Another large programme of games throughout Saturday saw excellent handball on view initially with the Cumann na mBunscoil in Kingscourt and then followed by the Mens and Ladies Open Doubles trials matches. A total of 48 children from Schools across the four provinces enjoyed a terrific day's handball with a large crowd enjoying another excellent promotional occasion for youth handball.
In the Mens Open Doubles trials there were four withdrawals prior to the start of the matches and a few surprised early on too. The most notable was the win of Colm Jordan (Cork) and Carl Browne (Meath) who defeated Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann (Mayo) in the opening round by 21-16, 3-21, 11-5. Barry Goff and Colin Keeling (Wexford) defeated Vinnie Moran and Ciaran Burke (Mayo) by 21-18, 21-10 in their first round meeting while Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) and Brian Carroll (Meath) had a Ian Griffin and Egin Jensen (Dublin) in their opening match comfortably by 21-9, 21-6. There was another close tie in round one as Gavin Buggy (Wexford) and Dominick Lynch (Kerry) teamed up for a hard fought 21-19, 21-18 win over Antrim's Ricky McCann and Sean Devine.

The quarter finals all provided entertaining handball with the first match seeing Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan (Cavan) having to work hard in their second game against Gavin Buggy (Wexford) and Dominick Lynch (Kerry) before booking their semi final place on a 21-12, 21-20 scoreline, the latter having lead by 20-16 in the second game. They now meet Tyrone's partnership of Padraig McGlinchey and Darragh Daly after they teamed up for a surprise win over number four seeds, Barry Goff and Colin Keeling (Wexford) by 21-15, 21-11.

Charly Shanks (Armagh) and Ciaran Curran (Tyrone) showed up very well in their quarter final fixture against Colm Jordan (Cork) and Carl Browne (Meath) and ran out winners by 21-9, 21-8 and they now meet number 2 seeds and runners-up at the last World Senior Doubles Championships, Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) and Brian Carroll (Meath), after that fancied duo came through one of the most entertaining matched of the day against Tom Sheridan (Meath) and Martin Mulkerrins (Galway) by 21-12, 21-10.

In the Ladies Open doubles trials the semi-finals will begin the action in Kingscourt on Sunday morning at 11.00am as reigning All Ireland and World Senior Doubles champions, Fiona Shannon and Sibeal Gallagher (Antrim), overcame Kilkenny's teenage pairing of Mary Phelan and Ciara Mahon by 21-2, 21-6. The Antrim girls will now meet the intriguing combination of Marianna Rushe (Roscommon) and Anna Spence (Kildare) in the semi final after that duo knocked out Mayo's Pauline Gallagher and Amy Corrigan (Mayo) in an epic contest by 21-7, 20-21, 11-7.

The second of the Ladies Open semi finals will see two times All Ireland Senior Doubles champions, Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville (Kerry) get the better of two of the most exciting young prospects in the game at present, Ciana Ní Churraoin (Galway) and Lauren O'Riordain (Roscommon) by 21-14, 21-8. The Kerry girls will now meet Catriona Casey and Aisling O'Keefe (Cork) in the semi final at 11am.

An exciting finals programme will go ahead at Kingscourt on Sunday, commencing at 11am with the Ladies Open Doubles semi-finals and will be immediately followed by the Mens Open Doubles semi finals at 12.15pm. The Ladies Open final will go down for decision at 2.15pm and followed by the Mens Open Doubles final at 3.30pm.

Fixtures:
Team Ireland World Open Handball Doubles trials
Sunday 29th April, in Kingscourt, Cavan:
11am: Ladies Open Doubles Trials Semi Finals: Court 1 - Fiona Shannon and Sibeal Gallagher (Antrim) v Marianna Rushe (Roscommon) and Anna Spence (Kildare), Court 2 - Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville (Kerry) v Catriona Casey and Aisling O'Keefe (Cork).
12.15pm: Mens Open Doubles Trials Semi Finals: Court 1 - Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan (Cavan) v Padraig McGlinchey and Darragh Daly (Tyrone), Court 2 - Charly Shanks (Armagh) and Ciaran Curran (Tyrone) v Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) and Brian Carroll (Meath)
2.15pm: Ladies Open Doubles Trials Final
3.30pm: Mens Open Doubles Trials Final