Irish handball team bid for World glory

WORLD and US Open singles and doubles champion Paul Brady and Tony Healy of Cork will lead the Irish handball team in the forthcoming Waterford Crystal World Handball Championships in Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, from August 4-13.

The team will be joined by Irish Handball Council president Tom Walsh and GAA president, Nickey Brennan, who will lead a travelling group of over 400. Walsh said: “The World Handball Championships are a terrific opportunity to promote the skilful game of handball, one of our national sports.”

Nickey Brennan added: “Handball is our original international Gaelic game. Irish players have been to the forefront for many years but at no time have they been as prominent and as highly regarded on the international scene as they are today. I’m looking forward to some fantastic displays of speed, skill and stamina and I’ve no doubt the Irish team will do Ireland proud.”

The Irish team is sponsored by M Donnelly and Company and Martin Donnelly wished the team well: “Handball is a marvellous sport which requires a tremendous amount of skill, commitment and determination to get to the top: it is a credit to the players that they are so dedicated to this ancient Irish game which now has a very wide international dimension and is growing in popularity, especially at juvenile level.”

The management team accompanying the players are Seán McEntee, Antrim, national coach; Tony Hayes, Limerick, manager and Anne Naughton, Roscommon, assistant manager.

RTÉ’s popular OB Sport programme will be screening an exclusive highlights package of the World Championships on Friday, September 1. Regular updates will be posted on www.handball.ie and www.gaa.ie.

IRISH TEAM: Men’s Open Singles: Tony Healy, Cork; Men’s Open Doubles: Paul Brady, Michael Finnegan, Cavan; Women’s Open Singles: Fiona Shannon, Antrim and Maria Daly, Kerry; Women’s Open Doubles: Fiona Shannon, Sibeal McKenna, Antrim; Boys 19 & Under Singles: Robert McCarthy, Westmeath; Boys 17 & Under Singles: Padraig McGlinchey, Tyrone; Boys 15 & Under Singles: Diarmuid Nash, Clare; Girls 19 & Under Singles: Ashley Prendiville, Kerry; Girls 17 & Under Singles: Aisling Reilly, Antrim; Girls 15 & Under Singles: Leona Doolin, Roscommon.