TWO new All-Ireland champions from Clare were crowned in Croke Park on Sunday with the handball success of Leah Minogue and Seán Coughlan.
Minogue won the GAA Handball All-Ireland intermediate title with Coughlan claiming the Junior All-Ireland as Clare marked a double delight.
Tuamgraney’s Minogue gave a clinical performance with a 21-9 win in the first game against Wexford’s Holly Hynes. When Hynes applied all the pressure she could in the second Leah answered all the questions that were put to her, it was a much tighter affair as a result in the second but holding her nerve Leah won out 21-18.
It has been a massive year for the Tuamgraney player, as she adds this cherished singles title to the doubles Intermediate title won earlier in the year with her club mate Amber Nolan. This cements the senior status that is now the outcome of both the doubles and singles win.
Clooney/Quin’s Coughlan crowned off his year by winning a coveted single title. Over the last twelve months, he has won doubles titles in World One Wall, and 40×20 and at college level.
Having run into a roaring lead in the first game and winning 21-4 against Galway’s Seamus Conneely, who had won the All-Ireland Doubles title in same grade earlier in the year. Conneely showed that grit and experience and was winning by six points at one stage in the second but Coughlan fought back and from 17-17 the game was on a knife edge.
Both players had chances to win with each serving for the second game at 20-20. Coughlan held his nerve having served for the game on five different occasions, he stuck to the task and attacked the last serve to win the second 21-20 and deny Conneely the chance of a tie break.
