Ballaghderreen seal fifth consecutive title

Ballaghderreen have won the 40x20 handball All-Ireland title for an incredible fifth time.

The Mayo club beat Wicklow side Coolboy in a thrilling final tat Abbeylara in Longford, winning on a 101-99 scoreline.

Remarkably, the five-in-a-row was achieved with the same core personnel.

Team member Dessie Keegan said: 'We are absolutely delighted. The interclub is a really special event for us and it’s not every day you even have a chance to take five-in-a-row, but we did.'

Ballaghderreen got off to a poor start with Keegan going down 21-7 to Michael Gregan in the opening game of proceedings. However, Keegan lifted his performance in the second game and dragged back the deficit with a 21-15 victory to leave his side eight points in arrears.

Ballaghaderreen’s regular doubles partnership of Paul Flynn and Vinny Moran took the doubles match defeating Coolboy duo Pat Quaile and Michael Lennon 21-12 in the first game. The second game was a must more keenly fought affair, with the Leinster men taking a one point victory to put the pressure on Joe McCann of Ballaghderreen and Johnny Willoughby of Coolboy, the final two players, entering the decisive games.

McCann was forced to pull out all the stops against the Coolboy young-gun, taking the first game on a narrow scoreline of 21-18. Both players battled through the second game, but McCann eventually edged to 16 points, the key number to seal the victory, and claim Ballaghaderreen’s five-in-a-row.

Coolboy’s attention now turns to their Junior Interclub ambitions, as they take on Galway side Salthill in Tipperary on Sunday.

In the Junior B Interclub, Cork’s Liscarroll face St Coman’s of Roscommon in Crinkle (Offaly) on Saturday.