All-Ireland title for Kells handballers

The Kells handball team of Peter Reilly, Michael Sheridan, Christy McGovern and Peter Flanagan claimed the club's first 40x20 Inter-club Junior B All-Ireland title following their emphatic 84-33 win over Monaghan's St Mellan's, Truagh in Bawn Handball Club, Monaghan on Saturday. Reilly, who was first to take to the court, was in flying form as St Mellan's Christopher McKenna struggled to stick with his pace of play. The Kells man had the ideal start going 8-2 up before extending his lead to 17-7. McKenna was able to chalk a few more points on the board for his side before Reilly closed out the game 21-10. The second game proceeded in a similar fashion as Reilly maintained his form, with perfectly placed passing shots and excellent kills. He stormed into a 15-4 lead with McKenna having no answer to his vast array of shots and wasted little time finishing the game on an identical 21-10 score-line. Sheridan and McGovern then took to the court against Conor McGinnity and Ian Treanor. The Meath men kept the good run going and took an early 11-2 lead with an in-form Sheridan killing great balls. McGinnity and Treanor also struggled to come to terms with McGovern's power and precision play as he executed exemplary pass shots. The young Monaghan men showed great determination, but despite making frequent visits to the service-line couldn't get a good run of aces flowing. The Kells men closed out the first game 21-5 to move the club into a 38 aces aggregate lead. The St Mellan's men had the first serve in the second game and after a long tense rally secured the first point as Treanor tucked the ball away in the front right corner. The Kells side recovered quickly and after gaining the serve stormed into an 11-1 lead. The Monaghan men dug deep and pulled back five more aces, but the Kells side cruised on to a 19-6 lead. With a well placed pass shot, McGinnity got St Mellan's back in to earn one more ace before Sheridan executed the perfect kill shot to take a 21-7 win. With the score standing at 84-33 and a maximum of 42 aces available there was no need for Flanagan to take to the court against Eamon Todd and the All-Ireland title was awarded to an elated Kells side. In the Leinster Junior B singles first round Peter Reilly had a 21-4, 21-7 win over Kildare's James Molloy. Peter Flanagan won 21-17, 21-19 over Wexford's Michael Busher. Crossakiel's Michael Gaynor overcame Laois' Larry Brennan 21-7, 21-12, while Dublin's Ricky Keane saw off the challenge of Mark Farrell 21-16, 21-9. John Farrell received a first round walkover from Wicklow's injured Martin O'Neill. Gaynor enjoyed a second round win over Carlow's Oliver Ryan winning 21-18, 21-20. John Farrell suffered a loss to Wexford's Darren O'Toole 21-10, 21-12. In the Junior singles Crossakiel's Stephen Quinn suffered a first round defeat to Offaly's Noel Murphy 21-12, 21-14 in Delvin on Saturday night. This Thursday sees the start of the Junior B Doubles Championship as Peter Reilly and Christy McGovern take on Jason Murphy and David Kenny (Wexford) in Ballymore Eustace at 7.30. This game will be followed by Michael Gaynor and Mark Farrell against Paul Clifford and Sean Quigley (Kilkenny). Meanwhile last year's Leinster final runners-up Eugene O'Reilly and Peter Flanagan take on Darren Madden and Alan Guinan (Offaly) in Kilbeggan at 7.30, while in Leixlip Karl Rogers and Luke Carry meet Peter and Brian Whelan (Laois) also at 7.30. Saturday 15th January sees action from Vinny and John Farrell as they take on Andrew Dowling and Michael Donovan (Laois) in Kilbeggan at 5.0.