This year's Softball Inter-club Championships takes place in Leinster venues this weekend with Crinkle being the venue chosen for the premier Softball club competition. The Open competition has a familiar field with it, with last year’s winners Kells (Meath) up against Munster champions Ballina (Tipperary) in the semi-final with Williamstown (Galway) through to the final. The action gets under way at 11am this Saturday 29th June at the Offaly venue.
The Open competition has TWELVE time’s winners Kells with last year’s Senior Doubles winners Brian Carroll and Gary McConnell as well as Tom Sheridan and Robert Sheridan for the clash with Ballina. Ballina have also an array of very experience 60x30 handballers namely Gerard Coonan, Declan Gleeson, Noel Moroney, David Hickey and James Prentice for the clash. Williamstown has received a bye into the final as Ulster have no team, their team of Ollie Conway, Declan Connaughton, Alan Tierney, Kevin Craddock, Pat Conway are also strong Softball players. Will the hot favourites from the Royal County or the men from the South or the West bring the title home on Saturday afternoon? Only time will tell for this titanic tussle of these three club heavyweights in the 60x30 Softball game.
In the Junior competition there is only a final with Moycullen (Galway) up against Ballymore Eustace (Kildare). The final is down for decision at 11am in Mullingar, a fantastic battle is in store at this midland’s venue.
Finally, in the Junior B competition the action kicks off in Na Fianna at 11am with Williamstown (Galway) taking on Virginia (Cavan) in the first semi-final followed by Ballymitty (Wexford) versus Friary/Abbeyside (Waterford) at 12.30pm. The final is down for decision at 3pm in the Dublin venue.
A great day of Softball Handball is in store at these three central venues as the Softball season starts in earnest with the first finals of the year. It promises to be a cracking Inter-club series, so show your support for all your club teams that are in action this weekend.
Inter-club Championships Rules