Siamsa players nationally; St. Coman’s has been a much frequented central hub for Garda Handball. Also the pristine venue and warm welcome from Coman’s unsung driving force such as Mary Tully and Aengus Cunningham makes it an easy sell.
On the day, four categories were on display, Senior Singles, Senior Doubles, Junior Singles and Junior Doubles with the Hannon Cup being the coveted prize for the Senior Singles.
The day started off bright and early with player’s itching to put themselves forward for selection in the Garda v Defence Force’s Exhibition later this month. In the gallery there was much banter had but in the court it was all business. At an early stage it was evident standards where on the rise from last year’s competition, which is vital for the club, and after some cracking game’s the finals were set.
The Junior Singles was first on the card and seen last year’s runner-up Mark Maher (Bree) looking to claim the title against Jason Hannon (Collooney) who had other ideas about this plan. Maher began the match with powerful serving and clever roof shots ensuring he ran Hannon around the court. He pushed ahead early with a 7-0 lead however Hannon battled back with some tidy picks inside the short line to put himself back in the frame. However the court control Mark had in running around Jason soon played to his advantage as the toll began to take effect. He pushed on to claim the title he narrowly missed out on in 2015.
Next up was to determine the Hannon Perpetual Cup. Paddy Donovan (Hospital), as the first name on the trophy, wanted it back. To do so he needed to knock the current champion, Niall Maher (Bree), off his perch. The game began as a very coy affair with both players’s sussing each other out and after the first 8 minutes the score was tied at 2-2. Donovan was first to press on and with some inch perfect serves and low passing shots moved ahead 12-7. However Niall had brought his father to his first Garda Championships and with a bit of encouragement he woke to the challenge. After bursting the ball in play was burst he dug in and pushed on to win the final by the narrowest of margins. Many spectators’s confirmed it had been a truly fantastic final seeing the past dominant master and the current champion, now in both courts, portraying their two very different styles of play.
The Junior Doubles Final had a tough ask to follow that final. Des Dowd (St. Coman’s) and Jason Hannon (Colloney) were up against Colm Gregan (Tinahely) and Tony O’Flaherty (Youghalarra). Jason Hannon won this title last year and Dowd the Junior Singles so had both wished to claim a title again. However Tony O’Flaherty fresh back from a knee operation was out to prove just how he had won his World Title in 2012 prior to injury and with a fit Colm Gregan beside him he did just that. With some gruelling rallies and nice back wall killing it was O’Flaherty’s ability to read the game that proved the key edge in deciding this final.
Finally the Senior Doubles was to round up the day. Once again, just as 2015, come to, sibling rivalry was the underlying story of this final. Younger brother Mark Maher (Bree) alongside Brendan O’Toole (Maynooth) was to face his elder brother Niall Maher (Bree) who was paired with David Hannon (Collooney). Both having just won the Junior and Senior Singles respectively wanted the bragging rights of two titles from the day. And with Mum and Dad in the crowd the pressure was on. Niall was fully set though to rectify the defeat he had suffered the year before and from the offset was killing to punish. O’Toole swapped sides to pull then back into the game but the senior Maher switched up his serve to ensure he ran out winner.
At the end of the day some fine handball was played and causes some welcome headaches by way of selection for the upcoming exhibition. Special thanks is also extended from the club to St. Coman’s for being a fantastic venue and to Mary Tully and Aengus Cunningham in Coman’s for their support in assisting the set up of the event on the day.
The players now have the team of 10 annual exhibition tournament against the Defence Forces on the 25th of February at Salthill HBC, Galway.
For anyone interested in Handball in general or to compete please contact:
David Hannon (Sligo) ohannain@gmail.com
Beginners and all grades are welcome and will be accommodated.