The GAA Handball 40x20 Provincial Championships moves into overdrive this week, with action in Munster this evening (Wednesday). Clare's Diarmaid Nash takes on Tipperary ace, Ger Coonan in Cashel (Tipperary) in a mouth-watering quarter-final clash.

Nash was in action in the Irish 40x20 Intervarsities last weekend, but lost out to the eventual winner, Seamus O'Carroll at the quarter-final stage. Coonan goes into this battle on the back of some top performances in 2009, including his World Men's A Doubles victory with Tyrone's Darragh Daly.

"It's going to be tough against Diarmaid," said Ballina clubman, Coonan. "We've had plenty of good battles in the past and I'm sure this one won't be any different."

This year's Senior Championship returns to the provincial stage for the first time in years, and sees handballers competing for the provincial, as well as national crown. As in the GAA Football and Hurling Championships, a back-door system has also been introduced.

This weekend also sees some top doubles action with Daly partners fellow clubman, Padraig McClinchey in the first round of the Ulster Senior Championship. The Carrickmore duo take on Armagh's Charley Shanks and James Doyle, with the winners facing a real test against three-time championships, Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan (Cavan).

At the same venue, Antrim's Owen McKenna and Sean Devine pair up to take on Cavan's Raymond Cunningham and Patrick Clerkin, and the Belfast pairing should have enough to overcome the Breffni men. At Loughmacrory, Antrim's second duo, Ricky McCann and Seamus O'Tuama face Tyrone's Ruairí Kelly and Shane O'Neill. While Kelly and O'Neill have home advantage, McCann and O'Tuama are experience senior players and as number two seeds in the province are likely to advance.

In Connacht, the Senior Singles Championship reaches its penultimate stage next week with the two semi-final deciders taking at Williamstown. Mayo have three representatives, with Vinny Moran and Joe McCann facing off in one semi, while top seed, Dessie Keegan takes on Galway's Pat Conway.

Leinster are also down to the last four with Dublin's Eoin Kennedy in action against Wexford's Gavin Buggy Saturday week, while Wicklow's Michael Gregan and Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy renew rivalries in the second semi-final. Tweet

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