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Kerry handballers impress at Munster juvenile championships in Glenbeigh

Kerry were silver medal winners, just three points behind Clare and 22 points clear of Cork who finished third

The Kerry juvenile handball team

Con Dennehy
© Kerryman

Kerry juvenile handball stars displayed their developing talent with phenomenally successful performances at the Munster B Juvenile championships hosted by Glenbeigh Handball Club at the weekend.

The top young handballers from Cork, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, and Tipperary participated in the event which took place on Saturday and Sunday in the Mid Kerry village. In the Girls Under-12 singles Blaithin O’Sullivan put in an impressive performance highlighting her incredible ability to win the silver medal just three aces behind the winner Holly Farmer from Clare. Her performance ensured Kerry were silver medal winners just three points behind Clare and 22 points clear of Cork who finished third.

One of the most impressive performances of the weekend came in the Under-17 Girls championship when local favourite Róisín King commanded the court with an impressive 15-6 and 15-5 victory over her Cork opponent, Niamh Hennessy, to claim the gold medal.

Two of the most promising young Kerry handballers, Kelsey Sheehan and Lynn Koehler from Glenbeigh, led Kerry to silver medals in the Under-12 Doubles competition when they were an agonising three points behind the Clare duo of Samantha Vaughan and Elaine Littleton in a pulsating final. In the team contest Cork won with 54 points, Kerry was second on 51 points with Cork third on 39 points.

“This was one of the best competitions over the two days,” said John Joe Quirke, Championship co-ordinator. “They were up 30-20 after playing Cork and had a close battle with Clare to etch out a 15-9 win and then lost the second game 15-6. Clare went on to win 54-51 with Kerry finishing in a superb second place.”

In the Boys Under-12 Doubles championship Daryl Clifford and Harry Murphy from Glenbeigh led Kerry to 3rd place securing 39 points with the title going to Clare (57) ahead of Cork (53). In the Under-13 singles competition Daire Harkin (Glenbeigh) lost to Cian Buckley (Cork) but recovered to win a bronze medal. In the team race Clare finished just a single ace ahead of Cork to win the title on 52 points with Kerry third.

Lucas Riordan was impressive in the Boys Under-17 final winning the silver medal in a fast and very tactical game against Martin Sweeney from Clare.

In the Boys Under-15 singles Aidan Sheehan (Glenbeigh) led Kerry to bronze medals behind the winners Cork (60), Clare (43) and Kerry (37).