THE Â inaugural Ulster One-Wall Handball Championships, which were staged in St Ciaran’s College Ballygawley on Saturday and Sunday.
The two most prestigious prizes went the way of Tyrone and Down as Darragh Daly and Lorraine Havern captured the Men’s and Ladies Open Singles titles, both players oozing quality on their way to becoming Ulster’s very first senior One-Wall Champions.
Down had tremendous success with Lorraine Havern collecting the top prize for ladies while club mate Sean Digney collected the Mens C Title. With another 2 Saval Finalists in Brian Havern and Richie McNally it was a great day for Down and Saval.
Lorraine Havern already has the distinction of being the national title holder in the Ladies division and the Down star showed that she is on course for another big tilt at the title on the last weekend of June as she saw off the challenge of World 40×20 Champion Aisling Reilly in Sunday’s Ulster final.
Sean Digney added to Lorraine Havern’s Open success by giving Down a second title in the Men’s C singles, beating his Saval club mate Richie McNally in the final.
All in all the 2013 Ulster One-Wall Championships were a massive success, with the event attracting big entries and no shortage of quality, and it’s clear that many of the players who starred in St Ciaran’s will be serious challengers for honors at the forthcoming Irish One-Wall Nationals in Breaffy House.
Ulster One-Wall Championship Finals 2013: Men’s Open:    Darragh Daly (Tyrone) bt Conal McCavitt (Armagh) 15-2, 15-13 Ladies Open:   Lorraine Havern (Down) bt Aisling Reily (Antrim) 15-8, 14-15, 11-3 Masters:          Niall Kerr (Tyrone) bt Brian Havern (Down) 15-12, 15-8 Men’s B:          Gabhain McCrystall (Tyrone) bt Pól Clarke (Tyrone) 15-9, 15-11 Men’s C:          Sean Digney (Down) bt Richard McNally (Down) 15-8, 15-11
