James Doyle & Charly Shanks from Armagh were made to battle all the way before securing the John Hyland Memorial Cup in the senior doubles final on Sunday 17th August last in Abbeylara writes, Michael McGee After a 4 year break the Abbeylara One-Wall handball tournament made a welcome return to the handball calender. With 2 new state of the art handball courts now in Abbeylara competitions could now be played both indoors and outdoors for the first time. Over all almost 60 games took place from the Juvenile grades last Saturday to the Adult grades the following day. Despite the atrocious road conditions, players from all over the country attended. Cathriona Casey made the long journey from the Ballydesmond Club in Cork a winning one. She was rewarded with a impressive 15-2, 15-4 victory over Rachel Havern from Down in the Girls U-15 singles final. McCrory & Mc Crystal triumph for Tyrone It was an all Tyrone final in the Boys U-13 doubles with Padraig McCrory & Gavin Mc Crystal defeating their club mates Pol Clarke & Johnny Woods in an exciting final by 15-13, 15-14. Just minutes earlier the Carrickmore club stars watched their County football heroes defeat Dublin in the All Ireland Quarter final. Niall O'Connor from the Leixlip Club in Kildare had to come from a game down to defeat Wicklow's Keith Kavanagh in 3 games by 11-15, 15-12, 11-2 in the Boys U-15 singles decider. Lorraine Havern from the Saval Club in Down made no mistake in the Girls U-17 final defeating Ballaghaderreen's Amy Corrigan in 2 straight games by 15-4, 15-8. Cooney's impressive display Steven Cooney also Ballaghaderreen was the favourite to win the Boys U-17 final following his win in the National One Wall final in Sligo 6 weeks ago. However, young Ian McLoughlin from Newport in Mayo hadn't fully read the script. McLoughlin taking the fight to Cooney from the start taking the first game by 15-13. Cooney came out in game two more determined and didn't let the Newport start settle. The Balla player showing all the hours spent training in the court brushed aside McLoughlin in game two by 15-4. In the tie breaker Cooney had the little bit extra. McLoughlin's challenge fell way due to Cooney's greater fitness. In the end Cooney taking it 11-3, despite McLoughlin battling all the way to the finish. The following day seen the Junior doubles competition for the John Carthy in memory of John Carty who was tragically killed on Easter Thursday 2000. Pakie McCormack sponsored the John Hyland Cup for the Senior doubles. Steven Cooney showed no ill effects of tiredness the previous day when he teamed up with Meath's Eugene O'Reilly. O' Reilly won this years Men's C singles in Sligo last June. Cooney won his second trophy of the weekend as the duo beat Wicklow's Jerome Willoughby & 15 year old Keith Kavanagh in a closely fought final by 15-11, 15-13 to take the John Carthy Cup. Shanks inspires Armagh in Hyland Cup win The main event the Senior final seen the novel pairing in that it featured the father and son combination of Robbie McCarthy senior and junior from the Mullingar Club in Westmeath pitted against Armagh's Charly Shanks and James Doyle. Armagh came into the final as overwhelming favourites following impressive displays in the qualifying games. McCarthy's shocked the Armagh men in game one winning by 15-11. Robbie Senior played outstanding handball throughout. Armagh looked rattled during the 2 minute break. At 9-9 in game two it was finely balanced. Charly Shanks with low powerful serves to Robbie Senior gained a number quick scores while Doyle playing on the right side shut out the Westmeath men's challenge. Armagh taking game 2 by 15-9. In the tie breaker it looked all over as Armagh raced into an 9-3 lead. Credit to the McCarthy's they fought back magnificently to be only 9-7 in arrears. Shanks when the questions were asked of him rose to the challenge gaining the 2 points to seal a narrow victory in an absorbing final by 11-7. Marie Carthy sister of the late John Carthy presented the Junior Cup to the winners Eugene O'Reilly and Stephen Cooney while Anna O'Reilly Secretary of the Club presented the Pakie McCormack sponsored John Hyland Cup to Armagh's Charly Shanks and James Doyle and runners-up trophies to Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy senior and junior. Anna O'Reilly thanked a number of people following the presentations including Pakie McCormack for sponsoring the Senior Cup. The Juvenile members were thanked for preparing the handball courts while Eugene O'Reilly came in for special praise from O'Reilly for the overall organization of the event. Already handball players are looking forward to the 2009 tournament. Tweet

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