Strong performances at Mick Kerr Memorial tournament

A number of local handballers braved the icy conditions to make the trip north to Beragh, Co Tyrone for the annual Mick Kerr Memorial tournament, which attracted a field of 40 men and 16 ladies in the Open divisions.

Stand-out performer among the local players was Ben Devlin of Kingscourt. The Louth native lost to Kells’ All-Ireland big alley champion Gary McConnell in the round of 32, after beating Tyrone’s Oisin Kelly in the round of 64, and bounced back to win the Plate.

Devlin defeated Mayo’s Niall Joyce 21-17 in the Plate semi-final before recording an excellent win over American John Bike, son of the great player of the same name from the 1990s and 2000s, in the final (21-16).

After a tiebreaker win over Tyrone’s Paul Donnelly, Bawn clubman Gavin Coyle fell 15-4, 15-9 to eventual champion Killian Carroll, the Boston-based Cork native who made the long trip to compete.

Carrickmacross man Oran Kiernan was beaten 15-14, 15-11 in the first round by Mark Doyle, the young Wexford man who is currently studying on a handball scholarship in Minnesota. Doyle went on to reach the final.

Elsewhere, juvenile Cormac King (Bawn Handball Club) qualified for the 11&Under semi-final through a very strong field and had the opportunity to take to the court on Sunday before a large crowd prior to the Open finals.