Media Room

The Front Wall

Handball Happenings in Leixlip - 30th January, 2012

Disappointment for Kal and Leah
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 Leixlip both 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. 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 in a game of exceptional quality.  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 disppointment 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.

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

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