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32 CAMOGIE/HANDBALL
August 3, 2007 | Gaelic Life
Handball
Finnegan
fails to
reach
softball
last eight
CAVAN’S Michael Finnegan failed
in his bid to reach the M Donnelly
All-Ireland Senior Softball quarter
Finals when he bowed out of
the competition at the weekend.
He lost out to Mayo’s Vinne
Moran in what was the closest
battle of the championship to
date.
Moran took the first game 21-18,
with Finnegan regaining composure
in the second to record a 21-
19 win. After a nail-biting third
game, a 21-19 finish eventually
saw the Mayo man book a quarter-final
meeting with fellow clubman,
Dessie Keegan.
After his win over Finnegan,
Moran will now take on his fellow
clubman, Dessie Keegan in the
last eight.
Wicklow’s Michael Gregan has
knocked last year’s beaten finalist,
Tom Sheridan out of the 2007
Senior Softball title race. Sheridan
and Gregan played the first of
the quarter-finals in Garryhill on
Friday night.
Gregan dominated the opening
exchanges and took the first game
21-14, but the Meath stalwart
bounced back to claim a 21-10 victory
in the second.
The tie-breaker produced some
top-class handball, but the fitness
of the 24-year-old Coolboy player
told as he powered home with a
21-10 win in the third game.
The second quarter-final at the
Carlow venue saw 16-time champion,
Kilkenny’s Michael ‘Ducksy’
Walsh record an emphatic win
over last year’s U-21 champion,
Tipperary’s Ger Coonan.
The match between defending
champion, Eoin Kennedy of
Dublin and Mayo’s Joe McCann
was postponed due to a
family death.
In what was the
closest battle of the
senior championship
so far, Moran
took the first game 21-
18, with Finnegan regaining
composure in
the second to record a
21-19 win. After a nailbiting
third game, a 21-19
finish eventually saw the
Mayo man book a quarter-final
meeting with
fellow clubman, Dessie
Keegan.
Those games in the senior singles
took place earlier this week
when Eoin Kennedy comfortably
defeated Joe McCann of Mayo. He
won the first game 21-3 and was
equally impressive in winning the
second 21-5.
Things were a little bit tighter
in the club clash between Keegan
and Moran. Keegan won the first
by 21-7, before losing the second
14-21 and then coming good in the
third by 21-6.
The 60x30 All-Ireland semi-finals
are down for decision on the
weekends of August 18-19 and August
25-26, with the deciders taking
place at the beginning of September.
Derry determined to
defend U-16 crown
Manager McCloskey expects tough challenge from Waterford
BY ALAN RODGERS
a.rodgers@gaeliclife.com
CONFIDENCE is high among the
Derry U-16 camogie team this weekend
as they get set to complete the
defence of their All-Ireland title
against Waterford in the decider.
It’s a repeat of last year’s semi-final
which also saw the young side come
through. And, hopes are high that a
further win this time around will
once again emphasis the strength of
the game in Ulster.
Nine clubs are represented on the
panel which will head for Parnell
Park in Dublin. They are Greenlough,
Na Maigha, Kilrea, Ballinascreen,
Dungiven, Drumsurn, Slaughtneill,
Glen and Bellaghy and the side is
managed by Na Maigha member,
Donna McCloskey.
She is a former Portglenone and
Antrim player and is hopeful that a
fairly tough campaign will stand to
them against their Munster opponents.
“We beat them last year, but their
preparations were all wrong because
they only arrived at the ground half
an hour before the throw-in and following
a long trip,” she said.
“As a result, we’re expecting them
to be a lot better organised this time
around and far tougher opponents.
But it would be great to win the title
again.
“It’s all about building confidence
at this level and I think the girls are
improving steadily. We’re aiming for
the top grade and there’s no doubt
that they’re capable of achieving that
in the future.
“Armagh and Down were in our
group in the Ulster Championship
and I think the standard of youth
camogie overall in the province is improving.
Those two teams are hard to
beat and then you’ve Antrim as well,”
she added.
Many of the panel which were involved
in 2006 are still on board with
the usual sprinkling of new players.
They scored a very comprehensive
win over Kildare last
weekend
when
good displays
from Eimear
Mullan, Keelin
Bradley
Under 16B captains, Aine Kelly, Derry, left, and Patricia Jackman, Waterford, at a photocall ahead of the All-Ireland Under
16A Camogie Championship Final and the All-Ireland Under 16B Camogie Championship Final. Croke Park, Dublin. Caroline
Quinn / SPORTSFILE
and Emma Mullaly were a big help.
Recent seasons have seen both
Derry and Waterford show definite
signs of improvement at all levels.
Derry, in particular, have enjoyed
some notable schools success which
are contributing to the competitiveness
of this team.
“The work of those in the schools is
always important and St Mary’s
Magherafelt would be a great boost
for us. They won the All-Ireland Colleges
this year and some of the players
from that team are involved in the
county side,” added Donna Mc-
Closkey.
“We’ve got about ten players
from last year’s team on board and
the experience of that win is going
to be important as well.
“The players who were there last
year know all about what it takes to
win the All-Ireland and the new ones
are keen and hungry to repeat the
feat.
“But the most important
thing is that we keep them
Emma McKenna, Monaghan. 2007 Coillte U14
Camogie Development Squads tournament, Croke
Park, Dublin
grounded and focused on the game itself.
At the end of the day, you have to
go out on the field and show that
you’re capable of winning and that’s
our big task against Waterford.
“It’s great to be involved with a side
like this, even though I’m from
Antrim originally. Briege McGilligan
encouraged me to come on board and
I suppose I haven’t look back since.”
Combined with the success of the
NewsBriefs
Antrim and
Down ready
The Antrim and Down
teams are currently putting
the finishing touches
to their preparations
ahead of the All-Ireland
Minor Final.
They will meet in the decider
next weekend.
Derry progress
A total of 3-3 from
Sinead Cassidy and 1-3
from Paula McAtamney
saw Derry confidently
dispose of the Antrim
challenge in last weekend’s
All-Ireland Junior
semi-final. The decider
will now take place at
Croke Park on September
9.
Derry seniors last weekend in their
All-Ireland Junior semi-final against
Antrim, these are fairly encouraging
times for camogie in the county.
Now they will be aiming to take
that final step towards All-Ireland
glory on two fronts. And, more of the
same produced against Kildare
should stand to the Juvenile team as
they attempt to make their mark
once again.
Adams to star
Antrim All-Star Jane
Adams will represent Ulster
in this years 'Poc Fada'
All-Ireland Championships.
The Rossa and Antrim
precision pucker will
compete with the country's
provincial big hitters
in the Cooley Mountains
on August 4.