Successful handballers return home

January 02, 2010
Members of Ireland's hugely successful Irish Junior National Handball Squad returned from Chicago with eight titles, following their domination of the US Junior Nationals. The Windy City hosted the major underage handball event, and following Ireland's success at the recent World Handball Championships, many of the success stories continued for Ireland's upcoming handball stars. The Irish ladies recorded a clean sweep with Wicklow's Shauna Hilley adding to her world titles, as she claimed both the Girls 19 & Under Singles and Girls 19 & Under Doubles titles. Hilley defeated Florida's Cara Arsenault in emphatic style with a 21-1, 21-2 final victory, and also partnered Cork's Catriona Casey to take the doubles crown. Casey also claimed the Girls 17 & Under Singles title, where she defeated New York's Sandy Ng with a dramatic 21-4, 21-6 victory. Ireland also took the Girls 15 & Under Singles crown, where Galway's Ciana Ní Churraoin defeated California's Brittyn Bidegain, on an emphatic scoreline of 21-3, 21-3. Cork ace, Killian Carroll, who was narrowly beaten in the Worlds 17 and Under Final, made amends with a fine victory over Illinois' Eric Matiasek, with a convincing 21-8, 21-7 win. The Rebel then paired up with Tyrone's Conor McElduff in the 17 and Under Doubles where they also took glory with a 21-6, 21-3 triumph over Matiasek and partner, CJ Laffey. Fellow Corkman, Denis O' Neill, added the Boys 15 & Under Singles title, where he defeated Tyrone's Pol Clarke on a scoreline of 21-8, 21-12. Tyrone's Johhny Woods and Ryan Mullen also won the 15 and Under Doubles, while at the World Juniors in Tuscon Arizona, Tipperary's Fergal Collins was narrowly beaten by Mexico's Luis Cordova in the Boy's 19 and Under Final.

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