Martin Mulkerrins and Ciana Ní Churraoin claimed the
Men’s and Ladies Open respectively at the Wallball Nationals in what proved to
be a successful weekend for Galway handball at the biggest wallball tournament
in Ireland. With 392 players competing across the three-day event, it proved
that Galway is among the top handballing counties in Ireland.
Mulkerrins entered the tournament after losing the
final of the US Nationals Open Singles title last weekend. After victories in
his quarter and semi-final, he faced Sean Kerr who beat him in the Mount Talbot
tournament. The Tyrone player defeated Galway’s Conor
Noone and Jamie Kelly to reach the final. The first game of the final saw both
players display their skills with Mulkerrins eventually edging it 15-11. The
Moycullen man pressed home his advantage to win the second game with some
excellent serves helping him claim the title.
Ní Churraoin endured a difficult route to the final
after she won her opening match by a point before facing Kilkenny player Ciara
Mahon. The pair were level at 19-19 before the Galway player won the tiebreaker
five points to one. She faced Megan McCann in the final after the Armagh woman
upset the top seed Martina McMahon in the semi-finals. Ni Churraoin and McCann
were level at 11-11 in the opening game before the Micheál Breathnachs woman
played some excellent handball to win 15-12. She took control of the second
game winning 15-7 as she claimed her first Wallball Nationals title.
There was further success for Galway in the Boys U19
division with Peter Donohue claiming the title. After winning his quarter final
in a tie break, he produced dominant displays in the next two games to round
off a successful tournament for him. Ava Sweeney became the first Annaghdown
player to win a Junior National title when she won the Girls U13 competition. Graham
Casburn claimed the Masters title, defeating Tyrone’s Chris Curran 19-15 in the
final. Gearoid O Fatharta won the Ruby Masters titleas he won his final by one
point. Aine Ni Dhrongheann beat Mayo’s Marie Maloney 28-13 in the Ladies Challenger
final.
Jason O’Toole lost the Boys U17 final after he was
beaten 17-7 by Wexford’s Mark Doyle. Sadhbh Ní Fhlaithearta finished runner up
in the Girls U17 competition after losing her final by four aces. Abbeyknockmoy’s
Mikey Kelly and Gavin Kelly finished runners up in the U15 and U13 competitions
respectively. Jack McNeela lost the Men’s C final after winning his semi final
by two points. Ashling Mullin lost the Ladies B final to Laura Finn.
