Kyle Jordan announces himself as rising star of handball
Kyle Jordan made light of his seeding to win the Southern Classic. Photo by Stephen Marken.
By Paul Fitzpatrick
Two major handball tournaments were down for decision last weekend and both produced plenty of drama, with a familiar winner in Galway and, in Cork, a genuine sensation.
One of the most eye-catching upsets on the Irish ranking circuit in recent memory unfolded in the Rebel County at the weekend as 21-year-old Kilkenny prospect Kyle Jordan captured the Southern Classic title.
The Kilfane clubman emerged from a 24-strong field that featured the cream of the domestic game, including former All-Ireland Senior Singles champions Robbie McCarthy and Diarmaid Nash, last year’s All-Ireland finalist David Walsh and reigning Senior Doubles champions Michael Hedigan and Daniel Relihan.
Seeded 12th, Jordan produced a string of polished performances in the Liscarroll and Mallow-hosted event, accounting for Clare left-hander Seán Coughlan (15-2, 15-3) and Monaghan’s Gavin Coyle (13, 8) before dispatching county colleague Shane Dunne in straight games (8, 6) in the quarter-final.
That victory set up a semi-final with local favourite Walsh, where the composed Jordan delivered one of the results of the tournament, winning 15-3, 15-10.
Nash, who edged past McCarthy in a tiebreaker in the other semi-final, went into the final as favourite on the strength of his experience. The Clare man dropped the opening game but appeared to have steadied when he moved 14-11 clear in the second. Jordan, however, showed maturity well beyond his years, reeling him in and closing out a famous win that firmly announces his arrival among the elite.
Amazingly, Jordan, who only turned 21 in November, remains eligible for the intermediate grade in the All-Ireland Championships. The last player to lift an elite title at such an age was Cork legend Tony Healy, who claimed the first of his four senior crowns at 21 in 1999.
Ciana Ní Churraoin won the Elite crown at the female-only She’s Ace tournament in Galway. Photo by Stephen Marken.
Elsewhere, world champion Ciana Ní Churraoin enjoyed a notable success in her home county as she secured the Elite crown at the female-only She’s Ace tournament in Galway.
The Micheál Breathnachs ace survived a tiebreaker in her semi-final with Tyrone’s Eilise McCrory, before edging Roscommon’s Fiona Tully in a decider that also went the distance, winning 12-15, 15-11, 11-0.
Tully had produced a headline result of her own in the semi-finals, defeating Limerick’s Martina McMahon to inflict a first loss on the Treaty star in over a year.
The She’s Ace was played across Moycullen, Salthill, Coláiste Muire Máthair, Abbeyknockmoy, Annaghadown, Carnmore, Renmore and Williamstown, with over 300 players in total, from elite and juveniles to Mothers & Others.
