Handball
***Ulster Team vs Basque Country***
Date: 23 Jul 2010 / Viewed: 60 times
Venue: Clann Eireann, Lurgan
Date: Sunday 25th July @ 2pm
Match 1 @ 2pm: James Doyle (Ulster no. 2) vs Martin Ibarra (Basque no. 2)
Match 2 @ 2.45pm: R Kelly & M Donnelly (Ulster Doubles) vs Mikel Jauregi & Ion Beloki (Basque Doubles)
Match 4 @ 3:30pm: Charly Shanks (Ulster no. 1) vs Ion Eskudero (Basque no. 1)
Adult Players at One Wall Nationals
Date: 21 Jul 2010 / Viewed: 56 times
Following report is from Armagh GAA Website.
Collie Carville and Colum Shanks both Clann Eireann give good accounts of themselves in the Mens C division – Shanks just bowing out to Down’s Sean Digney by the smallest of margins – watch out for the return of these two men next year!
In the Challenger grade, Clann Eireann’s Eddie McCavitt won two matches and Peter Shanks also played well. St. Killian’s man Paddy Reavey proved that he is definitely a very strong contender and is one to watch.
Last years Masters Champion – Clann Eireann’s Conor McMahon failed to retain his title, just losing out to Roscommon’s Aengus Cunningham in the semi-final – but with more practice with the new ball, he will be back for further success no doubt!
St. Killian’s Maighread NiRiabhaigh-ODuill competed in the Ladies Open and faced England No.2 seed, Ashley Lumbard who she accounted for on a scoreline 29-9 before falling to Irish no. 1 seed, Deirdre Donohue – and lost by a just single point to multi-capped Irish player, Roscommon’s Leona Doolin.
In the Ladies Challenger Plate – Conor’s wife Anne showed how much she has improved since starting just a few short months ago – and progressed through a tough match with Limerick’s Rosemary McMahon. The strong Avoureen Coleman, not to be outdone by daughter Niamh - won all her games in the plate and was the eventual winner and will in no doubt be back for the Challenger cup next year– Maith thu Avoureen!
Underage Players at One Wall Nationals
Date: 21 Jul 2010 / Viewed: 63 times
Following report is from Armagh GAA Website.
The Armagh Underage star in the Nationals was undoubtedly Niamh Coleman. Niamh stormed through her matches and played No.1 seed Eimear NíBhiadha from Galway in the U-12 final, which the Orchard girl won by 3 points – 20-17 – a great game of handball and a marvellous achievement for Niamh and her coaches!!!!!
Young Aoife McConville also put in great determined performances reaching the U14 semi finals losing to eventual winner Galway's Cianna Ní Churraoin. Well done Aoife.
Cullyhanna native, Clann Eireann’s Conal McCavitt advanced the whole way to the semi-finals of the U-16. This was only his third tournament, reaching the final of the MensC Division in Lurgan and the final of the Williamstown Galway over the past few months. It’s all about experience and playing games – he is a very natural handballer and is pitted against and beating youngsters who have been competing for many many years.
Under 10 Blitz
There were over 400 competitors in the Irish OneWall Nationals – ranging from the youngest - St. Killian’s Fiachra ODuill aged just 5 to Cork’s Jim Kennedy aged 85 – an astounding 80years.
Fiachra ODuill, Cailiosa NiDhuill – both St. Killian’s and Peadar Shanks, Dearbhla Coleman – both Clann Eireann played fabulous in there respective games. These four children are far beyond their years in terms of ability and skill and all four will still be eligible to play U-10 next year. No doubt these children are at such an advantage being able to view the skills of Charly Shanks and James Doyle on a regular basis and it is proving to show. From Fiachra’s power serving, Dearbhla’s amazing reach, Cailiosa’s dancing feet and Peadar’s all-around ability – Armagh GAA handball is in safe hands for the future – well done kids!
National title for Shanks
Date: 21 Jul 2010 / Viewed: 61 times
Following report is from Armagh GAA Website.
On the afternoon of Sunday 4th July in a crowded Keith Wood Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, it was time for the main event – the Mens Open One Wall Nationals Final. Clann Eireann’s Charly Shanks had annexed two out of the previous three titles and he was back with only one thing in mind - to collect his third.
Earlier in the year, the Irish OneWall ball was changed to make it more like the American Big Blue ball which is used in all international events. This will leave Irish players who will travel out of the country to compete at less of a disadvantage. Many people throughout the country also thought that when Shanks’ famous ‘spin serve’ would be removed that he may just be an average player – how wrong they were!
I had the privilege of travelling to Italy in late 2008 to witness Shanks and his long term partner - St. Killian’s handball star James Doyle compete against the best Onewaller on the planet - the charismatic New York’s John ‘Rookie’ Wright and partner Roland Brown. Played with the American Big Blue, the Irish lads tested their American counterparts all the way and the final scoreline read 21-18.
Charly came into the Nationals in peak condition – and was very fresh for someone who had just returned home a few days previous from the U.S. 40x20 Nationals. 
He advanced through the opening round against Cavan’s Paul Fitzpatrick with relative ease and likewise with Mayo’s Joe McCann – with six minutes remaining on the clock in the Quarter final!
He was tested however in the semi-final against South Armagh’s Doyle – probably two of the best exponents of the Onewall code in Ireland. Doyle had eased his way passed Cork’s Colm Jordan on a scoreline of 31-6 and in the Quarter Final easily accounted for recenlty crowned Williamstown Onewall Champion, Tyrone’s Ruairi Kelly on a 31-10 scoreline with over 5minutes left on the clock!
Shanks and Doyle know each other’s game inside out and it was nip and tuck for a lot of the game – however the Lurgan man appeared to rattle the veteran at different stages and Doyle’s failing to regain immediate composure proved to be the few points difference at the end of the game.
At the other side of the draw, No.3 seed – Westmeath’s young gun Robbie McCarthy advanced, accounting for Tyrone’s Daragh Daly and England No 1 seed Pete Cohen en-route.
The proud Armagh man took off like a rocket in the first game and competely blew away McCarthy.
His serving was superb – spin excluded. Shanks played the first game with such intensity and ferocity – it was a real Onewall handball lesson for everyone in attendance. 15-3 was the scoreline. It looked as though Shanks may dish out the treatment he had done in last years final against Dessie Keegan from Mayo (15-2, 15-0) – however young McCarthy was a different test - it proved more difficult for Charly to keep the momentum going and he let the second game slip to McCarthy’s advantage – 13-15.
Time to re-group in their own heads before taking to the court for a tie-break finish. The two finalists chased each other all over the court and their retrievals were top-class. McCarthy crept into a 7-5 lead – but he looked exhausted – he had thrown everything he had at the Armagh man. After a time-out, Shanks soon found himself in serving and totted up a few scores against the tiring Westmeath man and found himself 9-7 up. Robbie appeared to fall very awkwardly behind the orchard man and required an injury time out – during such time, Shanks remained composed and on the re-start, he took a slow determined walk into the shortline and taking two deep breaths, he served two magic serves to seal the victory – 2010 NATIONAL ONEWALL CHAMPION – CHARLY SHANKS!!!!
Handball: International Challenge Match
Date: 19 Jul 2010 / Viewed: 52 times
Clann Eireann Handball Club, in association with The Ulster Handball Council and The Basque Pelota Association, presents an International Challenge match between Ulster and the Basque Country.
This unique event takes place at Clann Eireann, Lake St., Lurgan at 2.00pm on Sunday 25/07/2010 and all are welcome.
Basque Select: 
1. Jon Beloki
2. Jon Eskudero
3. Mikel Jauregi
4. Martin Ibarra
Ulster Select:
1. Charly Shanks
2. James Doyle
3. Ruirai Kelly
4. Michael Donnelly