GAA HANDBALL TYRONE QUALIFY FOR FOUR ALL IRELAND DOUBLES FINALS

Tyrone have qualified for four All-Ireland 40×20 doubles finals in the 2017 adult championships following some brilliant semi-final victories against the champions of Munster at the weekend.

Two of the Tyrone wins came in the intermediate and under-21 doubles, which will be two of the biggest finals that are going to be staged in Kingscourt on All-Ireland final weekend on 22nd and 23rd April.

Shane O’Neill and Sean Kerr registered an impressive win over the formidable Cork pairing of Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan in the intermediate doubles championship and are now just one step away from emulating their clubmates Conor McElduff and Johnny Woods, who captured the same title last year.

The Breacach partnership will now meet well known Kilkenny pairing, Ciaran Neary and Brendan Burke, in the intermediate decider.

Johnny Woods and Ryan Mullan faced a really difficult assignment in Tuamgraney last weekend in the All-Ireland under-21 doubles championship but the former All-Ireland minor doubles champions produced a stunning performance to triumph over Clare’s Colin Corbett and Fergal Coughlan.

Two other Tyrone doubles teams made the long trip to Munster and returned home with really eyecatching victories.

Michelle Warren and Cloideach Donaghy survived a great battle in Limerick to go through to the Ladies junior b All-Ireland doubles final, with Michelle now hoping to bounce back from her agonising defeat in the singles decider.

Finbarr Fullen and Kenny Curran had even further to travel for their All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday but their 600-mile round trip to Ballydesmond proved worthwhile as they returned home with a sweet victory over Cork.

Unfortunately the journey to Tipperary didn’t prove as fruitful for Tyrone’s golden masters doubles team of Conor Kerr and Barney Corcoran who competed well but ultimately suffered defeat at the hands of former All Ireland senior champion Eddie Corbett and his partner John O’Donoghue.

Cormac Munroe and Ciaran Cuddy had home advantage for their All-Ireland minor doubles semi-final but were up against a brilliant Cork doubles team which included All-Ireland minor singles champion, Tadhg O’Neill, and his talented partner, David Walsh.

Chris Curran and Stephen Conway were also at home for their masters doubles encounter but they finished up on the wrong side of a really close scoreline against Tipperary.

So overall, Tyrone recorded four wins from seven semi-final appearances in the doubles championships and the eight players who have made it through to the doubles final weekend have some big challenges to look forward to.

Minor doubles: Cork (Tadgh O Neill & David Walsh) beat Tyrone (Cormac Munroe & Ciaran Cuddy) 21-12, 21-11

Under-21 doubles: Tyrone (Johnny Woods & Ryan Mullan) beat Clare (Colin Corbett & Fergal Coughlan Jnr) 21-13, 21-16

Intermediate doubles: Tyrone (Shane O Neill & Sean Kerr) beat Cork (Daniel Relihan & Michael Hedigan) 21-11, 21-15

Masters b doubles: Tipperary (Brian O’Brien & John Kennedy) beat Tyrone (Chris Curran & Stephen Conway) 21-18, 21-19

Silver masters b doubles: Tyrone (Kenny Curran & Finbarr Fullen) beat Cork (Philip O’Carroll & Paul Kerins) 21-19, 21-16

Golden masters a doubles: Tipperary (John O’Donoghue & Eddie Corbett) beat Tyrone (Conor Kerr & Barney Corcoran) 21-14, 21-14

Ladies junior b doubles: Tyrone (Michelle Warren & Cloideach Donaghy) beat Cork (Brid Horgan & Anna Dunne) 11-21, 21-17, 21-14