Clonduff Host Down Handball Awards 2011 (Click photo right to view slideshow)

The Down Handball Awards for the season just ended were presented at a function in the Clonduff GAA Clubrooms on Friday night last with Martin Murphy Chairman of the down Handball committee and county Board chairman Seamus Walsh in attendance.

Other guest present included, Chris Curran GAA Handball Ireland, Charlie Shanks Irish Handball champion, Brendan Murray chairman Clonduff GAA club, Adrian Savage chairman Saval GA Club, Tom Trainor Chairman RGU, Dermot Russell Newry and Mourne Sports Development Officer Pat Power Sports Development Officer Down District Council.

Seamus Walsh congratulated the Down Handball committee on the efficient manner in which they organise their competitions, he paid tribute to the three clubs Clonduff, Downpatrick and Saval who through their efforts keep the ancient game alive. The county chairman noted the recent developments in Clonduff expressed the hope that another phase of the club development would include  Handball Courts. Mr. Murphy in his address reiterated the sentiments and suggested that given the popularity of the One Wall game the club should at least consider the provision of this facility.

This has been an eventful and successful year for Handball in the county, honours achieved were;

Special achievements;

Lorraine Havern (Saval) Provincial Junior Girl all star and US National U 19 champion.

All Ireland winners;

Lorraine Havern Ladies senior One Wall.

Provincial winners;

Anne Madine (Saval) Ladies Junior Singles, Sean McNally Clonduff Silver Masters Singles,

Ulster Club champions Clonduff, Paul Shields Colin Shields, Sean McNally Eddie Clancey Des McNeill

Ulster Div 4 Winners Saval.

Down Under Age winners;

U 12 Singles Eoin McMullen RGU Runner up Christopher McAleavey Clonduff.

U12 Doubles Ryan Sterrit Ronan Murphy RGU r- up, Conor Milligan and Jude Campbell Clonduff.

U 13 Singles, Ciarán Bagnall Saval, r-up Rian Doran RGU.

U 13 Doubles Sean Fallon Michael Havern Saval r-up Ciaran Hampton Taylor Loudan RGU.

U 14 singles John Madine Saval, r-up Michael McMahon RGU.

U 14 Doubles, Kevin Polly Hugh Dornan RGU r-up Colm McEvoy Chris McEvoy Saval.

U15 Singles Shane Milligan Clonduff r-up Daire Lacken RGU.

U 15v Doubles Ciaran Downey Rory McEvoy Saval, r-up Tom Burns Declan Fitzsimons RGU.

U 16 Singles Rory McQuaid Clonduff.

U 16 Doubles, Pat Havern Stephen Digney Saval, r-up Tiernan Curran Joe Hayes RGU.

U 17 singles Keelan Rice Saval r-up Liam Quinn RGU

U 17 Doubles Sam Burns Niall Quinn RGU r-up John Brown Eamon Grant Clonduff.

Down County winners;

Senior Singles Paul Shiels (Clonduff ) r-up Sean McNally (do)

Senior doubles, Sean Digney Marty Turley Saval, r-up Paul Shields Sean McNally.

Intermediate singles Sean McNally r-up Marty Turley.

Intermediate Doubles, Niall McManus Daniel Connolly RGU  r-up Tony O’Connor Blain Lennon RGU.

Junior Doubles; Des McNeill Eddie Clancey Clonduff., r-up, Eamon Savage Gareth Brown RGU.

Down League winners Clonduff

Saval Handball Club was awash with children from right across the county on Saturday past (15th January 2011), as the annual Cumann na mBunscoil county finals took place. Before Christmas the County Handball Committee decided to make the promotion of this competition there number one priority. Working closely with Cumann na mBunscoil and the three powerhouses of handball within the county, Downpatrick, Saval and Clonduff, a team set about promoting the event. These structures seemed to have worked a treat, as 41 children turned out, including twelve from Clonduff, fourteen different schools.

The Clonduff lads, pictured above with mentors Eddie Clancy and Paul Shields are: Conor Milligan, Jake Morgan, Padraig Clancy, Eamon Brown, Charlie Brown, Christopher McAleavey, Rory McKernan, Charlie Kerr, Tom Close, Jude Campbell, Shane Close and Shea Morgan.

A crowd of up on one hundred people attended the County Handball Awards presentation in Saval Sports and Leisure Complex on Friday 26^th February when the Achievements of the County’s three Handball Clubs – Saval, Downpatrick, and Clonduff – in 2009/10 season were marked. Clonduff had plenty to celebrate!

Shane Milligan U14 Singles Champion

Rían Branagan and Conor Brown U16 Doubles Champions

Paul Shields County Senior Champion

Paul Shields and Sean McNally Down Senior Doubles Champions

Des McNeill and Eddie Clancy Down Junior Doubles Handball Champions

Clonduff team of Paul Shields, Colin Shields, Eddie Clancy, Sean McNally and Des McNeill County Division 1 Champions

Sean McNally selected to play for Ireland at World Championships in Portland, Oregon in Silver Masters grade and selected as Ulster’s Silver Masters  
 Player of the Year and nominated for National All Star

Des, Sean and Colin were all on the County Handball Committee

Sean won Ulster 60x30 Silver Singles title

Des Won Ulster Ruby Master title

Guests of honour at the event included three-times World Senior Champion Paul Brady from Cavan, newly crowned World U17 Champion Lorraine Havern from Saval and newly elected Chairperson of County GAA Board, Seamus Walsh, Chris Curran, National Manager Irish Handball Council, Mickey Quinn, Chairperson, Ulster Council Handball, Down Handball officials, the Down players, their families and friends. A great night, which started with a buffet supper (provided by Downshire Arms Hilltown) was had by all.

Juvenile Co Handball Championships 2010

Clonduff competitors looking resplendent in their new strip who participated in the County Handball Finals on Sunday 24th January 2010. Clonduff collected two County titles - Shane Milligan (U14 Singles) and Conall Brown and Rian Branagan (U16 Doubles). Clonduff were unlucky in not collecting a hat trick of titles when Rory McQuaid was narrowly beaten in a tie breaker for the U15 title. Other competitors for Clonduff were Eamonn Grant (U16 Singles) and Packie O'Hagan and Conall Brown.(U-15 Doubles). This is a tremendous achievement for these young lads - last year they collected one title - Shane Milligan (U13) the first Juvenile Handball title winner for 17 years. Well done boys for the dedication to training and to your coaches, of course.
Back row (l to r) Conall Brown, Eamonn Grant, Connor Brown; Front row (l to r) Shane Milligan, Patrick O'Hagan, Rory McQuaid and Rian Branagan

Clonduff held their second annual Boley Fair Juvenile Handball Tournament on Saturday 12th July. Competitions were held for U13, U15 and U17 age groups. Competition was keen and of a very high standard, testimony to the hard work the boys have put in during the winter months and during the course of the Newry and Mourne sponsored summer camp held in the Clonduff Alley in the week prior to the the Tournament. Ten boys and three girls (unfortunately not Clonduff girls) took part in the Tournament - Clonduff lassies the Handball is open to you too! Why not give it a go!

To view a slideshow of the Tournament click on the image on the right!