A dramatic weekend of incredible Juvenile Handball has climaxed with the confirmed of GAA Handball's Juvenile Team Members for this summers World Championships.
New Team Members:
- Mairead Fox, Tyrone (G15&U)
- Niamh Heffernan, Galway (G17&U)
- Megan McCann, Armagh (G19&U)
- Josh Kavanagh, Wexford (B15&U)
- Eoghan McGinnity, Monaghan (B17&U)
- Shane Dunne, Kilkenny (B19&U)
Tyrone's top seed Mairead Fox was the player to beat going into the weekend in the Girls 15&U grade having sealed the U16 All-Ireland Final a few weeks back. With that expectation however came additional pressure, but the talented Loughmacrory club woman held her nerve to see of Kilkenny' Amy Brennan in the SF, and fellow county woman, current U14 All-Ireland champion Clodagh Munroe 15-7, 15-6 in the Final.
The Boys 15&U Final was an all Wexford affair as Doubles partners Josh Kavanagh & Mark Doyle done battle. Top seeded Kavanagh had seen off U14 All-Ireland Mikey kelly in the SF, whilst Doyle pulled off a fantastic victory against #2 seed Billy Drennan. In the Final however it was Kavanagh who prevailed in a 15-12, 15-5 win.
The Girls 17&U Final was a truly high quality affair between top two seeds Leah Doyle (Kildare) & Niamh Heffernan (Galway). Doyle is the recent All-Ireland U16 champ and favourite, but Heffernan was full of confidence having seen off Mollie Dagg in a cracking SF tiebreak on Saturday night. She followed through with her form on Sunday, ousting Doyle in a gutsy 15-12, 15-10w in, exploding with joy upon sealing the final point.
Monaghan's Eoghan McGinnty was the hunted in the Boys 17&U, and he was very nearly felled at the SF stage by Clare's Mark Rodgers, prevailing in a tiebreak. And he showed great nerve again in the final that same day when coming from 14-10 down in the first to Kerry's Daire Keane before winning 15-14. He then took control of the second game, winning 15-11 to seal the title.
The Girls 19&U Final was another thriller between Armagh's Megan McCann & Clare's Caitriona Millane. This was a repeat of the 2015 Team Ireland Qualifier that Millane won in an 11-10 tiebreak, and this one looked to be going the same way when Millane led 5-4 in the tiebreak. But, against the momentum, a timely timeout from Megan provided the inspiration she needed as she came back on court and swiftly sealed the win 11-5.
In the Boys 19&U, surprise packet Shane Dunne was in inspired form all weekend and eventually took down the #1 & #2 seeds in route to his maiden Junior Nationals title. A blistering start against Tyrone's Sean Kerr saw him storm to a 15-2 opening game win. This continued into the second as he held an 11-4 lead. But then Kerr sprung into life and went on a 7-0 lead to tie the scores at 11-11. But a huge kill in the next rally from Dunne helped stem the tide, and from there he proceeded to win the next 4 points and take the title.
In the non-Team Ireland grades, Galway's Emma Kinane & Kilkenny's Kyle Jordan took the respective 13&U crowns.
GAA Handball would like to express their gratitude to Kingscourt HC & the surrounding Cavan/Monaghan Clubs for hosting the Nationals, and to the volunteers who made the vent so enjoyable for the young players. It was great seeing such high quality, and young players showing such great raw emotion upon sealing their spots on Team Ireland (see pics below).
