The 2019 Junior 4-Wall Nationals will bring the curtain down on what has been a fantastic 4-Wall season this weekend as the top Juveniles are set to converge on Tyrone, North Monaghan and Armagh venues to battle it out for Nationals glory.
A mammoth weekend of top class Juvenile Handball is just around the corner as Ireland's elite youth players will compete in grades ranging from 11 & Under to 19 & Under in both Boys & Girls with a number of grades set to contain mouthwatering battles. With over 275 players entered at the start a qualifying round sees over 200 players travel to Tyrone, Armagh and Monaghan vying for titles.
Ten venues will host the action over the weekend with the main venue being the fantastic new double court venue in Breacach, Tyrone with the new alley only finished this week following a huge effort to bring it to completion. All courts are ready for what promises to be a huge celebration of Juvenile Handball.
A fun 11&Under grade will see 64 participants in Boys & Girls take part in six venues over the weekend with the emphasis on participation, while the competitive action begins with the 13&Under grades with large fields in both Boys & Girls set to battle it out for the top honours.
Mikey Kelly (Galway) is the top seed in the Boys 15&U grade, but hot on his heels is Wexford's Mark Doyle at #2 seed. Recent U14 All ireland Winner Gary McAleer from Tyrone will be one to watch with home advantage with Tyrone's Jack Darcy and Kilkenny's Kyle Jordan also in the mix. In the equivalent Girls grade, Kilkenny's Amy Brennan recently crowned U16 Singles Champion is the top seed while local girl Clodagh Munroe will be eager to impress on home soil and gain revenge for that defeat earlier in the year. Emma Kinnane (Galway) and Chloe Philpott (Clare) will also have a big say in the destination of the title..
Galway's Niamh Heffernan, last years winner, is the top seed in the Girls 17&U, which also sees strong competition from Kildare's Mollie Dagg recent All Ireland intermediate champion with Kilkenny's Noelle Dowling also looking to make her mark. Monaghan's Eoghan McGinnity fresh from his All Ireland success in Minor Singles and Doubles enters the Boys 17&U as hot favourite to retain his title. Hunting him down will be the likes of Lorcan Conlon and Alan Masterson (both Mayo), Cahir Munroe (Tyrone), Jason O Toole (Galway) and Monaghan's Tiarnan O Rourke.
Reigning champion Armagh's Megan McCann tops the field in the Girls 19&U grade and vying for the title will be Leixlip's Leah Doyle winner of this year's Minor Singles and Doubles titles. Wexford's Cora Doyle and Tyrone's Michaela McCartan complete the grade with the experienced McCann and Doyle hot favourites to contest for the title. In the Boys 19&Under title Wexford's Adam Walsh is the top seed with Corks Conor Walsh and Cavan's Adam Crosbie and Diego Di Folco completing what looks likely to be a tight contest for the 19&Under title.
GAA Handball will be showing a HD Live Stream of Sundays showpiece Finals via our Facebook page.
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