By Martin Lalor
Shane Produces Class Performance To Win Minor Title
Last Saturday at Croke Park, Shane Dunne from Clogh produced a top class display of 60 x 30 handball to capture the All Ireland Minor Singles title. The North Kilkenny player was in top form when defeating Tipperary to reach the final and at the weekend he produced another scintillating display when accounting for Diarmuid Mulkerrins (Galway) in two sets.
From the start, Shane set the pace and was soon leading 11-1, courtesy of some excellent lob serving. Although the Westerner rallied to 11-6, the Clogh player continued to dominate, leading 16-9 before closing out the first set 21-9. The second game followed a similar pattern with Dunne in control right from the start.
He was soon leading 7-1, 14-6 and sealed the victory when winning 21-10. Both games were closer than the scores suggest, with some excellent serving by Shane the deciding factor.
This was a great win for the young Kilkenny player as he was beaten in the final last year. Earlier this year, Shane won the All Ireland Hardball Singles and Doubles titles.
This is the first All-Ireland Minor 60 x 30 Singles title for the Clogh club and the tenth title in all for Kilkenny. Shane certainly has joined an elite group within Kilkenny handball as previous winners of the crown were ; Nicholas Anthony (Mullinavat) in 2006, Michael Ducksie Walsh (Talbots Inch) 1982-1984, Billy Bourke (Talbots Inch) 1979-1981, John Murray (Talbots Inch) 1956 and Liam Egan (Kilfane) 1950.
Juveniles
In the two outstanding Leinster Juvenile finals played at Garryhill on Thursday night, Kilkenny suffered defeats in Boys U13 Doubles and U14 Singles. Representing in U13 Doubles were Windgap duo, Sean Barron and Sean Purcell, and they lost to Wexford. In the U14 Singles final, Wexford again proved the stumbling block as Kyle Dunne (Clogh) was beaten in two games.
All Ireland Semi Finals
Last Sunday in Thurles, William Love qualified for the Intermediate Singles final when he defeated Limerick’s Padraig O’Carroll in three sets. The first game went 21-9 to William, while the Shannonsider levelled when winning the second 21-12. The deciding set was a ding dong battle, with some excellently serves by the Clogh player the deciding factor as he secured a 21-12 victory.
