UCDs Marianne Rushe wins Irish Handball Intervarsity title.

UCD’s Marianna Rushe successfully defended her Women’s Open title with a 21-15,21-8 win over Shauna Hilley (IT Tralee) in the Irish Handball Intervarsities 2010 in Kingscourt. Hilley took an early lead but was pegged back by Rushe to lead 13-8, the Tralee student battled to stay in contention but Rushe kept the distance to lead 17-11, and 19-13 before eventually taking the first 21-15.

Marianna took an early two nil lead in the second game, but it was cancelled out by Shauna, but from that until the finish the result was never in doubt as Rushe pulled away with an effective lop serve to the left, she lead 20-2 before Hilley made a spirited come back to trail 20-8, Marianna held her composure to close out the game and thus retained her title on a 21-15, 21-8 scoreline.

Seamus Carroll (Limerick IT) is the newly crowned All-Ireland Intervarsity 40x20 open champion following a tie breaker win over Shane Hediagn (Tralee IT) 21-10,20-21,11-8 Carroll came through a tough semi clash with Padraig  McGlinchey (UUJ) , while Hedigan  had a semi final win over Stephen Cooney (DIT ), who sensationally knocked the top seed Darragh Daly out.  

UCC’s John Casey defeated Michael O’Donovan (Portlaoise) in the Mens B decider on a 21-14, 21-9 score line while Paul Healy (LIT) was victorious in the C final following a comprehensive 21- 8, 21-8 win over UCD’s Michael Busher.

The Mens Contender title went to Declan Smith (UCD) after he won out in an all Dublin final, against Shane Broidy (DCU) 21-11, 21-15, while in the Mens Challenger Damien Healy of UL took the honours from Niall Brady (Athlone IT) 21-19,21-12.

In the Women’s section Deirdre Donohoe beat Karen Lawlor, both UL, 21-6,21-10  to claim the A title, Laura Keever (DIT) took the Women’s B following a 21-14, 21-9 victory over Siobhan Tully (NUIG), the Women’s C decider went to a tie-breaker where DCU’s Siobhan Brennan defeated Natalie Ni Shim (QUB) 16-21,21-3,11-8