Doherty takes U16 handball title
April 14, 2010Darren Doherty added another chapter to his already burgeoning history as a top-class handballer when he added the All Ireland U16 title to his trophy list, defeating Donal Wrynn from Leitrim in a nerve wrecking final that went to a tie-breaker in Abbeylara last weekend. The achievement is all the more note worthy in that the Leitrim lad is a full 16 years old and had height and strength advantage over Doherty who is still only 14 years old.
Wrynn won the toss to serve in the first game and notched up the first point quickly but Doherty was fast to score and got in to serve only to lose it almost straight away. Wrynn forged ahead to take the score to 8-1, and Doherty found it difficult to cope with the power and skill that was displayed by the young Leitrim player. Wrynn scored several aces using a low power serve into both corners and kept Doherty on the back foot throughout this game. With easy set ups off Wrynn's low power serve the Leitrim man closed out the first game on a score of 21 - 6 much to the delight of the mainly Leitrim support in the gallery. Doherty took a 2 minute break and re-focused for the second game which he went into serving first. Showing great grit and determination Doherty quickly notched up a 5 -1 lead using the same low power serve as his opponent did in the previous game. Doherty had found his feet and started showing his true ability although, who is a powerful player showed great skill in killing the ball from the back of the court as he fought hard to stay in the game. Doherty used his roof shots to take several points, and displaying some fantastic low passing shots and a couple of spectacular kill shots, ensuring that the Leitrim man did not catch up with him at any stage and Doherty closed out the second game 21 - 12 to force a tie-break situation.
The tension going into the third game was palpable with Wrynn having the slight advantage of serve going into the tie-breaker and scored a point straight off. Doherty responded and got back in to serve and scored two points before Wrynn regained serve and scored another two. There were several long rallies with both players using a range of shots and tactics that produces spectacular handball with the lads fighting for their lives. The score was tied at 3 all with Wrynn serving and Doherty managed to get back in to serve. Doherty lost it again and Wrynn took the score to 6-3. Doherty fought like a tiger through some serious rallies and got back in to serve several times but only managed to score the one point before Wrynn forged ahead again to take the score to 7-4. At no point in the game did Doherty give up or lose focus, and with the score on 8-5 he got back in to serve and showing real class under serious pressure, rattled off three points in a row to tie the score at 8-8. Wrynn regained serve and killed two shots in a row to bring the score to 10 - 8 and it looked as if the Leitrim player would take the title with only one point left to score. Wrynn had two chances to finish the game off as the younger Doherty regained serve only to lose it again. However Doherty used his chance the second time he regained serve - he used great passing shots down the left to bring the score to 10 -10 to make for a situation where the next point would decide who walked away with the 2010 U-16 All Ireland title. Doherty sent a powerful serve down the left which Wrynn managed to return, Doherty sent the ball down the left again but with Wrynn's long reach he managed to scoop it up but unfortunately for him, and fortunately for Darren DEoherty it didn't make the front wall and Doherty finished this edge of the seat tie breaker on a score line of 11 - 10 to take the title, a result that caused shocked silence in the gallery while the Leitrim lad's supporters tries to take in what had just happened. Tweet
