Shanks rolls into All-Ireland Final

Thanks to the new back-door system which has been introduced to the GAA Handball Championship this year, Clann Eireann’s Charly Shanks will contest the 2010 GAA Handball All-Ireland 40×20 Senior Singles Final.

The Chairman of County Armagh GAA Handball secured an All-Ireland final spot following his win over Garden County man Michael Gregan in Saturday’s semi-final.  Played before a capacity crowd in Kingscourt, County Cavan, Shanks made no bones about his intentions to any onlookers – he wants to win the All-Ireland.  There appeared to be a lot of nerves in the alley at the beginning of the proceedings, but Shanks used this to his advantage as Gregan took a while to get out of the blocks, commanding the first game. Although Gregan fought hard, it was a case of ‘too little too late’ and the orchard star took the first game 21-12 with some world class shots.  In the second, Charly never let up and finding himself serving at 18-9, he served two fabulous aces to take him closer to that final.  Charly served the ball at 20-9 which Gregan returned well, then Shanks hit a fantastic passing shot, to the rapturous applause of the large Armagh contingent from all of three handball clubs in the county – such a win takes Charly into the holy grail in 40×20 handball – a place where no Armagh man has ever competed – a Senior 40×20 All-Ireland final.

World Number One, Cavan’s Paul Brady will provide Charly’s opposition for the biggest crown in the 40×20 game on this island.  Brady disposed of Dublin ace, Eoin Kennedy on a scoreline of 21-16 21-11 in the semi-final.

Shanks – who appears to be in the shape and form of his life has worn the underdog tag both in the Quarter-final and again in the semi-final.  In the Quarter-final, he beat Westmeath ace, Robbie McCarthy on a scoreline of 21-14, 13-21, 21-11 – where Shanks’ experience and enhanced fitness troubled McCarthy in the tie-breaker to seal his semi-final spot.  After losing in the Ulster final to Brady(21-6, 21-8), Shanks overcame Wexford’s former hurler, Gavin Buggy 21-11, 16-21, 21-13 in the Qualifiers to reach the Quarter final.

In the Ulster Championship, the Clann Eireann ace had a comfortable win over Pauric McGlinchey from Tyrone and a tie-break victory over Antrim’s Ricky McCann before meeting Paul Brady in the Ulster Final.

Shanks is also still in contention for glory in the All-Ireland Open Doubles Championship.  He is playing with long-time doubles partner, St. Killian’s, Whitecross man – Onewall World Champion, James Doyle.  Significantly, Shanks and Doyle moved into the senior ranks together when they lifted the All-Ireland intermediate doubles title in 2003, the same year in which Shanks also sealed a Singles victory.  The Orchard duo face Meath in the All-Ireland quarter final.

Brady is hoping to match a record of six consecutive All-Ireland senior single victories, whilst Shanks is ‘gunning’ for number one!

When these two athletes take to the court, all past victories and defeats will no longer be relevant, the script has not yet been written – one thing for sure, Shanks will do his club and county proud on All-Ireland final day.efeats are no longer relevant, the script has not been written yet and Shanks will be sure to do his c

Other results/fixtures from Armagh Handballers:

All-Ireland Juvenile Semi-final results:
Girls U14S Aoife McConville (Clann Eireann, Armagh) dft Sophie Carroll (Cork) 15-7, 15-1
Girls 16S Martina McMahon (Limerick) dft Niamh Henderson (Clann Eireann, Armagh) 21-3, 21-2
Girls 17S Sionann McConville (Clann Eireann, Armagh) dft Alana O’Brien (Clare) 21-18, 21-5
Ladies Minor Catriona Casey(Cork) dft Armagh Fionnuala McKenna(Eugene Quinn, Armagh) 21-4, 21-5

All-Ireland semi-final adult result:
SMBS Clare [John Cawley] dft Armagh (Clann Eireann, Armagh) 21-6, 21-20

Men Open Doubles Qualifier final round:
Armagh (Charly Shanks, Clann Eireann/James Doyle, St. Killian’s, Whitecross) dft Mayo (Vinnie Moran/Campbell Brennan) 21-4, 21-6

Important Fixtures:
2010 GAA Handball All Ireland Juvenile Championship Finals to take place in Munster venues on Sunday 11th April 2010

Girls U14S Aoife McConville (Clann Eireann, Armagh) v Cianna Ni Churraoin (Galway)
Girls 17S Sionann McConville (Clann Eireann, Armagh) v Melanie Byrne (Carlow)

Sunday 4th April, in Leixlip, Kildare, 2:30pm and 4.00 pm.
4pm: Ladies Minor Doubles All-Ireland semi-final:
Armagh (Fionnuala McKenna, /Erin Connolly both Eugene Quinn) v Cork [Catriona Casey/Aishling O Keeffe]

Kingscourt – Date and time TBC
Mens Open Doubles Quarter Final:
Armagh (Charly Shanks, Clann Eireann/James Doyle, St. Killian’s, Whitecross) v Meath (Tom Sheridan/Brian Carroll)