THE success achieved by Cork players in the USHA Junior Championship played in Tucson, Arizona over the Christmas period brought the curtain down on the most successful year ever for Cork Handball. Killian Carroll and Catriona Casey were part of the six member official Irish team that achieved a grand slam of all six singles titles on offer.

Both Killian and Catriona who headed the Irish challenge again repeated the form they had shown all year in provincial and All-ireland championship by winning the Boys and Girls 19 & Under USHA titles, doing so in both cases in style with some unstoppable performances, it has been a year to remember for both of them winning Mens and Ladies All-ireland Minor titles,irish Junior National titles and finishing off with a USHA Junior title.

Also in the limelight was another Mallow player Patrick Herlihy who made the trip to compete in Boys 17 and Under Doubles, in which he teamed up with Clare player Colin Crehan and they went all the way winning the title comfortably to bring our tally of USHA Junior titles to three.

The other members of the Irish team were Colin Crehan who also won 17 & Under singles, Colin Corbett,also Clare who won Boys 15 & Under. Ciana Ni Churraoin, Galway winner of Girls 15 & Under and Lauren O'riordan, Roscommon Girls 17 & Under winner.

Liscarroll was a busy place all last week as they played off the Munster U13 and U15 Open Singles this tournament has grown to be one of the top juvenile events in the country, with an entry of close to one hundred players, organising and playing it off takes a lot of time, this year play commenced on Tuesday, December 27 at 12 noon and continued each day to News Year's Day January 1st when the semi-finals and finals were decided, over eighty games were played and in many cases it took a tiebreaker to separate the players.

Again it attracted players from all six Munster counties and also from Galway. The standard as usual was top class. Clare players enjoyed great success at U15 as both semi-finals were all Clare affairs, Brian Fahy, Tulla defeated Jacob Loughnane, O'callaghan Mills in one semi- final with Fergal Coughlan, Clooney / Quin defeating Ricky Bolton,tuamgraney in the second semi-final,in the final Fergal Coughlan, came out on top getting the better of Brian Fahy 15/11, 8/15, 7/0 in an epic encounter.

In U13 Tipperary were the big winners here filling three of the last four places. Jason English,ballyporeen defeated Jack Hayes, Clarecastle in one semi-final and at the other side Jerome Cahill, from North Tipperary club Lahorna defeated Colin Ryan Cashel, with Jerome Cahill subsequently going all the way defeating Jason English after

a top class encounter 6/15, 15/10, 7/4.

Both finals brought a fitting finale to a great weeks handball, with great credit due to Tim Healy and his team for the smooth running of all games and the hospitality provided to all players,officials and supporters. Liscarroll have also made great progress in the Joe Collins Memorial Masters Singles Tournament it was divided into three sections this year, as indicated last week the C Final was played, the B section final will also be played this week, with Philip O'carroll, St Finbarrs due to take on Tom Mcdonagh, Fermoy and it is planned to commence the A section in Mid January. The Mallow Credit Union sponsored Juvenile County Championship should be narrowed down finals in all age groups this weekend, the championship caters for from U8 doubles to U17 Singles & Doubles,with a singles and doubles championship in each age group.

County 40/20 adult championship will continue during the coming week as the drive to complete the championship continues and also to finalise the full line up to represent Cork in Munster Championship, which commence with first round games, around January 15th, it is expected that a Munster fixture list will be issued this weekend.

- Peter Dennehy