Impressive Stanners goes from strength to strength

Written by Antóin Ó Braoin, Rúnaí Contae

Only a very short time after taking up the game David Stanners of St. Martins Handball Club in Piercestown has made an instant breakthrough by capturing the county 60×30 Junior D Singles title at his very first attempt. It was in 2013 that he first took part competitively when he entered and managed to win the newly created county 40×20 Beginners grade. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and this season he decided to play in  the 60×30 championship f0r the first time. Seven games later he is a county singles champion for the second time having seen off a succession of opponents at different venues around the county.
The final against the much more experienced Thomas Murphy, Kilmyshall, who had the advantage of playing at home, was another tough battle but in keeping with all of his performances throughout the championship it was the determined Stanners who prevailed 21-13, 13-21, 21-14.
A well deserved success for a man whose will to win and sportsmanship is a decided addition to our games. Next year he will step up to Junior C where his progress will be watched with interest.
There was consolation for Thomas Murphy and his partner Timmy Farrell as they had earlier defeated the aforementioned James Stanners and his brother David in a hotly contested Junior D Doubles decider at St. Mary’s.