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Eoin Kennedy Captain's Ireland Handball Team against Basques in Spain - Wed, 28 Jun 2006

Congrats to Eoin Kennedy who captained the Ireland Team for the second succussive year to Spain. Well done from all in St Brigids.

As the Aer Lingus flight EI748 departed on Thursday last, confidence amongst the Irish team was good.  Oscar Recalde the International Officer greeted the Irish team lead by Tom Walsh President IHC, Lorcan O'Ruairc Riarthoir Naisiunta IHC, Michael McGee public relations and the six players Eoin Kennedy, Dessie Keegan, James Doyle, Darragh Daly, Damien Martin and Ger Coonan at Bilbao Airport.  After arriving in the team's guesthouse, Oscar brought the Irish team to meet the village Mayor.  On entry to the mayor's office, the team was met by television camera from the ETB television station in the region.  At the press conference, Mayor Mike Arrearage welcomed the Irish team to the 750th anniversary of Segura. Segura has a long history in Pilota he said.  Mayor Areizaga invited the Irish team to enjoy their stay in Segura.  A number of presentations were made to Tom Walsh and Loran O'Ruairc, and souvenirs of the visit was given to the players.  On the Friday morning the Irish team walked the short distance to the Segura handball court.  On first entering the first thing that hits you is the sheer size of the court about 90 feet long and a great seated viewing gallery.  After practise in One Wall and Piloto the team retired to their guesthouse before the 5 p.m. games with the Basque National side.  Darragh Daly was first into action in the U-22 singles against the tall Rober Urlarte. Urlarte took the fight to the Irish man from the start and was in a big lead of 12-4, before Daly could get any rhythm going.  Daly from Carrickmore, then expressed himself and with encouragement from the Irish bench fought back greatly to 12-9.  Urlarte finished the stronger winning by 15-9.  Urlarte started game two and moved Daly all over court as he took a commanding 9-1 lead.  Daly got three more scores as Urlarte sealed it on a score line of 15-4.

Martin & Coonan push Basques all the way

 Damien Martin & Ger Coonan were next into action against the Basque pairing of Egoitz Amantegi & Alior Goenaga in the U-22 doubles. At 7-5 ahead Coonan got a great score with his service landing just over the short line, as the Basque players could only look on.  Coonan clenched his fist in determined fashion.  The Irish duo opened up the Basque pair to lead by 10-5.  Martin was having a storming game playing the back court. His great strength with right and left hand posing problems for his opponents.  It was frantic handball and the crowd were enjoying it.  Fired on by the locals the Basque players fought back even to 10-10. A lapse in concentration seen Ireland's young stars trailing by 13-10.  Martin/ Coonan could only muster one further score as the Basque players finished it by 15-11. At 3-2 ahead Coonan with a low hard serve to Goenaga's left corner.  The Basque player did well to return and the Ballina clubman expertly won the point  hitting the ball off the left wall, as it spun towards the seated area on the right. Even Amantegi applauded the Irish man's efforts.  It was to get even better for the Irish pair as they were within a whisker of winning game two. At 14-8 ahead Martin/Coonan should have closed out the game.  However with the large vocal support Amantegi/Goenaga upped their performance. Together with their share of luck and some hesitancy in the Irish team to go for the win the Basque players fought back even to 14-14 and duly won it as Coonan's shot over the end line to give the Basque players a rather lucky 15-14 win.

Doyle's brave display

James Doyle was next up against Alior Erauskin in the senior singles.  Doyle started in whirlwind fashion taking a good 6-1 lead.  Erauskin managed to regroup and hit a purple patch as he reeled off point after point. Doyle was playing well but Erauskin seen a chink in Doyle's armour. Erauskin then started to fire very accurate straight serves inches from the back court line on the right side.  Doyle did return them but Erauskin made sure with volleys swinging away to the left on most occasions with the Armagh man out of position. Doyle couldn't counteract this tactic from Erauskin to a great extent.  Erauskin took the game by 15-7.  It didn't get any better for the Clann Eireann club man in the second as Erauskin continued hitting accurate serves down to Doyle's right hand corner.  It takes a great player to beat Doyle and Erauskin is that player, as he effectively controlled the game.  Doyle was powerless to mount a challenge. Doyle could only manage one score in game two such was the dominance of the Basque player.

Kennedy and Keegan blitz the Basques

Dessie Keegan and Eoin Kennedy paired for the senior doubles against Iker Etxeberria and Enrike Hvizi.  Right from the off Keegan meant business before I could try to keep up with the scores. Keegan had six on the scoreboard. He rolled, flattened every ball in sight that came to him. Irish eyes were smiling again as Keegan took the Basque players apart. The Basque star players were in total disarray. Hardly moving from the short line on the right side he could not be passed.  It was exhibition stuff from the Ballaghaderreen colossus.  Even with his big frame he dived in to win scores.   Keegan and Kennedy took the first game comfortably by 15-6.  The Basque players then got to grips with the Keegan led Irish onslaught from game one and were in the ascendancy by 9-5.  From there to the finish however, the Irish pair fought with great pride and passion as they drew level.  Keegan again with kills, and Kennedy's exploits from the back of the court ensured Ireland finally had much to smile about at the end of the first day's games. Overall score from the One Wall was 105-76.

Kennedy's great showing

On the Saturday with the Pelota games again starting at 5 p.m.  When the Irish team arrived there was already 4 camera crews setting up and we were to learn the first game with Eoin Kennedy was going out live on television. The Irish team all togged out in the unusual white trousers just before the start of the games.  Eoin Kennedy was up against Mikel Gonzalez a player who will soon turn professional in the Basque game. The Irish delegation were pleased that the Irish Consulate to the Basque Country Rocco Caira, in his Irish Rugby Jersey attended.  He was welcomed by Lorcan O'Ruairc and Tom Walsh. As the cameras rolled and live commentary Kennedy found the opening tough. Gonzalez with a long run up to serving hitting powerful shots to Kennedy's left corner. Gonzalez had an early 5- l lead.  Kennedy came more into it and certainly played a captain's part.  He narrowed Gonzalez's lead to 9-5. Gonzalez pulled away again.  One powerful serve by the Basque player to Kennedy's left corner which was simply un returnable.  Kennedy looked over to the Irish team mates as if to say I'm in a battle here. Gonzalez won an excellent rally Kennedy running over the open right side to keep ball in play, raced back to his left to return a ball.  Kennedy hadn't the legs to go for Gonzalez's return down the centre of the court. The Basque player leading by 21-12. Kennedy was giving everything to win his great determination for all to see. He even chased a ball to the back court and had to stop otherwise he would have crashed into the television mounted crew.  He appealed for the point to be retaken but the Basque referee was not having any of it.  Kennedy clearly not pleased took a time out and with Dessie Keegan urging him on as he trailed by 25-14. Kennedy to his great credit got four more points but Gonzalez won the match 30-18.  Our U-22 players didn't fare as well as expected Damien Martin was up against a very strong Oinatz Gonzalez and was 12-1 down before he got into the game. The game eventually ended 30-12 to Gonzalez. Ger Coonan and Darragh Daly had a torrid game against the inform Basque pairing of Mikel Olaetxea and Vgaliz Ronobales.  Daly & Coonan tried their hardest but the Basque players were much better on the day.

Keegan the Irish king of Pelota handball

Last game was the Senior Doubles Dessie Keegan & James Doyle against Ander Martin and Ller Gandiaga.  Keegan continued from the previous day heroics.  Again he brought the fight to the much vaunted Basque pair. Keegan built like an armoured tank hit rockets to Martin's left corner.  Keegan's powerful serving delighting the huge attendance warming to the Irish man skills and spirit. The harder it got, the longer the rally's Keegan was simply magnificent. Even the watching Mikel Gonzalez soon to be professional player in Basque Pelota could only be impressed by the Ballaghaderreen man giving it everything in the Irish handball shirt. At 9-5 to Ireland and excellent rally ensued.  About 25 shots later, energy sapping stuff the Basques won it with a dropping ball to the back of the court.  Dessie went for a number of low shots but they ended under the tell line. It was now 9-9 and still Keegan brought the game to the Basques. Doyle also playing great handball on the right helped Ireland into a narrow 13-12 lead. Ireland took a time out and just feet away from the Irish bench I could see the perspiration dripping of Dessie's head.  Keegan's exceptional work rate dropped somewhat but he and Doyle fought like an army fighting to a last man standing.  The crowd loved it. Martin and Gandiaga began to pull away and the inevitable did come with the Basque pair winning by 30-19 but they will remember James Doyle and especially Dessie Keegan's exploits for a long time to come. The final score in the Pelota games was 120-55 and overall 225-131 to the Basque team. Soon after the presentations took place to the winning team and Tom Walsh accepted the runners-up cup from Mayor Mikel Areizaga. Both Tom Walsh and Lorcan O' Ruaric made presentations to the Basque Federation, Segura Mayor and the Irish Consulate.  The players after a meal in the local hotel enjoyed the evening celebrating Saint John the Patron Saint in Segura in into the early hours with the locals.  Although not winning this time the Irish team will have learned a lot from the Basque handball players. It proved to be a successful weekend in Basque v Ireland handball relations.  No doubt all will look forward to the proposed European One Wall Championships in Ireland 2008.  The Irish team and delegation would like to thank Oscar Recalde International Officer of the Basque Pelota Federation for a very happy and enjoyable weekend. Ireland awaits the Basque team to Ireland in two years time.
 

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