Tang and Mullingar duo claim All-Ireland junior handball title

Westmeath handball is enjoying a new lease of life and the fortunes of the sport received another boost recently when Tang's Niamh Egan and Mullingar's Aoife McCarthy were crowned All-Ireland Junior B champions. Two weeks previously, McCarthy had taken glory in the Ladies Junior B Singles Final when she recorded an emphatic victory over Clare's Aisling Fitzgerald. However, last Sunday week's encounter was a much more competitive affair as the Lake County edged out Fitzgerald and partner, Edel Hayes in the third game. "It was a tense game, but we're delighted to have taken the win," said Egan. "We've worked really hard over the past few months and thankfully, we finished strongly and things came good for us in the end." The Clare ladies were quick to settle and opened a 15-7 lead in the first before McCarthy and Egan began to claw back the aces. At 15-15, it was all to play for, but Fitzgerald and Hayes opened a 19-15 gap before Egan and McCarthy served at 20-20, with a chance to take the game. Unfortunately, it was not to be and the Clare duo served out the game to take the first 21-20. In the second game, McCarthy and Egan lifted their games and with great results as they dominated from start to finish, taking a 21-6 win to force a decider. The third game produced some of the best handball of the day, with both of the Westmeath players digging deep to push over the finish line and take a 21-8 victory and claim Westmeath's first ever All-Ireland doubles success in ladies handball. Collecting their coveted medals, the girls thanked Westmeath handball sponsors, Frotelli's Take Away, Rochfortbridge, the Westmeath GAA County Board and Robert Bagnall of the Hilamar Hotel for their support.