Handballers Mulkerrins and N’ Churraoin on Irish squad for World Championships

Date Published: 25-Apr-2012

CAPACITY crowds turned out to support and enjoy a fantastic weekend of action in the 2012 GAA Handball O’Neills Irish 40×20 Nationals at 14 venues across Ulster and North Leinster.

Following 204 weekend fixtures, a total of 21 Irish Nationals titles were decided while all six junior places and eight adult places were also decided on the official Irish squad for the 2012 World Handball Championships to be staged in The Citywest Arena this October.

The Junior National team trials proved to be as competitive as ever and further emphasised the high levels of talent at under-age level in this country.

In the Boys 19 & Under final, Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins defeated Kildare’s Niall O’Connor in what was probably the match of the day.

There were spectacular rallies, brilliant pass and kill shots from both players and hugely entertaining rallies which provided some incredible retrievals.

In the end, despite training 18-12 in the first game, Mulkerrins won through 21-19, 21-18 to secure his place on an official Irish team amazingly for the first time.

In the Girls 17 grade, it was Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin who took the honours.

The Micheal Breathnach’s teenager secured her Irish team place with a 21-14, 21-10 win over Roscommon’s Lauren O’Riordain who had no answer to Ciana’s power serving and remarkable kill shots.

Ciana, winner of the girls U16 title this year and the Irish and USA Nationals, is no stranger to the winners’ podium and will be a real challenger for the U17 World crown in October.