Media Archive

Lahorna Visit
A thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile handballing occasion was the verdict of young and old at the conclusion of the visit to Leixlip of the Lahorna club in Tipperary on Sunday 30th January. The eight-strong group of young handballers, immaculately decked out in their club colours of Premier County blue and gold, were intent on enjoying themselves and they gave every impression of doing just that, taking to the local court with great gusto and enthusiasm and in the process bringing the best out in their young Leixlip hosts.

This atmosphere produced a whole series of excellent games, very many of them quite competitive but all of them played in a heartwarming have -a- go spirit that brought regular bursts of applause from the spectators. Highlight of the afternoon was undoubtedly the Under 12 contest between Lahorna's Grainne Molloy and Leixlip's Mollie Dagg, a real cracker from start to finish which produced some exceptional handball, with Mollie eventually coming through on a 15-13 scoreline. The occasion also provided the opportunity to give some of the less experienced young Leixlip players a first taste of competitive action and all of them will have taken some benefit from their participation. Honours on the day finished just about even, an appropriate outcome to an excellent event. Our thanks to our visiting players and to their parents/mentors and a special thanks also to games organiser Anna and referee, Hannah.
The Leixlip team was Leah Smith, Shane Smith, Mollie Dagg, Leah Doyle, Niamh Masterson, Niamh Spence and Ciara Harrington.

Elsewhere over the weekend, Leinster championship action continued with competition moving to its concluding stages in most grades. Leixlip players had mixed fortunes with Aileen Quinn making progress in Ladies JuniorB at the expense of Kilkenny's Julie Walsh, while in the Men's Senior, Niall O'Connor found the experience of seasoned campaigner, Gavin Buggy, just too much as he went down in a tie-break game in the Wexfordman's home court. Another seasoned campaigner, veteran clubman Des Lyons, had to concede walkovers due to injury. For result details and forthcoming fixtures, see below.

Leinster Championships Update
Results
MS: Robert Maguire dft. James Baugh (Meath) 21-3; 21-4
MBS: PJ Tobin lost to Damien Kelly (Wexford) 15-21; 11-21
JS: Paul Moran lost to Peter Reilly (Meath) 20-21; 14-21
LJBS. Ellen O’Connor dft. Arlene Watkins (Offaly) 21-3; 21-6
JBD: Terry Spence/Neville Doyle lost to Andrew Hosey/Andrew Lawlor (Kilkenny) 6-21; 7-21
LJBD: Ellen O'Connor/Aileen Quinn dft. Arlene Watkins/Christine Donoghue (Offaly) 21-1; 21-1
JD: Niall O’Connor/Paul Moran dft. Stephen & Murt Doyle (Carlow) 21-2; 21-3
JS: Niall O’Connor dft. John Leahy (Meath) 21-5;21-2
JBD: P J Tobin/Damian Carty lost to Brendan & Diarmuid Burke (Kilkenny), 11-21;13-21
EMBS: Des Lyons scr-injured v Gerry Murphy (Kilkenny) W/O
JS: Niall O’Connor dft. James Gregan (Wicklow) 21-17; 21-5
MS: Robert Maguire lost to Galen Riordan (Wexford) 12-21; 8-21
LJS: Una Wrynn dft. Niamh Egan (Westmeath), 21-14; 21-15
RMD: John O’Neill/Declan Quigley dft. Tom Rossiter/Tom Donohue (Wexford,) 13-21; 21-11; 21-7
JD: Niall O’Connor/Paul Moran (Kildare) dft. Colin Melody/Danny Reilly (Dublin) 21-4; 21-7
LJBS: Aileen Quinn dft. Julie Walsh (Kilkenny ) 21-1; 21-9
SS: Niall O'Connor lost to Gavin Buggy (Wexford) 21-7; 17-21; 5-21
EMBD: Des Lyons/John O'Donnell scr-injured v. Mick Doyle/Eamon Sunderland (Carlow) W/O
JS: Niall O'Connor lost to Jerome Willoughby (Wicklow ) 21-13; 12-21; 7-21
RMD: John O'Neill/ Declan Quigley lost to Paddy Reilly/Seamus Reade (Kilkenny) 15-21; 13-21
LJBD: Ellen O’Connor/Aileen Quinn dft. Michelle Boland/Amanda Kelly (Wexford) 17-21, 21-15;21-9

Forthcoming Fixtures
LJS: Final: Una Wrynn v Aoife McCarthy (Westmeath) --To be refixed
LJBS: Aileen Quinn v Maria Walshe (Kilkenny) Wed 8th Feb, Tinryland 7.30
LJBS: Ellen O’Connor v Rachel Hogan (Kilkenny) Wed 8th Feb, Monavea 7.30
JD: Niall O’Connor/Paul Moran v William & Daniel Love (Kilkenny) Wed 8th Feb, Monavea 8.00

Leinster Colleges Update
1st Yr Singles: Coláiste Chiaráin (Kal Cribben) dft. Kells CS 15-0; 15-1
1st Yr Singles:Semi-Final: Kal lost to Gonzaga College 15-8, 11-15, 9-15
1st Yr Doubles Semi-Final: Coláiste Chiaráin (Jack Tobin/Kevin Diggins) dft. Kells CS 15-7; 15-8
U15 Singles Semi-Final: Coláiste Chiaráin (Sean Muddiman) lost to Kells CS 5-15; 3-15

Gael Linn Disappointment
Leixlip’s representatives Kal Cribben and Leah Doyle had in the end a disappointing outing in the National Finals of the Annual Gael Linn competition which took place in Kilkenny on Saturday 21st January. A very bright start in which they overcame a determined Limerick pairing was unfortunately followed by by a heavy defeat at semi-final stage at the hands of the ultimate winners, Micheal Breathnach’s of Galway.

The Limerick game saw both Leixlip players showing excellent skills and determination to recover lost ground in their singles games to pair up for a convincing win in the doubles encounter. In a game of exceptional quality, Leah had a slow start to fall behind 0-9 to the excellent Caitriona Millane but made a brilliant recovery to level at 9 all only to lose out by a single point on a 10-9 scoreline. The boys game was close all through with Kal coming from behind on a number of occasions to forge an excellent 8-7 win to level the tie on aggregate. The deciding doubles was a thrilling affair with Kal in particular playing some top class handball to come out on top on a 10-6 scoreline and take the game and match on an aggregate 27-23 score.
The semi-final against last year’s winners Micheal Breathnach’s was a disappointment with neither Leixlip player able to display their true form against a very strong Galway combination. Losses in both singles games left the pair with a mountain to climb and they were unable to reproduce the form of their earlier doubles victory, losing on an aggregate of 52-13.
The Connemara club went on to take a second successive Gael Linn title with a comfortable victory over fellow Galwegians, Williamstown.
Buíochas speisialta to Brídín agus Aodán, the originators of the excellent Gael Linn concept, for their unfailing support and patronage, very often without adequate assistance.
Overall Results: Leixlip dft. Limerick 27-23: Semi-Final: Leixlip lost to Michael Breathnach's (Galway) 13-52. Final: Micheal Breathnach's dft Williamstown (Galway)

Leah and Kal in Gael Linn Finals
A Tournament with slpecial associations for the Leixlip club comes to its concluding stages in Kilkenny on Saturday 21st when sixteeen of the country's top U/13 players take to the courts in quest of the prized Corn Gael Linn. Won in its inaugural year in 1991 by Leixlip's Anna Wrynn and Phelim Cribbin, the ultimate honour has eluded the club in the years since then with many excellent partnerships failing to emulate that pioneering achievement. This year sees two of our top young players, Leah Doyle and Kal Cribben, take up the challenge and all the indications are that challenge it will indeed be with a host of very promising youngsters in contention. An exciting day's handball is very definitely in prospect and our best wishes to Leah and Kal. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leo beirt.

Elsewhere on what will be a typically busy weekend, Niall O'Connor, P J Tobin, Damian Carty, Robert Maguire and Una Wrynn will be in Leinster Championship action (see details below) while the Club's senior girls have an outing on Saturday to Mullingar to take on a Fenagh (Leitrim) selection.

Leinster Colleges Success for Girls
Leixlip's girls, representing Coláiste Chiaráin, had a successful start to their Leinster Colleges campaign on Wednesday 17th January, when they overcame Dublin's Scoil Chaitríona in the home court. Doubles pair Áine O'Keeffe and Hannah Dagg an easy 15-1 15-1 win over Laoise Ní Dhonnchú and Caitríona Ní Charragáin while Saoirse Sunderland played excellent handball to defeat the very experienced Maedhbh Ní Dhálaigh on a scoreline of 15-3; 15-13. The girls now join Kal Cribben and Sean Muddiman in the final stages of their respective competitions which will take place in the coming weeks.

Result Update
Gael-Linn Qualifier: Leixlip (Kal Cribbin/Leah Doyle) dft. Na Fianna (Dublin) 112-16. Kal and Leah now advance to All-Ireland finals in Kilkenny on Saturday 21st

Dublin League Final
Leixlip lost to DIT 66-78
What was in overall terms a very worthy effort ended in disappointment for our Junior team when they lost out in the Dublin League Final to the students of DIT in Croke Park on Friday/Saturday 13/14th. Having had a poor start on Friday in the opening singles game, they battled bravely to claw back the aggregate deficit in the concluding games on Saturday but came up short on a final scoreline of 78-66. The fact that they won 4-3 on the game tally may be of some small consolation but unfortunately it had no bearing on the destination of the ultimate honours.

In the opening singles, Neville Doyle will be disappointed with his contribution to the team effort as he found it very difficult to get his game together against a very powerful Paddy Sherry and ended up on the wrong side of a 15-1; 15-4 scoreline. The doubles was a really entertaining affair with the Leixlip pair giving it everthing to pull the team back into contention. Team captain Damian Carty commanded the court with an inspiring performance of honesty and endeavour and his consistent excellence off the notoriously tricky Croke Park backwall won applause from friend and foe alike. P J Tobin was lively and reliable in everything he did and provided ideal support to his partner. Despite an unfortunate stall at game ball in the first game which allowed their very competent opponents, John Casserly and Chris Gavaghan, to recover six precious points, the Leixlip pair went on to win all three games on scorelines of 15-10; 15-8 and 11-6, thereby reducing the overall deficit to 9 points (55-46). Leixlip’s final singles player, Stephen Marken, gave every indication that he was well up to completing the rescue task when he played some extremely smart handball to take the first game very impressively on a 15-8 scoreline. Although operating very much in energy conservation mode, he continually outwitted a very lively opponent, Darren Flynn, with excellent centre-court control and astute shot placement. However, his lack of fitness became apparent in the crucial final game and as energy flagged, his earlier control deserted him and his opponent , growing in confidence as the game progressed, eventually ran out a convincing 15-5 winner to ensure the match and the title for DIT

There was indeed a lot to commend about this performance but as was the case with the club’s pre-Christmas All-Ireland Final loss to Liscarroll of Cork, there are lessons to be learned. Full commitment and a professional approach at individual and team level will be essential if the club is to re-establish itself as a serious force in adult team competition at both local and national level. The heightened profile for handball generally with the World Championships on the way later this year should help to provide a context for such an improved competitive focus.

.Dublin League Final - Preview
Highlight of the weekend action will surely be the Dublin Junior League Final as Damian Carty leads his Leixlip team into battle against the students of DIT in the Croke Park court on Saturday at 7.00pm. This appearance at the ultimate stage of a Dublin competition will recall many successsful and memorable outings in years past when Leixlip teams were a really formidable presence at all levels of competition in Dublin and added an extra dimension to what was a very vigorous and exciting handball scene. Past successes will mean nothing on Saturday however, and the current squad will have to pull out all the stops if they are to add to the roll of honour and thus forge a special link with those past successes. Panel is Damian Carty(Captain), PJ Tobin, Neville Doyle, Stephen Marken, Aidan Ryan and Pat Doyle.
Photo: Dublin Senior League winners 1987. Standing: Martin Moran, Gus Sweeney, Padraig McCormack, Vinny Wrynn. Seated: Martin Nugent, Willie McGee.

Leinster Colleges Success
Representing Coláiste Chiaráin, Sean Muddiman and Kal Cribben got off to a flying start in the Leinster Colleges 40x20 Championship 2012 when they both had double successes in the regional qualifiers in the Croke Park court on Friday 13th January. They now advance to semi-final stages which are expected to be played in the coming weeks
Results
1st Year S: Coláiste Chiaráin (Kal Cribben) dft. St. Aidan's, Whitehall 30-5 and Scoil Chaitríona (Glasnevin) 22-17
U/15 S: Coláiste Chiaráin (Sean Muddiman) dft. St. Kevin's CC 30-10 and Scoil Chaitríona (Glasnevin) 27-8

Clár na Bliana 2012
All members are asked to do a thorough check through the Clár competitions for the coming year so that the possibility of clashes with holiday or other plans during the year is minimised. Parents in particular are asked to take note of the Féile and 60x30 Juvenile Championship dates during the July/August summer holiday period as well of course as the World Championships in October. See Clár here. Any changes which may become necessary will be posted as information becomes available. In this regard, see update on Girls Only Event here

Dublin League Semi-Final Win
Congratulations to our Junior team who won their way to the Dublin League final with an 84-68 aggregate win over Na Fianna in Croke Park on Tuesday night, 3rd January. They now await the winners of the second semi-final with the final fixed for Saturday, January 14th.

Holiday Competition Results
Tokens for the club shop worth €20 each go the Doyle, Masterson, Tobin, Sunderland and Dagg families. Well done to all

Leinster Championships Get Under Way
Not much of a holiday break for our adult handballers as the Leinsters swing into new-year action with a big list of fixtures down for decision over the coming period. First into action for Leixlip will be Robert Maguire who takes on James Baugh (Meath) on Wednesdy 4th in Drogheda and PJ Tobin who opposes Wexford's Damien Kelly in Coolboy on Thursday, 5th. Court-users should please note heavy ongoing demand on the home court - see Fixturewatch below.

Kildare Juvenile Championships
There was some excellent handball on show in the local court on Sunday 12th December when an all-Leixlip group of six contenders went into battle for the Kildare U/13 championship title. The preliminary games were played on a round-robin system within two groups of three and as was to be expected, the more experienced players emerged to contest the knock-out stages of the competition.The semi-finals featured wins for Kevin Diggins over Aaron Doonan (15-5;15-1) and Sean Muddiman over Kal Cribben (15-5;15-0) while in the plate final Cathal Browne overcame James Killeen on a scoreline of 15-2;15-5.

The final between Sean and Kevin was a rip-roaring affair with both players giving it everything in quest of victory. The first game provided some excellent rallies as the two left-handers slugged it out with Kevin eventually emerging on top on a 15-13 scoreline. A confident start to the second game seemed to have the Leixlip Park lad in a commanding position for ultimate honours but as the long rallies continued, his all-action style began to take its toll and Sean began increasingly to dominate the centre court. New-found confidence enabled Muddiman to play to his strengths and he went on to take the game 15-10. This pattern continued in the tie-break with Sean dictating the pace of the game to a great extent and varying his game effectively to maintain his advantage and take the title on a 15-4 scoreline. Both players can feel well pleased with their performances and on this basis can look forward to the 2012 Leinster championships and beyond with a great deal of confidence.

Coaches
- For some excellent material on fitness fundamentals for handball, click here
- for detailed information on sports nutrition, click here

Club Coaching Programme - Click here

Clár 2012
here

For up-to-date information on handball in Leixlip, check into www.leixliphandball.ie