Four All-Ireland Champions in one day

April 8, 2012 will go down in history as the most successful juvenile day in Armagh GAA and a great day for Clann Eireann.

Four of the county’s finest handballers, after securing county and provincial glory, travelled to Kilkenny to contest three All-Ireland finals.

In the Girls U14 All-Ireland Doubles Clann Eireann duo Aoibhinn Henderson and Alana Doran defeated Clodagh Nash and Doireann Murphy (Clare) 15-4, 15-11.

Aoibhinn Henderson and Niamh Coleman captured the Girls Under 14 All-Ireland doubles title last year and amazingly, Aoibhinn has paved her way back, this time with current All-Ireland Doubles Colleges Champion, Alana Doran to seek back to back titles.

The doubles act romped their way through the Ulster Championship and their All-Ireland semi final to see Armagh contest the Girls U-14 Doubles title once again.

In the first game, it was all one-way traffic as the Clann Eireann girls were too strong for the Clare lassies.

Game two, however, was a great battle and kept the supporters from both counties on the ends of their seats the whole way to the end as the Orchard stars closed out game two 15-11 to become All-Ireland Champions.

Niamh Coleman, also of Clann Eireann, was successful in the Girls Under 14 All-Ireland Singles after beating Aileen Twomey (Kerry) 11-15, 15-9, 15-8.

Niamh who is no stranger to National finals, used all her court experience in the second and third games.

Undeterred after losing the first game, the 2011 All-Ireland Doubles Champion, 2012 All-Ireland Doubles Champion and 2010 Nationals Onewall Champion got into her rhythm in game two to seal a 15-9 win.

With one game each, all was to play for in the third, tie-break game.

The Armagh supporters were treated to a fine exhibition of 40x20 court play as they cheered on their young heroine to aid her in her 15-8 victory and become Girls Under 14 All-Ireland Champion.

Finally, in the Boys Under 15 All-Ireland Singles category Brian McAnenly (Eugene Quinn, Armagh) defeated Oisin Foley (Wexford) 12-15, 15-14, 15-5.

In his very first appearance at All-Ireland finals day, the young Eugene Quinn Handballer played with maturity which belied his years in capturing his inaugural All-Ireland title.