Ireland’s top handballers will battle it out on the courts of Kilkenny and Carlow this weekend in the eagerly awaited Envirogreen Resource Irish National Finals.

At a photocall for the prestigious event, GAA President, Nickey Brennan, said that these were remarkable times in the future of Irish Handball. “The Envirogreen Resource Irish Nationals will set the standards for the future of the 40x20 game in Ireland,” he said.
“These are very exciting times for handball, and the GAA fully support the new lease of life handball is currently embracing.”

Brennan is set to attend the event, as well as the Envirogreen Resource All-Star Awards Banquet, in his home county this weekend.

The tournament will showcase the cream of the crop in Irish handball, with categories ranging from 13 and Under to Golden Masters (55+). The blue riband events will see the top eight male and female players, including Cork’s Tony Healy, Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy, Antrim’s Fiona Shannon and Kerry’s Maria Daly, battle for the coveted Men’s and Women’s Open National titles.

Healy faces a tough semi-final meeting with Antrim’s Owen McKenna, but has been in top form in recent outings and should come through this battle. Meanwhile, Kennedy will take on Mayo’s Joe McCann, a player also producing some fine handball at present. The experience of the Dubliner could be the different in this pairing.

In the third quarter-final, Armagh’s Charly Shanks, takes on Westmeath young-gun, Robbie McCarthy and this will provide a close encounter with two constrasting styles of play. Antrim’s Ricky McCann also looks to continue his present good form when he meets fellow Ulsterman, Tyrone’s Ciaran Curran.

In the women’s section, the most eagerly anticipated quarter-final clash sees Kerry’s Maria Daly face Kildare’s Anna Spence, and there is no doubt that this will be close battle. Fiona Shannon opens her campaign, with a quarter-final match-up against Kerry’s Ashley Prendeville.

In the juvenile events, there will be some top action in both the girls and boys categories. The 19 and Under, and 17 and Under Boys events sees some of the rising stars in the game take to the courts. Limerick's Seamus O'Carroll is the hot favourite in the 19s, while the 17s in too close to call, but American Tyree Bastidas (New York) will be pushed to the edge by any of the other candidates, of which Cork’s Shane Hedigan looks impressive.

In the Girls 17 and Under, Leona Doolin (Roscommon) is hotly tipped to add another crown to her impressive collection, but the likes of Wicklow's Shauna Hilley and Kildare's Louise Walsh will test her ability.

There will also be some top action in the Master grades, with veterans Tom Sheridan (Meath) and Kilkenny’s Michael Ducksy Walsh both in search of glory. Action gets underway on Saturday morning, with the finals taking place on Sunday afternoon; it will be an exciting weekend of handball action in the Marble City.

Eoin Kennedy and Eimear Coyle