BUSY days in handball circles with the opening games of the 2010 Munster 40x20 championship upon us, with the senior singles and doubles getting matters started.

In Singles Brendan Fleming, Ballydesmond, was first into action he played Niall Malone, Clare in a first round game in Cappagh on Tuesday, with the winner of that game due to play Limerick's Seamus O'Carroll on Tuesday at 8pm, with venue dependent on who wins between Fleming and Malone.

This Saturday in Ballydesmond at 5pm Colm Jordan, Fermoy, plays CJ Fitzpatrick, Limerick, in a quarter-final game. The Intervarsities 40x20 singles and doubles championship is scheduled for Kingscourt this weekend and will tie up all players who are attending third level college.

Other grades of Munster championship, in particular Junior A Singles and Doubles and Junior B Singles and Doubles and Minor Singles, will commence next week with games from Tuesday or Wednesday night on.

Ballydesmond was a hive of activity all last week as they played off their Inter County Doubles Tournament which attracted a large entry and produced some top class games.

They had a total entry of 28 doubles pairings which is a very big entry in any doubles tournament, they played first round games from Tuesday to Friday to bring the entry down to 16, they started on Saturday morning with the round of 16 using the two courts in Ballydesmond and also Kiskeam court.

There was some great contests on Saturday which brought proceedings down to semi-final with the following players making it through: Shane Hedigan, Liscarroll / Seamus O'Carroll, Cappagh pair to meet David Walsh/ Philip Butler, St Augustine's Dungarvan and at the other side of the draw the Broadford pair C J Fitzpatrick/John Noonan came through to meet Kilworth pair John Kiersey/Dion Cahill.

In Sunday morning's semi-finals Shane Hedigan/Seamus Carroll beat David Walsh/Philip Butler, while C J Fitzpatrick / John Noonan defeated John Kiersey/Dion Cahill. The Shane Hedigan/Seamus O'Carroll pair were the outright winners proving too strong for Fitzpatrick and Noonan.

The Plate competition was played in Boherbue with the following pairings qualify for semifinals, Paul McGrath/ Denis White, Cashel v Cathal Hannon/ Paul Healy, Tuamgraney, John Casey, Ballydesmond / Colm O Luing, An Gaeltacht, Kerry v Paul Hedderman/ Michael Donovan, Hospital.

The Cashel pair Paul McGrath/Denis White defeated Paul Healy/ Cathal Hannon while John Casey / Colm O Luing defeated Paul Hedderman/ Michael Donovan. In the final McGrath and White despite having to battle all the way proved too strong for Casey and O Luing.

Meanwhile, the Cork Handball Board annual presentation function will be held on Saturday night in the Old Walls, Liscarroll at which players successful at provincial, national and international level will be honoured with special presentations and following the very successful year Cork players enjoyed in 2009 there will be many presentations.

Munster adult championship winners and county adult championship winners will also be presented with their medals. The Cork Handball Board Annual Convention was held in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow last Thursday attracting a large attendance.

It was an important night for Cork Handball with a number of crucial changes in the top table.

Long serving officers Chairman Tim Healy who has held the position for the past sixteen years, Secretary Peter Dennehy who had completed 34 years and treasurer Gerard Murphy 22 years were all stepping down from those positions.

As it happened on the night there was only one contest with Liscarroll clubman John Hedigan elected Chairman defeating Michael Jordan, Fermoy. The outgoing Treasurer Gerard Murphy took over as vice-chairman, the new secretary is Hugh Carolan, Fermoy, with the outgoing Secretary now joint Treasurer with Mallow club chairperson Anne Whelan.

A new adult committee also got the green light with Ballydesmond clubmen Michael Murphy as Secretary and Donnacha O'Dea as his assistant, taking on the role of Secretary and Assitant Secretary looking after all adult fixtures both county and Inter county. Michael O'Keeffe continues as Juvenile Secretary. Don Carroll, Mallow is the new youth officer replacing John Hedigan, with Mallow club Secretary Margaret Walsh taking over the role of Registrar.

Officers elected for 2010: Chairman: John Hedigan, Vice-Chairman: Gerard Murphy, Secretary: Hugh Carolan, Fixtures Secretary (Adult Section): Michael Murphy. Assistant: Donnacha O'Dea, Juvenile Secretary: Michael O'Keeffe, Joint Treasurers: Peter Dennehy/Anne Whelan, Development Officer: Eamonn Murphy, Youth Officer: Don Carroll. Assistant: Colm Jordan, Registrar: Margaret Walsh, PRO: Peter Dennehy, Delegate to County GAA Board: Peter Dennehy, Munster Handball Council Delegates: Tim Healy, Eamonn Murphy, Don Carroll, Donnacha O'Dea

- Peter Dennehy