Tuesday 10 February 2015

Club P.R.O. Michael McGee previews the Connacht handball 40 x 20 championships finals involving Collooney club players



Martin Cooney & Shane Bruen  Masters A doubles 



Collooney handball Club P.R.O.  Michael McGee is already looking forward to the Connacht handball championships doubles 40 x 20 deciders as he previews the 3 doubles finals involving Collooney handball doubles players.

Junior C doubles:  Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen (Sligo) v Michael O’ Rianne & Chris Connaughton (Galway)

Collooney players will be involved in 3 more Connacht doubles finals. Up first is the Junior C Doubles with Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen into another Connacht Final.  The duo are knocking on the door for the past few years without actually finding a way through. In their semi-final  contest after a shaky start the Bruen & Coleman weathered the storm and began to take control playing controlled and incisive handball along the way to an exciting 18-21, 21-8, 21-8 win over  Roscommon’s Alan Mannion & Robbie Kelly.  They again will need to produce the goods against Galway’s  Michael Rianne & Chris Connaughton.  Curraghboy may just be the venue for the historic breakthrough for Bruen & Coleman

Emerald Masters B  doubles: Michael McMorrow & Michael Murphy (Sligo) v Frank Macken & John O’Malley (Mayo)

In the following match sees the Emerald Masters doubles pairing of Michael McMorrow & Michael Murphy take on the experienced Frank Macken & John O’Mallley.  McMorrow & Murphy are a new partnership and as yet untested having received a bye in their semi-final.  Macken & O’Malley already had an successful outing the in the championships having beaten Galway’s  Pierce Lalor Willie Corcoran in their semi-final.  Murphy is making a welcome return to handball and the Castleconnor club man will relish getting into competitive handball after a lengthy lay off from the game. Michael McMorrow is training hard with the likes of legendary Sligo player Paddy Walsh putting him through his paces. McMorrow an All-Ireland 60 x 30 doubles champion with John McLoughlin in 2011 will be hoping for a repeat of the glory days in the smaller 40 x 20 court. It remains to be seen have the fledging Sligo partnership done enough work  to compete against the battle hardened Macken & O’Malley. The greater experience by Mayo,  may win the day but McMorrow & Murphy have nothing  to lose and will give it everything in the  Sligo colours.

Masters B doubles:  Shane Bruen & Martin Cooney (Sligo) v Jason Judge & Pat Foy (Mayo)

From one doubles team starting off to another combination who already tastedAll-Ireland success.  The Masters A doubles team of Shane Bruen & Martin Cooney had an unbelievable 2014. Cooney won 3 titles the Silver Masters  B  40 x 20 singles and followed this up winning the Silver Masters B singles 60x 30 title and Masters B doubles with Shane Bruen. Shane also won the Masters B singles for good measure.  Cooney was recently recognised by the Connacht G.A.A Council at their recent annual prize giving awards ceremony  in Castlebar for winning 3 All-Ireland handball titles in 2014.  The step up to the A grade does not seem as undaunting  for the duo who are well capable of making a big impression in the A grade. Their opponents are from the nearby Bofield Club. Mayo’s Jason Judge & Patrick Foy were All-Ireland  Masters B doubles champions in 2013. The final has all the hallmarks of going the distance and don’t be surprised if this one goes to a tie break to separate them.  Bruen & Cooney get the nod to herald their entry into the A grade with a Provincial title at their first time of asking.

Connacht 40 x 20 handball championships doubles finals

Saturday 21st February in Curraghboy at 3 pm.
Junior C doubles:  Gerry Coleman & Michael Bruen (Sligo) v Michael O’ Rianne & Chris Connaughton (Galway)

Saturday 21st February in Curraghboy at 5 pm.
Emerald Masters B  doubles: Michael McMorrow & Michael Murphy (Sligo) v Frank Macken & John O’Malley (Mayo)

Saturday 21 February in St. Coman’s at 5 pm.
Masters B doubles:  Shane Bruen & Martin Cooney (Sligo) v Jason Judge & Pat Foy (Mayo)


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