World Handball Championships round-up
Fiachra Ó Dúill in Men's Open Singles action.
Day two was one of mixed fortunes for Team Ireland at the World Wallball Championships in New York, with wins and losses in the Open grades.
Team Ireland's Men's Open Singles rep Fiachra Ó Dúill enjoyed a nailbiting victory over Mario Villanueva. The American lefty won the first game and was 14-9 up in the second but Armagh's Ó Dúill came roaring back to snatch it in dramatic fashion.
“I left it late in both games, I was down 14-9 in the second game and came back to win it 15-14 and I was down 10-7 in the tiebreaker,” Ó Dúill said.
“He is a serious player, as they all are here, but I knew if I stuck in I might get a bit of luck and I pulled off the result in the end.”
Ó Dúill is joined in the last 16 by fellow Irishman Ben Devlin from Cavan, who beat Chris Show, also in a tiebreaker.
There was no joy, however, for Team Ireland's women's singles rep Eilise McCrory as she fell to Kennedi Walker in an 11-2 tiebreaker.
Number one seed and defending champion Martina McMahon of Limerick safely advanced to the last eight with a 15-5, 15-1 win over Cynthia Liang. Galway's Ciana Ní Churraoin, the 4-Wall world champion, is the only other Irishwoman in the last eight; she had a comfortable victory to set up a tilt with the top American Jenny Qu, regarded as a very formidable opponent.
Unfortunately Galway's Mikey Kelly, Ireland's rep in the Open Doubles alongside Ó Dúill, was forced to withdraw after spraining his ankle in his singles match. Tyrone's Sean Kerr stepped in to deputise and he and Ó Dúill enjoyed a good win over Christoper Morris and Alex Montero.
On a dramatic day, Tywan Cook and Tavo Ruiz were pushed to tiebreakers by Basque Lur Ziarrusta and New York's Daniel Pazanin. Englishman Luke Thomson is also through to the last 16 after a tiebreaker victory over American Eugene Cullivan.
Wednesday is very much moving day in both singles and doubles, with the Team Ireland juvenile players also entering the fray.
“It's good to get the first game out of the way. I was getting anxious, I wanted to play today, so it's good to get the win,” McMahon said.
“The courts are totally different and the heat is too.
“It's a great atmosphere, a great buzz around in both Coney Island and St John's. There have been some phenomenal games... our Irish contingent have done well.”