Handball is a sport which has fallen in stature in Offaly sporting circles over the past decade, but with some promising juvenile talents being primed around the county, the perfect game is making its return.
Back in 1981, a year when the Offaly defeated Galway in the All-Ireland hurling final, handball had its own success on the national front when Birr’s Billy Mullins won a Senior All-Ireland title for the Faithful County. Up until the mid-nineties, handball went from strength to strength in Offaly; over a period of fifteen years new handball facilities were developed in the county with the building of new 40x20 courts and the renovation of old 60x30 alleys.
In that same period, Offaly won over twenty juvenile Leinster titles and more than a dozen juvenile All-Ireland titles. On the adult front, Billy Mullins partnered Paddy Hope of the Fahy Cross Club (Rhode) and this duo won several Leinster and All-Ireland titles over a number of years. Unfortunately when these two men retired handball died a slow and painful death in the county for some years.
At the turn of the millennium however, handball took on a new lease of life when Clara formed a club and erected a new 40x20 court. This was the catalyst for the return of juvenile handball to the county. Within a short number of years, the rewards were being reaped as Noel Murphy (Rhode) won a 60x30 All-Ireland Junior title, Crinkle’s Conor O’Brien won an All-Ireland 40x20 Junior Championship, in addition to a Leinster Intermediate title. Offaly handball was firmly back on the map.
In 2006, Noel O’Brien won the All-Ireland Junior B 40x20 title, with Billy Mullins coming out of retirement to partner Jim Guilfoyle (Tullamore) to an All-Ireland Golden Masters A doubles title. This year Crinkle’s Michéal O’Brien won a Leinster 40x20 Junior B singles title and he partnered Rhode’s David Hope to win a doubles title at the same grade. Unfortunately, both players lost out in the All-Ireland final and Michael suffered another heartbreaking defeat in the singles final. Offaly did however win another Leinster championship title with Billy Mullins taking Golden Masters A singles honours for 2007.
This year, for the first time in over twelve years, Offaly held a Juvenile County Championship where over forty boys and girls from Birr, Clara, Crinkle and Tullamore took part. History was also made this year when five girls represented Offaly in the Leinster Championships for the first time. They five went on to reach a Leinster Final, but were pipped at the last hurdle. However, one can anticipate many more finals for Offaly juveniles in the coming years as handball reaches new heights in the county. Is your Son or Daughter an All-Ireland Champion? Why not see, bring them to your local handball alley; you are no more than twenty minutes from a handball alley in Offaly. Handball Clubs in Offaly are currently coaching children, why not come along! Contact: Kevin Cooke (P.R.O. / Juvenile Officer) 087-6423846
LAOIS
With only one Handball club in the county, namely St Brigids Monavea, Crettyard, competitive games have been very hard to come by the past. Last year, however, Kilkenny and Carlow County Handball Boards passed motions allowing Laois to play in some of their county competitions and this has proven hugely successful for Laois handball.
Fifteen of our players took part in the 2007 Kilkenny leagues, and with 130 players in 11 divisions this gave Laois players continuous games for eight weeks during the 40 x 20 season. Joe Brennan Masters and Mike Murphy Junior B came away from their respective divisions with full points and in so doing played in two section finals, winning both. Laois then entered a team of 4 in Carlow’s Duffy Cup competition against teams from Tinryland, Borris, and Garryhill. In the semi-final, a team of Paddy and Michael Donovan, Andrew Dowling, and Pauric Buggy, took on Tinryland and after this hugely entertaining game, the Laois team were ahead by two aces after the 4 games. Garryhill had beaten Borris in the other semi-final and so Monavea took on Garryhill in what promised to be a great final; it lived up to the expectations. After 4 games, the teams were locked on aces and a tie breaker between the pairing of Paddy Donovan and Pauric Buggy against John and Sean Ryan of Garryhill was played out with a ding dong battle ensuing and Monavea eventually emerging victorious on a 21 – 18 scoreline. Laois County Handball Board is extremely grateful to Kilkenny and Carlow County Boards for their continuing help in developing the game in Laois. The only way is up!
St Brigids Monavea have entered a team in this years All-Ireland Handball Feile which takes place in Kilkenny and Carlow in June. Team members are Evan O Carroll, Comac Murphy, Keith Nolan, Aran Murphy, David Mulhall, and Dominic Buggy.
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