Nineteen of Ireland finest juvenile handballers will travel to Tucson, Arizona this Friday to prepare for the USHA Junior Nationals, which get underway on December 27th.
An official squad of six all sealed places on the team after intense qualifier battles, but 13 other hopefuls will travel independently with hopes of seeking revenge on their Irish squad, while also accounting for some of the top Americans.

Leading the charges into war is handball veteran, Kilkenny’s Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh and the team manager is really looking forward to the competition.

“We have a very strong squad and hope to do very well against the Americans, but as I said to the team, I will be happy if they all give it their best shot and after that we’ll just see what happens,” said the 38-time All-Ireland senior medallist.

Spearheading the Irish challenge will be Kilkenny U-21 and Senior hurler, Richie Hogan, who faces some difficult matches in the 19 and Under bracket. The USA are particularly strong in this age-group with hot-favourite Arizona’s Luis Moreno even representing his country at the recent Casey Lawlor Cup.

Hogan is an accomplished handballer and this is his second USHA Nationals, having competed two years ago in the 17 and Under bracket. The Kilkenny hurling prodigy is missing the All-Ireland winning team’s holiday to Dubai and Thailand to compete in the US but will need to be in top form if he is to fend off the challenge of the Americans.

In the Girls 19 and Under category, Antrim’s Aisling Reilly will be in search of another clean sweep, having taken the 15s and 17s singles and doubles in recent years. As one of the most promising stars in the women’s domestic game, Reilly should have little trouble handling what the Americans throw at her.

The 17 and Under Boys section will provide some thrilling affairs, with Clare’s Diarmaid Nash one of the favourites in the group. Nash, who lined out at corner-back for the Clare minor hurlers this year, is the top player in his age group on the home circuit but will be forced to play at the top of his game to take the 17 and Under title. He should renew rivalries with Mexico’s Luis Cordova, whom he defeated in the World Championships final in 2006 and this will be one of the toughest games he faces. Mayo’s Stephen Cooney will also provide a difficult challenge for the Bannerman.
His female counterpart, Roscommon’s Leona Doolin, is also hotly tipped to take the 17 and Under Girls title, but like Nash will need to produce consistent form if she is to take glory. Doolin, as did Nash, recently represented Ireland at the Basque International Championships, where she suffered a heartbreaking final defeat to the USA. Now, she will look to exact revenge and take her third USHA title. Doolin will partner Reilly in the 19 and Under Doubles, and this looks like a certain title for Ireland.

In the 15 and Under grade, Kilkenny’s Eoghan Hennessy and Cork’s Catríona Casey will fly the Irish flag and both look like serious contenders in their section. Casey, who is eligible for the grade again next year, was one of the top players in action at the Féile in June and since then, has set about an intense training regime. Hennessy came through a very tough qualifying tournament to seal his place on the Irish squad and will face a number of Waterford handballers in his quest for US glory.

Of the remaining Irish travelling, Mayo’s Amy Corrigan should do well in the 15 and Under girls section, Clare’s Barry Nash and Kilkenny’s Dylan Walsh are two of the favourites in the 13 and Under Boys category, while Wicklow’s Keith Kavanagh will be in search of more US silverware having taken the 13 and Under doubles title at last year’s USHA Junior Nationals.

The team departs on Friday, with five days pre-tournament training to familarise themselves with the courts and US handballs. Team manager, Walsh is confident that his team are already well prepared for the trip. “We’ve had some intense training session over the last two months and these kids are as prepared physically as they can be; mentally, the next few days are very important but we hope we can get them into the right frame of mind before the tournament begins,” said Walsh.

IRISH JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM
19 and Under Boys:
Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
19 and Under Girls:
Aisling Reilly (Antrim)
17 and Under Boys:
Diarmaid Nash (Clare)
17 and Under Girls:
Leona Doolin (Roscommon)
15 and Under Boys:
Eoghan Hennessy (Kilkenny)
15 and Under Girls:
Catríona Casey (Cork)
Manager: Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh
Assistant Manager: Niamh Egan