CROSSAKIEL HANDBALL REPORT 2011 There was mixed fortunes for Crossakiel players in the 1st round singles of the Leinster championships. By Michael McGee
M
ichael Gaynor had a fine 219, 21-12 victory over Laois’s Larry Brennan and followed it up defeating Oliver Ryan of Carlow 21-18, 21-20. Mark & John Farrell went down to Wexford & Dublin opponents respectively while Steven Quinn fell to Offaly’s Noel Murphy 21-12, 21-14 in Delvin. Eugene O’Reilly & Peter Flanagan last year’s runners-up got their Leinster Campaign off to a winning start with a facile win over Offaly’s Darren Madden & Alan Guinan by 21-1, 21-3. Michael Gaynor & Mark Farrell played outstanding handball in Ballymore Eustace to defeat one of the title contenders in Kilkenny’s Paul Clifford & Sean Quigley. In a frenetic start to the game Gaynor & Farrell quickly found themselves 18-4 down in game 1 but staged a remarkable recovery to hit back taking the opener by 21-18. In the second the Meath men were sharper and held out for a 21-15 win. Pat McCabe & James O’Higgins fell to Kildare’s Damien McCarthy & Neville Doyle in straight games as did John & Vinny Farrell to Andrew Dowling & Michael Donovan of Laois. Michael Gaynor went out of the singles against Kilkenny’s Ger Anthony over 3 games final score was 17-21, 2114, 15-21. The Club held its Agm on Friday January 21st last and all the officers were re-elected. Michael Gaynor & Mark Farrell exited the Leinster doubles championships going down to Wexford’s Justin Heffernan & Danny Linden by 15-21, 18-21 in Leixlip. Unfortunately for Eugene O’Reilly & Peter Flanagan they met the same fate when they went down to Kilkenny’s Anthony Martin & C.J. Delaney by 21-9, 15-21, 321 in Mullingar. Crossakiel’s Eugene O’Reilly reached the quarter finals of the 2011 Irish 40 x 20 Nationals. Eugene came through safely in
the round 16 match over Galway’s Pierce Lalor. Eugene easily winning game 1 by 21-2. The Galway man was forced to retire early in the 2nd with an injury. In the quarter final Eugene was defeated by Wexford’s Darren O’Toole by 21-15, 21-4. Crossakiel defeated by strong St. Canice’s team in Interclub championships Crossakiel took on St. Canice’s D team (Kilkenny) in the 1st round of the Leinster Interclub championships in Ballymore Eustace . The Crossakiel team were Michael Gaynor, Mark Farrell, Eugene O’Reilly, Pat McCabe and Vinny Farrell. Unfortunately the lads went down to the Kilkenny Club by 63-97. Michael Gaynor got the team off to a great start winning his singles match by 21-14, 21-20. However the doubles team of Pat McCabe & Eugene O’Reilly could not keep the lead as the doubles lost by 11-21, 6-21. Mark Farrell last singles player was up against a very strong St. Canice’s player and registered 4 points. With St. Canice’s so far ahead the 2nd game was not played The Crossakiel team on the evening was Michael
Gaynor, Eugene O’Reilly, Pat McCabe, Mark Farrell and sub Vinny Farrell. Michael Gaynor & John Leahy take Kells 60 X 30 Tournament final Crossakiel players entered in the Kells Intermediate/Masters tournament and Eugene O’Reilly & Michael Gaynor reached the final. Eugene partnered Joe Lynch as they overcame Peter Flanagan & Steven Quinn by 17-21, 21-15, 2110 and then Anthony McConnell & Micheal Sheridan by 21-16, 21-3 in their semi-final. Michael Gaynor & John Leahy overcame Mark Farrell & Jimmy Reilly. In the final Michael Gaynor & John Leahy defeated Eugene O’Reilly & Joe Lynch by 2110, 21-14. In the 1st round of the Leinster 60 x 30 championships Eugene O’Reilly defeated Kildare’s Gary Balfe by 21-15, 21-7. Mark Farrell went down to a strong Laois opponent in Michael Donovan by 921, 12-21. In the Junior doubles Steven Quinn & Vinny Farrell almost pulled of a shock victory over Offaly’s Conor O’Brien & Brian
A group of Crossakiel juvenile players receiving their training certificates