World Handball Championships, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Wednesday August 18th, 2015
All of the results for the full event, posted on the event website, HERE>
Men’s Quarterfinals Quick Recap
Irish Captain, Robbie McCarthy, faced American co-number two, Sean Lenning, in the first men’s quarterfinal match of the day with the pair staging an epic classic filled with outrageous shot making, unbelievable retrieves and the highest drama in the event.
After falling behind 1-5 in game one, Lenning reeled off nine consecutive points to seize control of game one, 10-5. McCarthy responded, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to take a 14-11 lead and cruised to a one-game lead, 21-14. Lenning appeared to be fatigued in game two, as McCarthy tracked down nearly each of Lenning’s best offerings but Lenning caught fire late in the second stanza with six incredible kills to erase a 13-14 deficit to force a tiebreaker, 21-16.
The tiebreaker pitted two of the game’s best desperate for a spot in the World Championship semifinals, with both making superb shots sprinkled with nervous errors. McCarthy reached match point at 10-7, but a “first-strike” error handed Lenning the serve. After Lenning scored two points, McCarthy served for the match a second time, only to be denied by another error. Lenning responded, tying the score at 10 and setting up a sudden-death conclusion. McCarthy missed a left fist to the ceiling, sending the ball high on the front wall, caroming high on the back wall and giving Lenning a setup from just one-foot from the front wall to win the match. Lenning was unable to convert, sending the offensive opportunity high of the front wall for a back wall setup that McCarthy would convert for the side out. McCarthy would convert his third match point with a 37-foot left-hand hand that a diving Lenning could not return. The familiar McCarthy double fist-pump signaled the end to the instant classic, as the “Buzzsaw” kept his hopes alive for a world title.
McCarthy defeats Sean Lenning 21-14, 16-21, 11-10
Diarmaid Nash entered his quarterfinal clash with Emmett Peixoto flying under the World Championship radar as the sixth seed, but quickly asserted himself in game one against “The Rock.” “D” brilliantly read Peixoto’s serves and ball placement and consistently executed deft re kills and passing shots to take a commanding one-game lead, 21-9.
Peixoto would battle in game two, making adjustments to his serve and return of serve and playing Nash to a 10-all tie midway through the second. Nash surged to a 15-11 lead and appeared to have won a scintillating rally to stretch the lead to 16-11 by executing a flying diving kill. Peixoto argued for an audible avoidable hinder on the diving Nash re kill, claiming that Nash yelled while Peixoto was attempting to play his next shot and after nearly three minutes of chaotic discussion, Peixoto was awarded the audible avoidable hinder. With the crowd firmly turned on “The Rock” after the controversy and the 3500-foot altitude wreaking havoc on Peixoto’s lungs, Nash played steady and strategically in clinching the second game and match, 21-9, 21-15.
Nash defeats Peixoto 21-9, 21-15
Killian Carroll faced Luis Moreno for the second time in their open careers, with Moreno aiming to avenge his 2014 Canadian Open final loss to Carroll 14 months ago.
Moreno started the third quarterfinal of the day on fire, racing to a 16-3 lead in just eight minutes with incredible power and accuracy. Carroll would make Moreno work for the final five points, stretching rallies into 20-shot territory and weakening the Moreno resolve.
Despite losing game one 21-7, Carroll dominated game two, despite horrific refereeing that saw five inexplicable calls go against the Irishman, wining 21-9.
Carroll and Moreno exchanged the lead four times in the tiebreaker, with both players appearing to be on the verge of booking his spot in the semifinals on several occasions. Serving at 9-8 with the match within his grasp, Moreno failed to convert a huge setup that would given him match point and Carroll seized control. Carroll served his seventh ace of the tiebreaker to advance in a thriller, 7-21, 21-9, 11-9.
Carroll defeats Moreno 7-21, 21-9, 11-9
Paul Brady faced compatriot and frequent major tournament adversary Charly Shanks for the final spot in the men’s open quarterfinals. Brady dominated game one, building a 20-5 lead with vintage Brady precision and power. Shanks established momentum late, scoring four consecutive points and forcing Brady to serve for the game, five times.
Shanks carried that momentum into game two, building leads of 10-7, 13-11 and ultimately 18-16 by pinching both corners with both hands and earning points and “first-strike” kill shot opportunities with bullet serves. Shanks was seemingly en route to forcing a third game, but an error yielded a side out and two quick Brady kills tied the game at 18.
Brady needed just 42 seconds and five swings to score the final three points of the match to advance, 21-9, 21-18.
Brady defeats Shanks 21-9, 21-18
Men’s World Championship Quarterfinal Scores:
Brady defeats Shanks 21-9, 21-18
McCarthy defeats Sean Lenning 21-14, 16-21, 11-10
Nash defeats Peixoto 21-9, 21-15
Carroll defeats Moreno 7-21, 21-9, 11-9
Women’s Rd of 16 Quick Recap
In the Women’s Open singles (Rd of 16), the top seeds were all business, defeating their opponents in two games; each unable to score in the double digits. #1 seed, Aisling Reilly, defeated Shirley Chen, 21-2, 21-2; #2 seed, Catriona Casey, went untested against newcomer Suzanne Koehler (who was unable to score a point in either game); and third seeded Maria Daly handled opponent Jean Kastner with textbook play, 21-4, 21-4.
The exception to the single digit scoring trend occurred in the match-up between fourth seeded, Ciana Ni Churraoin, who played Canada’s, Samantha England. England is a former top women’s pro player whose world ranking at one point was as high as number four and has not competed at this level in over two years. England managed to score 10 and 6. “I was really excited to play Ciana today and see how I measure up against today’s top pros,” England said, of her Rd of 16 play. “I had some good moments but Ciana played great and I couldn’t keep up.”
Women’s One Wall Big Ball Open Singles and Doubles Champion, Danielle Daskalakis, continued her winning and showcased her handball versatility with a solid win against Nova Scotia’s, Maria Dugas, in two games, 21-9, 21-7. Martina McMahon overpowered current US National Champion, Sandy Ng, in two games, 21-1, 21-9; meanwhile, Canada’s pride Jessica Gawley had no real concerns in defeating Ireland’s Aishling O’Keefe, 21-8, 21-6.
Rounding out the top 8 finishers were Tracy Davis, who defeated Canada’s other pride Lisa Fraser-Gilmore in two exciting games (that could have gone either way). In game one, Fraser built a comfortable lead by doing what Fraser does: flat kills off the back wall and well placed passing shots that opponents cannot return. Davis was able to come back and tie the score at 11 using a Z serve to the left that Fraser was unable to tee off on. “I was tight going in to the match,” Davis observed, “but I was able to loosen up and was able to figure out a good serve and the rest followed from there.” Davis took the lead but Fraser battled back, scoring point game before missing a kill shot. Davis was back in the box and was able to rally and score from 17 points and hold Fraser at 20 to win game one, a nail-biting finish for both contestants. In game 2, Fraser once again built a comfortable lead scoring to 11 points before Davis took the lead and did not look back, closing out game two, 21-12.
Women’s Rd of 8 Quick Recap
The women’s top two seeds advanced with little difficulty, outscoring their opponents by a combined 84-7 in four games. Martina McMahon played exceptionally well in defeating her fellow countrywoman and rival, Maria Daly, holding the former All Ireland Champion under 10 in both games.
Ciana Ni Churraoin, Aisling Reilly and Catriona Casey were also dominant in eliminating the last remaining U.S. player; handing Danielle Daskalakis,
Tracy Davis and Jessica Gawley a two-game defeat.
Thursday’s semifinals will pit Aisling Reilly against Ciana Ni Churraoin in the upper bracket and Catriona Casey against Martina McMahon in the lower bracket of the women’s open singles.
Women’s Quarterfinal Open Singles Scores:
Reilly defeats Davis 21-5, 21-0
Ni Churraoin defeats Daskalakis 21-0, 21-10
McMahon defeats Daly 21-4, 21-8
Casey defeats Gawley 21-1, 21-1
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Watch all the action as it unfolds from Calgary, Alberta, Canada LIVE at www.race4eight.com. We will be back in action for the Men’s Open Semifinals and Women’s Semis of both singles and doubles on Thursday, August 20th.
World Handball Championships, Calgary, Alberta Canada, Broadcast Schedule
Thursday, Aug 20th, Mountain Time- Watch LIVE at race4eight.com
Men’s Open Singles Semifinals
10am Paul Brady (IR) vs Robert McCarthy (IR)
11am Killian Carroll (IR) vs Dairmaid Nash (IR)
Women’s Open Singles Semifinals
12pm Aisling Reilley (IR) vs Ciana Ní Churraoin (IR)
1pm Martina McMahon (IR) vs Catriona Casey (IR)
Men’s Open Doubles Semifinals
2pm Upper Bracket TBD
3pm Lower Bracket TBD
Women’s Open Doubles Semifinals
4pm Upper Bracket TBD
5pm Lower Bracket TBD
