Kells HC, Meath have captured the GAA Handball All Ireland 60x30 Senior club title for an incredible fifth time in as many season when they defeated Ballaghadereen, Mayo yesterday Saturday 9th July at Crinkle on a convincing 84-37 score-line.
In the semi-final the Kells club accounted for Hospital of Limerick 105-51 to set up a final with their great rivals Ballaghadereen. These two great clubs have completely dominated the Open Senior section of these championships for the last decade and a half. Kells have claimed the Open title on five previous occasions (2008 and four consecutive titles 2012 - 2015) and Ballaghaderreen have bagged the Open crown no fewer than seven times during that same period (including four consecutive titles, 2004-2007 and three successive titles, 2009-2011), so the latest clash of these "heavyweights" was eagerly anticipated.
In the first singles match on Saturday's Gary McConnell played Joe McCann over two games. Joe was leading well in the first but Gary then took control and won it 21-16. The second was a lot more conformable for the man from the royal county as McConnell took it 21-6 to give Kells a good early 42-22 lead.
In the doubles match Tom Sheridan and Robert Fox defeated the Ballaghadereen pair of Vinnie Moran and Paul Flynn over two game on a score-line of 21-5, 21-10 to extend the Kells lead to 84-37. Which meant the Kells team had won the title for an astonishing fifth time in the last five years without the last pair of Brian Carroll and Dessie Keegan having to play the last singles match.
The Junior title was won by the Cashel club Tipperary who went one better that last year. In the semi-final they defeated Coolboy (Wicklow) 100-62. In the final they were up against the Connacht champions Moycullen of Galway. This strong Cashel team were just too strong for the Galway opposition and they won the final 126-54.
Finally in the Junior B competition, Kilkenny side St. Patrick’s defeated Friary/Abbeyside (Waterford) in the semi-final 84-39. In the final they also conformable defeated the Connacht championships Loughrea of Galway on a score-line of 126-25.
2016 GAA Handball 60x30 Interclub Championships Results
OPEN in Crinkle, Offaly
- Semi Final 1: Ballaghaderreen (Mayo) Bye
- Semi Final 2: Kells (Meath) dft Hospital (Limerick) 105-51
- Final: Kells (Meath) dft Ballaghaderreen (Mayo) 84-37
JUNIOR in Lahorna, Tipperary
- Semi Final 1: Moycullen (Galway) Bye
- Semi Final 2: Cashel (Tipperary) dft Coolboy (Wicklow) 100-62
- Final: Cashel (Tipperary) dft Moycullen (Galway) 126-54
JUNIOR B in Ballymore Eustace, Kildare
- Semi Final 1: Loughrea (Galway) W/O Kingscourt (Cavan) scr.
- Semi Final 2: St. Patrick’s (Kilkenny) dft Friary/Abbeyside (Waterford) 84-39
- Final: St. Patrick’s (Kilkenny) dft Loughrea (Galway) 126-25