With the 60x30 Championship finished for another year, the handball community can stop and reflect on the wonderful scenes they have been treated to. They’ve seen Robbie McCarthy and Eoin Kennedy play out another thriller, Catriona Casey wrestle her singles crown back from Martina McMahon, and have had Meath’s Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan yet again show us why they’re the undisputed kings of 60X30 doubles.
You might expect at this stage that big alleys across the country are getting ready to go into hibernation. But not yet. The 3rd level students still have one last spectacle to treat us to.
The ICHA has undergone many changes over the years, maintaining its reputation as a responsive and adaptable body which always meets the needs of the students it serves. The need for change to the ICHA’s 60X30 structure came to light over the last number of years, where it became clear that smaller colleges simply didn’t have enough players to compete in the 60X30 team event, which traditionally required 4 players per team. In order to increase participation from smaller institutions with less than 4 players, and to ensure that students could continue to compete among players of their own standard, the decision was taken to replace the 60X30 team event with a 60X30 Doubles Intervarsity.
The results proved that change is not to be feared, especially when it increases participation among students. The decision to hold a one day tournament on 30 September in Croke Park and Na Fianna in Dublin gave beginners and elite players alike a chance to flourish on the big stage. Among the star names on display at headquarters were the ICHA’s regaining 60X30 Singles Intervarsity champion Keith Armstrong (NUI Maynooth, and partnering Laurence Dunne), Wexford’s U-21 star Galen Riordan (UCD and partnering Noel Holohan) and the 2016 60X30 minor singles and doubles champion Shane Dunne (Tralee IT, partnering Shane Murphy).
In the group stages of the Open/A division, both Dunne/Murphy (ITT) and Riordan/Holohan (UCD) showed early signs of intent, playing efficient and deadly handball to keep DCU’s Cian Ó Dálaigh and Ben Devlin at bay. The ITT and UCD pairs then treated the crowd to a thrilling tiebreaker in the final group match, with ITT eventually carrying the day; 21-11, 16-21 and 11-1. ITT were well represented last weekend, with Evan Murphy and Gearóid O’Connell flying their flag in the second Open/A group. They were however met with stiff competition from the Armstrong clan, with ICHA chairman Alan Armstrong partnering Mark McDonnell of QUB, while his younger brother Keith took to the stage with Laurence Dunne of NUI Maynooth. Armstrong/Dunne (NUIM) proved from the outset that they were the team to beat in the group, but Armstrong/McDonnell (QUB) did enough to ensure that they too progressed to the knockout stages of the Open competition.
Meanwhile, the C doubles final featured an all-UCD showdown, with James Tobin and Martin Meaghar facing Neil Magee and Ryan Kelly. Tobin and Meaghar used all their experience to see off their younger club mates and ensure an awkward car journey home across the Liffey! DCU had success in the B doubles, with Meadhbh Ní Dhálaigh and Ella Donnellan seeing of the challenge of Geoff Atkinson and Jack Roche. Finally, DCU’s Ben Devlin and Cian Ó Dálaigh had to dig deep to fend off a huge battle from ITT’s Evan Murphy and Gearóid O’Connell, eventually sealing the win on a 21-20, 21-17 scoreline.
The Open doubles final featured a rematch of the epic group stages clash between Dunne/Murphy (ITT) and Riordan/Holohan (UCD). Dunne picked excellent ball on the right hand side, while Murphy used his natural left hand to control his side of the alley. While Galen Riordan treated the crowd to some excellent long-range kill shots, it wasn’t enough to stop ITT, who powered ahead to seal the first game 21-13. Holohan used all his power over the course of both games, and cleverly made use of the glass sidewall to frustrate the ITT pair. However, there was ultimately no stopping ITT, with the effective use of overhand lob serves and great teamwork helping them to a 21-11 victory in the second game.
First year students Shane Dunne and Shane Murphy of IT Tralee were excellent when taking the Open Doubles title – can we expect to see them pushing the more experienced students in the singles?
Having the Colosseum of 60X30 at the students’ disposal is an experience they’ll never forget, and for this the ICHA is extremely grateful to the Croke Park Handball and Community Centre. The hospitality they showed to our players was exemplary and demonstrated what handball is really about. Special thanks are also due to Na Fianna GAA Club for allowing the use of their facilities. All in all, this trial run of the 60X30 doubles tournament was a great success, and will hopefully pave the way for a new era in the ICHA’s 60X30 season going forward.
With the doubles champions crowned, all attention will now turn to the 60X30 Singles Intervarsities which takes place in Kilkenny this coming weekend (October 13th – 15th). With the change in structure, Kilkenny will prove to be a somewhat new experience for even the familiar faces at third level, as the singles will be the sole focus of the weekend. This is sure to add more purpose and intensity to the level of play throughout the weekend.
For some, this will be their first Intervarsities competition of the season and with this might come a degree of nerves and excitement. However, that can’t be said for NUIM’s reigning Men’s Open Champion - Keith Armstrong - who outplayed a talented field in last year’s competition to claim his maiden title. Armstrong will feel confident after a strong showing in the recent doubles Intervarsities but will face stellar competition from the get go with the last year’s runner-up – Ryan Mullan (QUB) – looking to go one further in this year’s competition.
2016 champion Keith Armstrong being presented with his medal by his brother and ICHA Co-Chairman Alan Armstrong. The ICHA would like to assert that our competitions are not fixed…!
But the Men’s Open will not be a two-horse race – indeed, the Men’s Open bracket is the most competitive it has been in years! UCD’s Brian Mahon will hope to return to the final and to add a gold medal to the silver he collected in 2015. Dublin’s colleges are not the only challengers for this title, with UL’s Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan coming in as a strong contenders (rumour has it, the UL men have been training in the scorching climates of Valenica in preparation for this weekend). While this may be the first singles competition of the Intervarsity season, the likes of Shane Dunne and Shane Murphy (ITT) will take confidence from their recent doubles win and hope to translate this success to the singles bracket. When you add in 2015 Minor All-Ireland Champion Niall Joyce (DCU), as well as the recently crowned 2017 Minor All-Ireland Champion Diarmuid Mulkerrins (GMIT), you’ve got a heated battle to even reach the semi-final stages!
While the Men’s bracket surely looks to set up some exciting handball, the Ladies Open will also be a tightly contested affair. Last year’s champion, Ciara Mahon (TCD), will come in as the number one seed as she looks to add an impressive fourth 60x30 Intervarsity title to her résumé. While Mahon will be the hot favourite to retain her title, she will face stiff competition from DCU who will be represented by Fiona Tully and Ella Donnellan. Tully has enjoyed an exceptional underage career and will hoping to cause an upset in her first Intervarsites competition. Although this will be Donnellan’s first single competition at Intervarsity level, she will come in with a level of confidence having recently been crowned the 2017 All-Ireland Minor Doubles Champion.
Ciara Mahon (TCD) is bidding to win her fourth Women’s Open 60X30 singles Intervarsities title and third doubles title – can DCU’s young stars stand up to her?
Unlike the men, the ladies will also be contending for a doubles title as well. The absence of last year’s champions, UL’s Ciana Ní Churraoin and Niamh Dunne (RIP to Ciana’s knee), guarantees that the title will be won by a new partnership. DCU are strongly represented this year with 2 pairings but they will face tough competition from TCD in the new partnership of Ciara Mahon and Eimear Delaney.
Kilkenny is no stranger to epic 60x30 games and this weekend should be no exception. With grades being offered to all standards, this will surely be a tournament in which all players can triumph! Best of luck to all involved in what should no doubt be another great Intervarsity competition.