Bundoran hosts juvenile handball exhibition with a view to the future

There was a great turnout on Sunday afternoon at Magh Ene College, Bundoran, for a one Wall handball camp and exhibition tournament. 

After some coaching and games the Donegal kids, who travelled from Glenn Finn and Ballybofey got to play in a mini tournament, with a brother and sister match up in the final as Cahir and Caoimhe McCloskey showed off their skills. 

Then at noon young players began arriving from Roscommon, Tyrone, Sligo and Leitrim to compete in an exhibition tournament. 

The Donegal kids gave it a go and did extremely well considering it was their first time playing 1 Wall in competition, with son of Frank McGlynn former county star Harry McGlynn (Glenn Finn) reaching the boys U13 semi final and  Michéal Mc Menamin (Glenn Finn) runner up by the narrowest of margins in the Boys U11 plate to Eoghan Commons from Collooney.

Spectators were treated to exciting games with lots of kills, roll outs and dump shots. The highlight being the boys U11 semi between Tyrone duo of, eventual U11 winner, Aodhan Conway (Loughmacrory) and Daithi Kelly (Breacach). 

Aodhan contested the boys U11 final with Bobby Cavanagh (Collooney) runner up. The Girls U15 was contested by talented Roscommon pairing from Kilgalss of Niamh Hall and Caitlin Cashin, with Niamh running out eventual winner. 

The U15 girls plate was won by Chloe Conway (Loughmacrory) with Sadhbh Smith (Glencar) runner up. In the boys U13 Ciaran Corr (Breacach) played Eoin Grehan (Kilglass) with Ciaran running out the winner. 

The U13 Boys plate was made up by Glencar-Manorhamilton duo of Aroo O'Reily and Dashel Wilson with Aroo picking up the honours.

U16 Boys was won by Oisin Kelly (Breacach) with Travis Gibbons (Collooney) runner up in what was a fast paced high energy game. The U16 boys plate was picked up by Cathaoir Kelly (Breacach) with Patrick Grehan (Kilglass) runner up.

A big thanks was extended to MacCumhaill's amazing handball talent, Avril Mc Namee for acting as referee and putting in a full days work and to Caroline McCloskey for the coffee and tea and treats. 

Thanks were also extended to those who came and supported the event, with players from Kilglass, Breacach, Collooney, Loughmacrory and Manorhamilton-Glencar showing off their 1 Wall skills. 

Organisers now hope this tournament inspires some of the young handballers in Donegal to give it a go and push on and enter competitions across Ulster and beyond!

A special thanks to Magh Ene college for providing the venue for the day, was also extended.