Mayo’s senior handballers saw competitive action for the first time this year as the provincial singles and doubles semi-final were played last week. Dessie Keegan defeated club mate Vincent Moran very comfortably to reach the provincial senior final while Joe McCann accounted for Galway’s Ollie Conway in the other semi-final despite the loss of the opening game on an overall 16-21 , 21-6, 21-1 scoreline.
In the match of the week McCann and Keegan faced Roscommon challengers Chris Doolin and Aengus Cunningham in the provincial senior doubles semi-final. The Mayo pair had little to spare at the end of a two hour marathon which they won on a 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 scoreline.
In a first round senior doubles open championship tie, played at Mullingar on Wednesday night last, Vincent Moran and Campbell Brennan lost out heavily to Cavan duo Michael Finnegan and Raymond Cunningham. The first series of provincial finals took place over the past week with the top clash the meeting of Mayo and Galway in the intermediate doubles final at Roscommon. In a three-game battle it was Ollie Cassidy and Paul Flynn who emerged the victors following a 21-14, 12-21, 21-14 win over Williamstown duo Alan Tierney and Ollie Conway. Michael Ginley from Bofield lost out to Billy Kelly from Roscommon in the newly introduced over-35 grade during the week but Ginley teamed up with Jason Judge to great effect to take the doubles title at the expense of Ballymoe duo John Kennedy and Billy Kelly on Friday night last. There was no luck for Mayo duo Martin Vahey and James McNulty in the silver masters B doubles final at Collooney on Monday night last as the hot favourites came unstuck in three thrilling games against Sligo pair Peter Chambers and Stanley Harte. Frank Macken had a very good week as he defeated Jimmy Connaughton of Galway in the golden masters B singles final and he also teamed up with Aidan Bell to take provincial doubles glory at the expense of Salthill duo Willie Corcoran and Mike Shaughnessy on a 17-21, 21-18, 21-12 scoreline.
The week ahead sees further action at provincial and senior level. Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann line out in their opening senior doubles this Friday at St Coman’s as they take on Tipperary duo Ger Coonan and Martin McInerney. James Towey and Joe Dowling bid to retain their masters B provincial crown as they take on useful Sligo duo Martin Cooney and Michael McGee at Williamstown on Sunday next from 3pm while Kevin Geraghty and Martin Cronin take on Sligo Frances McCann and Hugh McGarry in the golden masters A final the same afternoon.
