Handball- O’Keeffe sisters shine bright in Kingscourt

On Saturday and Sunday last,  the All Ireland Adult finals took place in Kingscourt, Cavan.

In a new format this year where semi finals and finals were played on the same weekend with the semi finals played on Saturday and finals then played on Sunday. Kilkenny had five representatives involved on the programme at the weekend.

There were two great successes for the O’Keeffe sisters Dearbhail and Roisin. First up in the Ladies Junior C Singles was Dearbhail who defeated Farah Ryan (Carlow) 21-20, 21-13 in the semi-final to set up a final against Sile Spain (Tipperary).

In the final Dearbhail was in full control all through and with on the back of her excellent hard fought semi-final win she won 21-6, 21-10.

In the Ladies Junior B Singles Roisin defeated Caragh Kennedy (Roscommon) in the semi-final 21-2, 21-10.

In the final Roisin played excellent handball against the experienced Sabrina Hughes (Dublin) and won in two straight games 21-15, 21-12.

These were two great wins for the O’Keeffe sisters who played and competed all the way up through the juvenile ranks in some difficult grades and it was great for them to get their due rewards taking home two All Ireland singles titles.

In the Minor Singles Noah Manogue (O’Loughlin Gaels) played Rory Carty (Roscommon) in the semi-final.

In a titanic battle which lasted 1 hour 50 minutes Noah won the first game after trailing early 6-0 but with the bit between his teeth he grinded out to win 21-15.

The Roscommon man fought back and won the second 21-9 and came out on top in the tie breaker winning 11-8. 

In the Junior Singles Jack Holden (Kilfane) enjoyed a successful Leinster campaign and faced Peter Donoghue (Galway) in the semi-final.

In a very competitive and hard fought first game Jack lost out 21-18. With the momentum with the Tribesman, he won the second game 21-12. Jack can be proud of his efforts and picked up an unfortunate bone bruise in his preparation for the weekends game.

Aoife Holden has also progressed to the Intermediate Final which is due to be fixed in the coming week. 

The Leinster Juvenile Finals took place on Sunday with games spread across three venues in Leinster Monavea in Laois, Kilfane and St Joseph’s Wexford Town.

There was some great success for Kilkenny where the winners will now go to Kingscourt to play in the All Ireland Semi Finals on the 18th March with the Finals down for decision on the following day March 19th. 

Leinster Juvenile Final Results

GU12D Kilkenny (Rachel Kennedy/ Maebh Moylan) beat Dublin (Eve McCarthy/Grace Carthy)

BU13D Kilkenny (Tadgh Kennedy/Aidan Doyle) beat Laois (Michael Brennan/Darragh Brennan)

BU14S Kilkenny (Conor Manogue) beat Carlow (Tadgh Beckett)

GU17S Carlow (Leah Ryan) beat Kilkenny (Aoibhe Ryan)

BU12S Kilkenny (Lory Hogan) beat Wexford (Darragh Sammon)

GU14D Kilkenny (Kate O’Brien/Moya Egan) beat Laois (Aoife Kelly/Ellie Lafferty)

BU15S Kilkenny (Rian Dowling) beat Wexford (Conor Doyle)

BU15D Kilkenny (Samuel John O’Shea/Dan Carroll) beat Laois (Eoin Holland/ Jamie Fogarty)

GU16S Kilkenny (Katie Jordan) beat Laois (Orla Brophy)

BU16S Kilkenny (Anthony Clifford) beat Wexford (Eoin Kinsella)

BU16D Wexford (Sean Fitzharris / Jamie Moran) beat Kilkenny (Andrew Brennan/James Kenny)

BU17D Wexford (Jamie Barnes / Jack Whitty) beat Kilkenny (Michael Stynes/Luke Hanrahan)

BU12D Kilkenny (Stephen McCormack/Cathal Barron) beat Wexford (Thomas Gahan / Jack Murphy)

BU13S Kilkenny (Gary McHugh) beat Wexford (Thomas O’Brien)

GU13D Kilkenny (Abby Flanagan / Shauna Doherty) beat Wexford (Isla May Redmond/Freya Murphy)

BU14D Kilkenny (Jake O’Neill/Jack Egan) beat Wexford (Barry Foley/Eli Stanners)

GU15S Wexford (Kitty Roche) beat Kilkenny (Emily Phelan)

GU16D Kilkenny (Mia O’Connell / Jenny Saunders) beat Wexford (Boo Murphy / Ellie Murphy)

BU17S Wexford (Joshua Roche) beat Kilkenny (Niall Drennan)

GU14S Kilkenny (Niamh Drennan) Champion