A hectic, but brilliant day of Handball sees #ShesAce Champions crowned in six grades, including the three Premier Finals held at Saturday evenings jammed packed Finals Night in Aughagower HC, Mayo.
A total of 190 females of all ages entered this year's event, smashing all previous records as female Handball continues to grow at all levels.
Saturday saw 4-Wall action in 10 courts across Mayo & Sligo, as the countries finest players played up to 5 matches each in order to claim the glory in the one day 4-Wall event format, before the attention turned to a 1-Wall Fun event on Sunday.
The showpiece grade was the Elite Ladies Open, where we had 18 high quality performers play out group stages on Friday & Saturday, before the knockout stages on Saturday evening. The last two ladies standing were Martina McMahon (Limerick) & Catriona Casey (Cork). Both players are very regular competitors in Finals over the last few years, producing spectacular handball and forming a fascinating rivalry that twists and turn all the time.
Having lost to Casey in December's Breacach Open, Martina took the honours this time round with her attacking power play just incredible on the day. Preceding the main Final were the 17&U and 15&U Finals. Amy Brennan (KK) was the standout player all day in the 15&U grade, surviving a 30 player field to eventually see of Clodagh Munroe in the Final. Noelle Dowling then made it a double for Kilkenny as she produced a brilliant comeback to oust Chloe Philpott (Clare) and retain her title.
4-Wall Finals (Saturday)
- Ladies Open: Martina McMahon (Lim) dft Catriona Casey (Cork) 15-9, 15-11
- G17&U: Noelle Dowling (KK) dft Chloe Philpott (Clare) 25-19
- G15&U: Amy Brennan (KK) dft Clodagh Munroe (Tyr) 25-14
- G13&U: Carmel Kelleher (Cork) dft Christine Percy (Tipp)
- Ladies B: Holly Hynes (Wex) dft Michaela McCartan (Tyr) 25-6
- Ladies Challenger: Sandra Gunning (Gal) dft Marie Kerrigan (Gal)
- Ladies Open Shield (5th - 8th Playoff): Sinead Meagher (Tipp) dft Ciara Mahon (KK)
- Ladies Open Plate (9th - 12th Playoff): Mollie Dagg (Kildare) dft Eilise McCrory (Tyr)
1-Wall Finals (Sunday)
- 11&U: Fun Event
- Team Event: Team McCrory (Eilise McCrory, Linda Seoige, Jodie Keeling, Therese Hughes, Una Duggan, Claragh Laverty) dft Team McCartan (Michaela McCartan, Cliona Dunning, Anne Ronan, Alanna Coggeran, Emily McGinnity, Orlatih McNamara) 69-68
- Mother & Daughter: Michelle Warren & Michaela McCartan (Tyrone) dft Carmel & Claire Reynolds (Mayo) 15-7
- Beginners Challenge: Kaci Cunnigham (Tyrone) dft Agnes Hurley (Cork) 15-10
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Congrats to all our new Champions! Full results are available below.
A huge thank you to all our host Clubs; Aughagower, Newport, Carnacon, Kiltimagh, Claremorris, Bofield, Castleconnor, Sportslann & Ballaghaderreen.
