No joy for Davitt handballers in Mayo

Owen Mckenna took on Mayo’s Joe McCann at the semi final stage of the All-Ireland Intermediate singles grade. The last time these two players met was three years ago in the U21 championship with Joe being the victor. Owen was hoping to avenge this defeat and after a cagey start both players started to settle into their rhythm and played was fine kill shots. The game was tight until six each which forced Owen to change his tactics. He started to vary his serve which unsettled Joe and raced into a 14 – 6 lead, looking as if he had gained the upperhand that would take the first game. However, Joe had other ideas – he remained calm and focused and slowly clawed his way back with a series of hard hitting passing shots. The game edged to and fro but and could have gone either way but Joe kept his composure to take the game 21-18.The second game was another tight affair with both players demonstrating their shot making ability and agility aroung the court. It was a breath-taking game which kept the spectators on the edge. It was finally balanced throughout but again Joe finished the stronger to take it 21-19 and book his place in the final. Congratulations to Joe but Owen will no doubt be back next year to try and claim the Intermediate title.With both pairs on the court in Claremorris for the start of the Masters B Doubles semi final it was clear to see that the court, after two previous matches, had become damp and was not safe. A quick change of venue was organised and everyone headed for Knock. This was to prove another tight match with the Davitt pair making a slow start as the shot making of Martin and hard hitting kill shots of JJ forcing them continually to the back of the court which kept them under immense pressure. This allowed the Mayo pairing to build up a lead and despite the Antrim duo upping their effort they could not eat into the lead and the Mayo boys took the first 21-12.The second was a similar game with Martin and JJ starting well and buliding up a lead. However, Joe and Stephen started to find their range and fought back to take the second 21-20 after it looked as if they were down and out.This gave Joe and Stephen the impetus and they started the tie break hoping to build on the success of the previous game, but credit to the Mayo pairing, they steadied their game, regrouped and started to apply the pressure. Some fine killshots and passing shots meant that Joe and Stephen were once again chasing the game and at 20-15 down they suddenly found a bit extra to apply some added presurre to their opponents. Hands in and hands out and still the Mayo lads could not get over the end line, and with the gap closing, 15, 16, 17, 18 could the Davitt duo do the unthinkable with another comeback. It wasn’t to be and with a fine shot the Mayo lads got the final point for a 21-18 win, a win they probably deserved overall. Good luck to JJ and Martin in their final encounter and it is back to the drawing board for Joe and Stephen.