*Claire Minogue, Sean Coughlan and Chloe Philpott.
AFTER six days of One Wall handball which produced over 1000 games for 800 competitors, Clare players brought home three World titles.
In action up to the very last hours at the world event at UL were Sean Coughlan (Men’s A doubles), Claire Minogue (U-17 doubles) and Chloe Philpott (Ladies C doubles) who all ran out as winners.
Sophia Moroney Newmarket-on-Fergus; Ava Considine, Clarecastle, Iarla Kelleher, Tuamgraney all played U11, Iarla also played in U13 with Lochlainn Collins and Eoin Shanahan, both Kilkishen.
Sean Considine, Clooney/Quin played at U15 with Cathal Noonan, Toonagh and Oisin Fahy, Newmarket-on-Fergus in the U17 grade
Adult players taking part were Amber Nolan, Tuamgraney, Chloe Philpott, Kilkishen, Sean Coughlan, Clooney-Quin and Ciaran Malone of Tuamgraney.
The winning Clare players partnered as follows Claire Minogue (Tuamgraney) with Caislean Treacy Greencastle, Tyrone). Chloe Philpott (Kilkishen) with Elizabeth Pearson (Clough, Kilkenny) and Sean Coughlan (Clooney/Quin) with Rory Grace (Lahorna, Tipperary).
Spectators were full of praise for the event which was hosted by Munster Handball and GAA Handball. Clarecastle’s Tommy Hegarty is the current Munster Chairperson.
With players attending from Ireland, England, Wales, The Basque, America, Canada, France, Japan, Palestine, United Arab Emirates and Moldova, it really is becoming a worldwide event. This was the first ever standalone hosting of one wall World championship and given the success it’s sure not to be the last.
GAA President Jarlath Burns stated at the opening ceremony this is the start of something and with the expansion of the game as seen in the past few years there is a place at the Olympic table for it.
