Peter Davey outstanding for Collooney

May 25, 2009

The victorious Collooney handball team from left Sean Coen, Peter Davey, John McLoughlin and Michael McGee
Peter Davey outstanding for Collooney Peter Davey the 55 y-o Sligo postman, was the toast of Collooney when he helped the Club win an historic Connacht Junior B interclub 60 x 30 handball title in dramatic fashion. Ballymoe of Roscommon, were the opponents in the Connacht final played in Williamstown Galway on Saturday evening last. McGee fightback Collooney who secured a narrow 1 point victory over Castleconnor, in the Sligo final were rank outsiders against Ballymoe from Roscommon in the Connacht final. Michael McGee, was the first singles player in for Collooney where he faced Seamus Connolly. McGee, had an early 4-0 lead but Connolly was getting into good positions and made some telling points. The Ballymoe man raced into an 14-6 lead. McGee fought back well and was within striking distance of Connolly at only 14-12 behind. However Connolly changed to an overhand serve and he took the first game by 21-13. In the second game McGee with powerful serves to Connolly's left hand side that the Ballymoe man could not handle. The former Meath handballer got to grips with Connolly's style of play. And at the end of the second game McGee surged well clear by 21-12. This helped Collooney into an 1 point lead 34-33. Coen & McLoughlin keep Collooney on track Representing Collooney in the doubles were Sean Coen & John McLoughlin. The Collooney pair found Ballymoe's Michael Kennedy & Derek Ward in inspired form, as the duo slumped to an unexpected 21-4 loss in the first game of the doubles. Coen & McLoughlin regrouped for the second game. Coen made telling returns and as "cool as ice" put away a number of important winners. McLoughlin made a telling impact with high lobbing serves to Ballymoe's left side that caused huge problems for the Roscommon pair. Coen & McLoughlin were rewarded for their efforts when taking the second game by 21-15. Still Ballymoe, were leading by 10 points going into the last singles match. Peter Davey plays the game of his life It was left up to 55 y.o. Peter Davey to rescue Collooney's title ambitions. Davey played the game of his life against Ballymoe's Derek Connaughton and playing like a man possessed. The Collooney veteran giving 34 years on his youthful opponent played outstanding handball throughout. With his deft serving to Connaughton's weaker left hand Davey stormed into an 21-11 win in the first game leaving both sides level going into the last game. During the 2 minute break Davey's facial expressions told he looked absolutely spent after his exertions. Somehow and from somewhere he called on all his reserves of energy to keep going. Davey with grit and determination in equal amounts dug deep and made winning scores at vital times to keep in front. Connaughton, came back strongly but Davey was equal to what the Ballymore man could throw at him. It was a nail biting finish with Davey with an narrow 17-16 lead. Roared on by the vocal Collooney handball faithful Davey put in one last push for victory and sensationally stunned Ballymoe, when he bagged the remaining 4 points for a magnificent victory. Overall score was 101-96 in Collooney's favour. Collooney now go into next weekend's All-Ireland club semi-final against the Ulster winners at a venue TBC.

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