Hurling and football stars excel in ‘handball showdown’

HANDBALL might well become a more regular staple of training for football and hurling teams in the coming year, if reactions to last Saturday’s GAA Handball Showdown at Croke Park are anything to go by.

Some of the biggest names in football, hurling, camogie, ladies football and rounders appeared from 20 counties to support the closing event of the GAA 125 celebrations, and with proceeds going to the Make A Wish-Foundation, the public turned up in droves to provide their support.

Kerry’s All-Ireland winning captain Darran O’Sullivan was joined by stars such as Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Donncha O’Connor (Cork), Joe Sheridan (Meath), Andy Moran (Mayo), hurler of the year, Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny) and Shane McGrath (Tipperary).

Mayo’s ladies football legend, Cora Staunton, was joined by Cork camogie’s Catriona Foley in supporting the event, while retired heroes of the calibre of Meath’s Graham Geraghty and Armagh’s Diarmaid Marsden also participated.

Even the various presidents took part, with the GAA’s Christy Cooney joining forces with ladies football boss Pat Quill, in a game against the handball/camogie combination of Tony Hannon and Joan O’Flynn.

Some of the GAA players were more proficient at handball than others but the consensus was it could be hugely beneficial in their own disciplines.

Cork sharpshooter, Donncha O’Connor, is a former All-Ireland winner at schools’ level, although he remembers being beaten in three successive semi-finals by Kilkenny.

He isn’t as active as he used to be nowadays in the courts, but he still plays a bit and finds it very useful on the football field.

“It’s a tough game. You’ve to use every part of your body. You’ve to keep your eye on the ball, concentration levels have to be very high and your feet have to be pretty good, in a small court especially, or you’ll keep falling.

“So I find it pretty good anyway during the winter months. It’s a good thing to keep you ticking over. I’d always be doing a bit, this year more than any. I enjoy it.”

Diarmaid Marsden is a full-time development officer with the Ulster Council, who are renowned for being the innovators when it comes to training and coaching. Although he hadn’t played handball for around 16 years, he is convinced that handball would be very helpful.

And judging from his conversation, we needn’t be surprised if Tyrone add it to their regime in 2010.

“I was just chatting to Justin McMahon about (how useful handball could be). Generally, with reaction speed it’s great because you find yourself rooted to the spot and having to react with the ball coming off the wall, so it can only be good for that type of thing.

“The more they get to promote the game, and certainly the crowds are there, it just shows that there is an interest and it’s just a case of getting that message out there, to show you can play the different codes and use different codes to help your own game.”

Joe Sheridan was surprised by the fitness levels required. He had played his first game of handball a few days earlier and so was a little out of his depth against O’Connor. Could he see handball being useful in training?

“Definitely. For the footwork, awareness, hand-eye coordination. It’s very tough.”