Sligo handball players have yet to register a win in this year's 40 x 20 championships. However this looks set to change with the County's big guns entering the fray and Connacht finals at stake writes Michael McGee
There is a triple header of Connacht handball 40x 20 handball championships fixtures in St. Mary's next Saturday involving Sligo players. Martin Golden is first into action against Roscommon's Shane Noonan. Golden has 10 Connacht titles and his solitary All-Ireland title came 6 years ago when he won the Masters B singles All-Ireland 60 x 30 title. The last time these 2 players met was 2 years ago also in St. Mary's with the Ballymote man coming out on top. He has been troubled with injury's for the past number of years and this has curtailed him from reaching more Connacht finals and appearances in All-Ireland's. On his day fully fit he can be a match for anyone. In the last few weeks Martin has trained with club mate Francis McCann & Collooney's Shane Bruen even driving to Ballaghaderreen for practise games.
In the second match on the 3 match programme sees Ballymote's Francis McCann pitted against Roscommon's Ger Walsh. Francis McCann who an unbelievable 2011 winning the All-Ireland Golden AMasters 60 x 30 singles All-Ireland title in September and also collected the Connacht Masters player of the year for 2011 last November. A new year for McCann and new challenges and on Saturday he opens his 2012 season with a match against the Rosommon man. McCann played Noonan 2 years ago in the Silver Masters grade and he beat Noonan by 2 clear straight games on that occasion. McCann with a staggering 17 All-Ireland titles and numerous Connacht titles will be hoping to start the new season on a winning note.
The last match on the programme see's Drumcliff's Ken Cunningham take on Roscommon's John Carroll. Cunningham has been doing well in the recent Sligo Handball leagues and has helped Drumcliffe to gain 5 wins out of 6 in the league table. Cunningham is a very tenacious player and though unlucky in recent years has the capacity to reach the final.
Saturday 14th January in St. Mary's at 5 p.m
Connacht Handball Championships 40 x 20 semi-finals
Silver Masters B singles: Martin Golden (Sligo) v Shane Noonan (Roscommon)
At 6 p.m. Golden Masters A singles: Francis McCann (Sligo) v Ger Walsh (Roscommon)
At 7 p.m. Golden Masters B singles: Ken Cunningham (Sligo) v John Carroll (Roscommon) at 7 p.m.

The following day see's Collooney's Shane Bruen take on Leitrim's Maurice O'Donnell in the Over 35 B singles semi-final in St. Mary's at 2 p.m. Shane has won an All-Ireland Colleges doubles title with Michael Tormay in 1988 and had to wait until 2007 before winning Connacht titles in Junior B singles and doubles with Kevin Meehan. Shane didn't play in last years championships and is making a welcome return. Bruen is a very strong player in the handball court and is expected to have to much firepower for O'Donnell and qualify for the Connacht final. On New Year's Day Bruen & Francis McCann were runners-up in the Pake Doyle Cup doubles tournament in Curraghboy Co. Roscommon and the competitive games early in the season will am sure stand to him against the Leitrim man. Bruen is very much looking forward to the duel with O'Donnell and stepping it out for Sligo in the 40 x 20 championships this season. The Collooney man is hoping for an extended run in the 40 x 20 championships.

Sunday 15th January in St. Mary's at 2 p.m
Over 35 B Singles: Shane Bruen (Sligo) v Maurice O'Donnell (Leitrim) Tweet

Most Read Stories