Tyrone GAA Handball News: US Nationals Win for Sean Kerr

The New Year is almost upon us and in GAA Handball circles that means a very comprehensive programme of high octane competitive action on it’s way too.
Two of the County’s star players, Sean Kerr and Johnny Woods, have just spent the Christmas break in Chicago for the USHA Junior National Championships and it proved hugely profitable trip for Breacach Club indeed as Sean secured his first ever US Nationals Singles crown. Sean, who will be among the favourites for the 2016 All Ireland Minor Singles Championship, came through a large high quality field in the US to take the highly illustrious honours.
Kerr had a 21-2, 21-9 win over Devin Peters (Des Plaines, IL) in the quarters and a 21-1, 21-1 win against Rory Rakochey (Calgary, AB) earlier in the round of 16. On Tuesday evening he then delivered his best display of all to knock out the number 1 seed, Jesus Avila (Tucson, Arizona) in the semi final on a 21-5, 21-3 scoreline and then secured his Gold against Agustin Martin (Salida, California) in the final on Wednesday evening by 21-10, 21-13.

CLICK HERE for PEOPLE in FOCUS Profile with Sean Kerr

Johnny Woods was in a tough Boys 19 & Under grade and came unstuck in an epic tie-break encounter against Anthony Sullivan (California) by 21-14, 19-21, 11-1. Sullivan eventually lost out in the final to Tyler Stoffel (Minnesotta) by 21-12, 21-7.
Sean and Johnny also teamed up in the Boys 19 & Under Doubles Championship at the Latoff YMCA venue in Des Plaines and had a fine opening win against Andrew Brekke and Jason Ke (Modesto, CA/Brooklyn, NY) 21-4, 21-4 before an excellent 19-21, 21-10, 11-3 win against Tyler Stoffel and Michael Gaulton (North Mankato, MN/St. John’s, NL) in the semi final. They eventually lost out to number 1 seeds, Anthony Sullivan and Luis Bustos (San Jose, CA/Modesto, California) in the US Nationals 19 & Under Doubles final by 21-16, 21-13.

Tyrone GAA Handball Leagues take centre-stage

Next up and taking centre stage in the 40×20 arena in Tyrone GAA Handball will be the latter stages of the County Leagues, with all the knock-out action set to get underway from Sunday.
There is a big programme of games in Beragh and double bills in both Loughmacrory and Killyclogher to get the full league knock-out action started this coming Sunday 3rd January.
All players should note the revised schedule in the upcoming Tyrone GAA Handball 40×20 Championships also, with 243 players in all set to compete across a host of grades from Under 10 up to Masters 35+.
The Premier league conclusion meant that Conor McElduff and Gabhain McCrystall will have to go into a league playoff tie on Sunday evening to finalise the Premier League semi final line-up. The winner of that game meets Shane O’Neill in the semi final on Tuesday evening with Ryan Mullan facing Barry Devlin in the other semi final. That playoff match is in Beragh at 7.30pm this Sunday evening and will be preceded at the venue by the Girls Dark Blue Division 1 semi finals and the Dark Blue Premier League Semi Finals.
The Mens Division 1 League semi finals will go ahead in Loughmacrory on Sunday evening at 6.30pm while the Dark Blue Division 2 semi finals will get the weekend league knock-out action underway in Killyclogher at 1pm on Sunday.
The semi final action then moves onto Monday evening with the Mens Division 2 semi finals in Loughmacrory and Mens Division 3 semi finals in Carrickmore before the full list of League finalists (with the exception of Division 4) will be decided in full on Tuesday evening 5th January with the Premier League semi finals in Beragh at 7.30pm.
CLICK HERE for Full League Fixtures, Results, Final Tables and Knock Out Fixtures

Tyrone GAA Handball Adult and Juvenile 40×20 Championships 2016

The full programme of League Finals and schedule have also been announced and go ahead on Wednesday 6th January in Loughmacrory, Thursday 7th January in Beragh and Friday 8th January in Carrickmore – see full list below.
Meanwhile the Mens Open Singles Championship has already started with some games already going ahead in the round of 16 with Carrickmore’s Paddy McCrory and Ryan Mullan both negotiating their opening tests successfully. With Johnny Woods and Sean Kerr also to return from their successful excursion in the USA, the schedule for the Mens Open Singles Chmapionship has been amended slightly and can be seen in full on the link below.

CLICK HERE for Adult 40×20 Championship Fixtures Schedule