Sligo handball players begin Connacht 60 x 30 campaign

Sligo’s 60 x 30 season kicks off in Collooney tomorrow, writes Michael McGee

County Handball Chairman Peter Chambers will have the honour of starting Sligo’s 60 x 30 handball campaign with 4 matches set to go ahead in Collooney this weekend. Chambers has the onus task of taking on Leitrim’s Eddie Lee in the Golden Masters B singles. Lee will be the clear favourite here and Chambers will need to produce something special here if he is to reach the Connacht final. This match has been brought forward from Sunday to the earlier starting time of 12 noon tomorrow Saturday in Collooney.
Later tomorrow evening Collooney club man Shane Bruen will have home advantage when he takes on Roscommon’s Billy Kelly for a place in the Provincial final of the Over 35 B singles. Bruen will be out for revenge following last year’s Connacht final loss to the Roscommon man by 21-15, 17-21, 21-8. Bruen already having a great year won the Connacht Over -35 B doubles 40 x 20 final with Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy. The duo went all the way to the final before falling to Limerick in the decider. Bruen is an out and out 60 x 30 player and his duel with Kelly could be one of the matches of the day. The Collooney star is going well in training and should have that extra bit of class to reach the final this time round.
Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy has made steady progress in the last number of years in the 60 x 30 court. The natural left hander comes face to face with Roscommon’s Martin Conroy from the Ballymoe club. Murphy will give a very good account of himself and has the ability to upset Conroy and reach the final.

And on Sunday there is one match this time in the Emerald Masters B category. Collooney’s Peter Davey is another player who has shown great progress in recent months. Davey helped to capture the Connacht Junior B interclub title for Collooney in 2009 and played his part in the side that reached that year’s All-Ireland club final. Returning to arguably his best form he will give his all as he meets Roscommon’s James Coughlin for a place in this year Emerald Masters B singles final.
Francis McCann, Mick McMorrow & Martin Cooney have received byes to the provincial finals which will take place on the weekend of July 8th.

Connacht Handball 60 x 30 championships semi-finals (Sligo names first)
Saturday June 23rd in Collooney at 12 noon.
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers v Eddie Lee (Leitrim)

AT 5 P.M.
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen v Billy Kelly (Roscommon)
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy v Martin Conroy (Roscommon)

Sunday June 24th in Collooney at 2 p.m.
Emerald Masters B singles: Peter Davey v James Coughlin (Roscommon)

Changes to Sligo v Roscommon singles

Some changes from original fixture. Maurice O'Donnell has conceded so Martin Cooney through in Silver Masters B and Martin Bruen injured so Mick is through in the Emerald Masters B singles. Colin Slevin's Junior C singles v Liam O'Ceallaigh is off until next week as Liam is involved in the Mount Talbot 1-wall tournament. In the Golden Masters B singles Peter Chambers v Eddie Lee match has been brought forward to 12 noon on Saturday from Sunday's fixture. So there will be 3 games on Saturday the first starting at 12 noon and the other 2 at 5 p.m. There will just 1 game in Collooney on Sunday with Peter Davey EMBS v James Coughlin on the Sunday at 2 p.m.



Saturday June 23rd in Collooney at 12 noon.
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers v Eddie Lee (Leitrim)

AT 5 P.M.
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen v Billy Kelly (Roscommon)
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy v Martin Conroy (Roscommon)
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v Maurice O’Donnell (Leitrim) O'Donnell conceded

Sunday June 24th in Collooney at 2 p.m.
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin v Liam O' Ceallaigh Roscommon cancelled until next week
Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow v Martin Bruen (Roscommon) Bruen conceded
Emerald Masters B singles: Peter Davey v James Coughlin (Roscommon)

Sligo doubles pairings v Roscommon away on weekend July 1st

Sligo doubles v Roscommon away

Junior C Doubles: Tom Foody & Joe Gorman v Roscommon
Masters B Doubles: Martin Cooney & ptr v Mick Kennedy & Seamie Connolly
Golden Masters A Doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry v Dermot Doolin & Ger Walsh
Golden Masters B Doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte bye
Emerald Masters A Doubles: Mick McMorrow & ptr v Martin Bruen & Ptr

Connacht singles finals on weekend of 8th July & doubles 15th July

Sligo handballers in semi-final action.

Mick McMorrow & Peter Chambers hoping to weave a little bit of black magic next weekend

Shane Bruen

Sligo players in Connacht handball championships semi-final action
The handball players of Sligo are in semi-final action this weekend in the Connacht handball 60 x 30 championships. Seven players will face Roscommon opponents in Collooney, Michael McGee

Shane Bruen will have home advantage when he takes on Roscommon’s Billy Kelly for a place in the Provincial final of the Over 35 B singles. Bruen will be out for revenge following last year’s Connacht final loss to the Roscommon man by 21-15, 17-21, 21-8. Bruen already having a great year won the Connacht Over 35 B doubles 40 x 20 final with Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy. The duo went all the way to the final before falling to Limerick in the decider. Bruen is an out and out 60 x 30 player and his duel with Kelly could be one of the matches of the day. The Collooney star is going well in training and should have that extra bit of class to reach the final this time round.
Castleconnor’s Mark Murphy has made steady progress in the last number of years in the 60 x 30 court. The natural left hander comes face to face with Roscommon’s Martin Conroy from the Ballymoe club. Murphy will give a very good account of himself and has the ability to upset Conroy and reach the final.
Murphy’s clubmate Martin Cooney makes a welcome return to competitive handball following an year out through injury. Cooney has great power and this will unsettle his opponent in Leitrim’s Maurice O’Donnell. Despite an enforced injury Cooney is coming back to form and should do enough to qualify for the final.
A welcome sign of the times see’s Oxfield’s Colin Slevin open the four match programme the following day in the Junior C singles. Slevin, yet to taste a competitive outing in the 60 x 30 court will be making his competitive debut in the 60 x 30 championships. More accustomed to the smaller 40 x 20 Slevin could struggle in the bigger court in Collooney
St. Mary’s Peter Chambers has the onus task of taking on Leitrim’s Eddie Lee in the Golden Masters B singles. Lee will be the clear favourite and Chambers will need to produce something special here if he is to reach the Connacht final.
Chambers club mate Michael McMorrow will also have an equally difficult assignment when he takes on Roscommon’s Martin Bruen. McMorrow who had his best year in handball in 2011 when winning his first All-Ireland title in the Emerald Masters B doubles final with Collooney’s John McLoughlin. The step up to the “A” grade for McMorrow may prove a little beyond his reach. However the St. Mary’s club man has produced a number of eyecatching performances in recent challenge matches of late and won’t lack ability or drive as he endeavours to cause a shock.
Collooney’s Peter Davey is another player who has shown great progress in recent months. Davey an An Post employee “hand delivered” the Connacht Junior B interclub title to Collooney in 2009 and played his part in the side that reached that year’s All-Ireland club final. Returning to arguably his best form he will give his all as he meets Roscommon’s James Coughlin for a place in this year Emerald Masters B singles final.
Ballymote club man Francis McCann in the Golden Masters A singles the reigning All-Ireland champion has a bye to the final.
Connacht handball championships 60 x 30 semi-finals

Saturday June 23rd in Collooney at 5 p.m.
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen v Billy Kelly (Roscommon)
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy v Martin Conroy (Roscommon)
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v Maurice O’Donnell (Leitrim)

Sunday June 24th in Collooney at 2 p.m.
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin v Roscommon
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers v Eddie Lee (Leitrim)
Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow v Martin Bruen (Roscommon)
Emerald Masters B singles: Peter Davey v James Coughlin (Roscommon)

Sligo singles v Roscommon/Leitrim on Sat/Sun June 23rd/24th Connacht semi-finals

Connacht handball championships 60 x 30 semi-finals

Saturday June 23rd in Collooney at 5 p.m.
Over 35 B singles: Shane Bruen v Billy Kelly (Roscommon)
Masters B singles: Mark Murphy v Martin Conroy (Roscommon)
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Cooney v Maurice O’Donnell (Leitrim)

Sunday June 24th in Collooney at 2 p.m.
Junior C singles: Colin Slevin v Roscommon
Golden Masters B singles: Peter Chambers v Eddie Lee (Leitrim)
Emerald Masters A singles: Mick McMorrow v Martin Bruen (Roscommon)
Emerald Masters B singles: Peter Davey v James Coughlin (Roscommon)



Golden Masters A singles Francis McCann a bye.

Sligo handballers start 60 x 30 campaign

Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry Golden Masters A doubles


Sligo’s handball 60 x 30 season begins
The 2012 Connacht handball 60 x 30 championships begin in earnest on Sat/Sun week for Sligo handballers against Roscommon. The Golden Masters A doubles pairing of Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry look to have the best chance of recording outright glory. Last year they reached the semi-finals, but were beaten by a very strong Tipperary pairing of Pat Griffin & Tony O’ Flaherty by 18-21, 13-21. Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte in the Golden Masters B doubles have been progressing well of late and will be hoping to do well in Connacht. Two years ago the duo reached the All-Ireland semi-finals. Michael McMorrow who partnered Collooney’s John McLoughlin to their first All-Ireland handball success in 2011 in the Emerald Masters B moves up to the A grade. McMorrow will partner St. Mary’s club mate Connell Cannon in this season’s campaign. The Junior C pairing Castleconnor’s Tom Foody & Joe Gorman will also be hoping for progress. Foody & Gorman beat another Castleconnor pairing of Michael Browne & Tom Tuffy in the County final two weeks ago.
The following players will represent Sligo in the quarter finals of Connacht handball championships 60 x 30 doubles v Roscommon opposition
Sligo Doubles v Roscommon on Sat/Sun 16th/17th June

Junior C: Tom Foody & Joe Gorman
Masters B Doubles: Martin Cooney & ptr
Golden Masters A Doubles: Francis McCann & Hugh McGarry
Golden Masters B Doubles: Peter Chambers & Stanley Harte
Emerald Masters A Doubles: Mick McMorrow & Connell Cannon

World handball championships Ireland 2012

World handball championships details

World handball championships entry form