The action kicked off in the 2017 O'Neills GAA Handball All Ireland Finals tonight in Kingscourt with 11 games down for decision at the Cavan venue.
Monaghan, Dublin and Antrim lead the way after the first night's action with two titles, Monaghan's first coming from Michael Clerkin in the Silver Masters B where he overcame Kilkenny's William Holden in three thrilling games much to the delight of the large support present. They were then ecstatic when the night finished with a second title as Gavin Coyle captured the Junior title with a hard fought win over Dublin's Keith Bourke in the night's final game.
Antrim's first title came courtesy of Ricky McCann as he overcame Wexford's Gavin Buggy in another three game epic finishing 21-11, 18-21, 21-8. They collected their second when Jordan O'Neill defeated Carlow's Aaron Geoghegan 21-17, 21-8 in the Junior B Singles.
In other games, Dublin collected their second title following Eugene Kennedy's Ruby Masters win on Thursday when Conor Maxwell collected the Masters B Singles defeating Tipperary's Brian O'Brien. Westmeath, Galway, Roscommon, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Kildare were the other winners on the night with the remaining title going to Carlow on Thursday night as Carlow's John Rossiter defeated Tipperary's Billy Mullins 21-12, 21-8 in the Diamond Masters A Singles Final.
Action commences at 10am on Saturday.
The full results are as follows:
- JBS Antrim (Jordan O’Neill) dft Carlow (Aaron Geoghegan) 21-17, 21-8
- JS Monaghan (Gavin Coyle) dft Dublin (Keith Burke) 21-5, 21-18
- O35AS Antrim (Ricky McCann) dft Wexford (Gavin Buggy) 21-11, 18-21, 21-8
- O35BS Roscommon (Denis Creaton) dft Cork (Jamie O’Donnell) 21-11, 21-8
- MBS Dublin (Conor Maxwell) dft Tipperary (Brian O’Brien) 21-17, 21-13
- SMBS Monaghan (Michael Clerkin) dft Kilkenny (William Holden) 19-21, 21-14, 21-6
- EMAS Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy) dft Antrim (Thomas Maguire) 21-7, 21-10
- EMBS Galway (Denis Phelan) dft Limerick (Jimmy Fanning) 21-9, 21-20
- DMAS Carlow (John Rossiter) dft Tipperary (Billy Mullins) 21-12, 21-8
- DMBS Kilkenny (Joe Anthony) dft Down (Brian Havern) 21-17, 21-18
- RMS Dublin (Eugene Kennedy) dft Monaghan (Michael McCarron) 21-12, 21-9
- O70S Tipperary (Jim Ryan) dft Galway (Morgan Darcy) 21-15, 21-4
- LJBS Kildare (Ellen O'Connor) dft Tyrone (Michelle Warren) 20-21, 21-13, 21-20