Reilly & McConnell take McDermott Cup in absorbing encounter
Peter Reilly & Gary McConnell played outstanding handball on the way to an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable McDermott Cup 60 X 30 Tournament final played in Crossakiel on Sunday October 10th last writes Michael McGee. Their opponents Christy McGovern & John “Boy” Molloy recent All-Ireland winners also gave exhibitions of handball that thrilled the large crowd that witnessed one of the best doubles finals seen in many years. Local business man John Reilly and Club Secretary kindly sponsored the trophies
The previous evening the Juvenile competition was played and Jonathan McGovern & Evan Sheridan both Kells reached the final. The plate final was won by Johnny Reilly Crossakiel who beat fellow Club player Jack Tunney by 15-9. Reilly earlier in the evening was a member of the Ballinlough GFC U-15 team that won the Meath County final in Dunderry.
Great displays all round as Kells stars shine
Kells & Crossakiel hosted the games from 10 am. The standards by all players was very high and every game was played as if it was an All-Ireland final itself. Anthony McConnell & Jimmy Reilly had an narrow 31-30 win over Francis McCann & Michael McGee in the 1st game in Kells while Leitrim’s Jamie Murray & Eddie Lee just did enough to get over the line with an 31-28 over Crossakiel’s Michael Gaynor & Eugene O’Reilly. The Galway & Roscommon combination of Pat Conway & Neil McDermott also had a good 1st round win over Meath’s Peter Flanagan & Joe Cummins in a lively encounter winning 31-22. Early pre tournament favourites Christy McGovern & John “Boy”Molloy had little difficulty of disposing of Ciaran Neary & Danny Riordan in round 1. The Kells Club dominated to such an extent filling 3 out of 4 semi-final spots. Their club players all giving awesome performances and it is easy to see why the Kells club have one off the strongest if not the strongest club sides in the Country. In the first Cup semi-final the Kells duo of Garry McConnell & Peter Reilly made light work of Kilkenny’s Dan Breen & Ger McGrath. The second semi was much closer with Christy McGovern & John “Boy”Molloy forced to pull out all the stops after a determined fightback from Anthony McConnell & Jimmy Reilly. The plate final was won by Ciaran Neary & Dan Riordan. Neary with his long, accurate powerful left hand proved too much for Louth’s John Kelly & Sean Devlin. Neary’s doubles partner Dan Riordan like Neary after a sluggish start got stronger in each subsequent game and they were well deserving winners of the plate final long before the finish. The Juvenile final was played and Evan Sheridan Kells powered his way to a 21-6 win over Jonathan McGovern also Kells.
Just before the final the Official re-opening of the club took place with 3 representatives Frank Reilly a founder member of the Club in 1950, Mrs McEachen whose 2 sons laid the first blocks to close in the alley and Richard McDermott cutting the ceremonial tape. The Cup is played in memory of Richard’s father Jimmy. Club Chairman Steven Quinn thanked everyone who made it happen past & present members who worked hard in keeping handball alive in the village.
McConnell & Reilly magnificent in McDermott Cup final
The eagerly awaited final between the youthful Gary McConnell & Peter Reilly and the “masters” Christy McGovern & John “Boy”Molloy began. It was the “young guns” that fired into a quick 7-0 lead. McGovern & Molloy were in 3 times and failed to register a score. McConnell on the left gave a brilliant display throughout the final and was equal to everything that Molloy & McGovern could throw at him. The final was played at breathtaking pace throughout and the skills on show by the Kells players was quite remarkable even astonishing. The contest had everything in it long rallies, some top drawer kills, excellent retrieving off a very high standard and quality. McConnell covered every inch of the Crossakiel court and Reilly nipping in on numerous times to cut out the hopping ball won many important points as a result. McGovern & Molloy reduced the lead to 15-11 but McConnell/Reilly closed ranks and went onto take game one by 21-11.
When questions were asked would McGovern & Molloy have the legs to keep going after a long day’s handball this they did and served up a tremendous final. At 7-0 to the good early in the second McGovern was teak tough in the left side and Molloy missed very little either. McConnell & Reilly fought back well to be only 2 behind at 11-9. Molloy was getting in great accurate serves forcing McConnell on the left to follow the trajectory of the ball over to the right corner to return them. Molloy using all his experience continually got into good positions to kill the ball and keep ahead. This they did and a number of enforced errors seen Molloy & McGovern seal game two by 21-14.
McConnell outstanding
At the start of the tie breaker young McConnell returned ball inches from the back well and landed perfectly onto the front before John Molloy could reach it for an 5-1 lead. They pulled further ahead by 12-3. McGovern got a number of great kills on the right and even Reilly had to smile watching the “master” at work. Unfazed by this McConnell/Reilly surged well clear again. Reilly with an amazing dive without fear of injury gained serve at 17 and 3 more quick scores in succession had them on game ball. The “masters” now visibly began to tire from the awesome workrate especially from McConnell and Reilly finished strongly. Molloy/McGovern to their credit never gave up but the day belonged to McConnell & Reilly who eventually wore down the masters. It was left to McConnell who shaded the top performances from the other 3 to finish this thrilling contest with the winning score coming in the left corner to win by 21-11. The presentations took place soon after and Steven Quinn presented the runners-up with their awards while Richard McDermott presented the Jimmy McDermott Cup for 2010 to Gary McConnell & Peter Reilly.
The Crossakiel club can be very proud of their efforts. Just eleven months ago the Club reopened and the young Committee worked their socks for the past 6 weeks working late at night to ensure the court was in perfect playing condition. Refreshments were provided throughout the day for players & supporters and this was much appreciated. The Jimmy McDermott Cup 2010 will go down in history of Crossakiel handball club. The performances by the quartet of Kells men Christy McGovern, John “Boy” Molloy, Gary McConnell & Peter Reilly will live long in the memory by all who witnessed an action packed and engrossing finale.
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