Ryan Corcoran & Heidi Gallagher reign supreme in Hughie Reilly Memorial Cup doubles final, writes Michael McGee

The Annual Hughie Reilly Memorial Cup 60 x 30 doubles competition took place in Crossakiel on Sunday July 28th last with 12 players taking part from Kells and the host club Crossakiel.

Jimmy Reilly the affable Kells coach brought his young troops out to Crossakiel and already they are making great strides in the sport. With the present crop of all conquering players like Tommy Sheridan, Brian Carroll & Gary McConnell All-Ireland Senior Champions, Reilly’s young stars such as Sophie Griffin, Holly Dardis, Sady Harte, Cuisle Rogers, Amy Lynch & Coco Griffin will soon be striking fear into every handball opponents hearts in Leinster and beyond. The future of Kells Handball looks bright and with Reilly at the helm great things are expected.

In the first Cup semi-final Ryan Corcoran & Heidi Gallagher made their intentions known when they accounted for the Crossakiel duo of Warren Farrell & Cian Gaughran winning comfortably  by 31-14. The second semi-final seen Sophie Griffin & Nico Monsalvo both Kells take an unassailable lead and raced away against their battling Kells club mates of CoCo Griffin & Cuisle Rogers.

The Plate semi-final came down for decision and  Warren Farrell & Cian Gaughran  Crossakiel overcame the stern challenge imposed  from the Kells pairing of  Sady Harte & Holly Dardis winning narrowly by 31-20. In the other plate semi-final Amy Lynch & Aaron Sangwan had a narrow victory over a gallant CoCo Griffin & Cuisle Rogers in a keenly contested match winning narrowly by 31-28.

The TG4 camera crew then arrived and set up ahead of both finals. In the plate final Amy Lynch &  Aaron Sangwan from the Kells club had a fantastic duel with the Crossakiel pairing of Warren Farrell &  Cian Gaughran. There was nothing separating the sides in the first game. Towards the end of the first game Lynch & Sangwan opened up an 14-11 lead. However the Crossakiel duo dug deep and got back into play and drew level at 14-14 and had their chance of taking the first game but an enforced error cost them dear and the Kells duo got the all important score to take the first game by the minimum 15-14.  Amy Lynch is a star in the making and used all her court craft to good effect. She proved the difference between the sides in the second and stood up tall keeping the Crossakiel players on the back foot.  Looking solid and with strong returns from Lynch the Crossakiel challenge wilted away in the second game and with Sangwan rowing in with some scores on the right the Kells pair raced away to take the plate final by 15-5.

In the Cup Final Ryan Corcoran & Heidi Gallagher were made to fight all the way in the first game against a determined Sophie Griffin & Nico Monsalvo. It was an entertaining first game with Corcoran & Griffin having a right Royal tussle on the left side of Court. Corcoran had to be alert and alive as Griffin’s great determination and tenacity posed problems for Corcoran.    Just when it looked that Griffin & Monsalvo were about to take over Corcoran and  Gallagher awoke from their doldrums and started playing handball he is well capable off. Griffin a Leinster champion this year gave her all in an absorbing first game.  After winning a point  at 7-9 behind Griffin turned to her Kells supporters in the gallery with the thumbs up sign and was looking extremely confident at this stage. However Corcoran & Gallagher managed to withstand the firm challenge imposed and managed to take the first game by 15-8.    The second game proved more straight forward as Corcoran sensing a Griffin fightback began his power shots and with Gallagher rowing in with a number of important winners the tide turned in their favour and despite Griffins best efforts it proved to be Corcoran’s & Gallaghers day.  

Jackie Farrell the Chairperson presented all the participants with gold medals and thanked everyone who took part in the competition and all the sponsors Drumbaragh  Stores, Kells Handball Club, Dennis & Grainne Gaughran, Peter Byrne, Club committee and  Anthony McGee Rea/McGee Auctioneers as club sponsors. Kevin Reilly brother of the late Hughie Reilly was on hand to present the winners and runners up with their trophies and presented the Hughie Reilly Cup to this year’s winners Ryan Corcoran & Heidi Gallagher. Club Secretary Michael McGee thanked all the players for taking part. He spoke appreciatively about the late Chairman Hughie Reilly and what he meant to the Crossakiel Club. He also spoke about the clubs ambitious future plans to build a 40 x20 court and one wall courts and asked that the Parish and sister clubs Ballinlough GFC & Kilskyre Hurling Club get behind the club in its endeavours.  He also thanked TG4 for the filming over the two days and presented on behalf of the club a piece of Tipperary Crystal to the TG4 film crew in attendance.

With the last few photos being taken. Possibly the photo of the day belonged to one Heidi Gallagher a Goliath who stood head and shoulders above all players in the group photo . Clasping the Hughie Reilly Cup firmly in both hands and with a gold medal draped around her neck.  Her radiant smile was as big as Kells itself.  It was her Paris Olympics moment.

That is what Handball is all about.

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