Handball

[Rollout]

He seemed to have suffered a very bad injury. He's very driven.

AMbitions to be future cavan manager too.

[boojangles]

He seemed to have suffered a very bad injury. He's very driven.

AMbitions to be future cavan manager too.

I like the sound of that.

[ONeill]

Why is Brady not getting the recognition he deserves? We have eejits like Galvin getting player of the year yet Brady is best in the world 3 times over in a game many simply cannot play.

[tyssam5]

Great game to play but a chore to watch most of the time.

Also, Brady is creaming off a ween o' coin. More recognition than a wee trophy and a Seat.

Correct, not sure what the World's was worth this year but US nationals is about 20-30k right? He also won that 50k tournament about 5years ago. Fair play to him though, he deserves it.

[Rollout]

There was no prize money for the worlds this year. It was purely for the title.
The winner of the US nationals probably got $5-6000, not that much considering the exchange rate and the price of flights and accommodation for a week.

The US open held at the end of the year has had a first prize of $25k for the past two years, Brady won it in 2007 but Cork's Tony Healy won it in 2008.

I would guess that since brady won the 25k in 2007 he has earned less from handball than most intercounty players got in expenses. Also, as far as i'm aware any prizemoney handball players do get is paid to them through the GAA as expenses, drip by drip. I may be wrong though.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Mickey Harte in today's Irish News:

Stars show Ireland has the world in its hands
Mickey Harte


SOME months ago, after having attended the annual GAA handball awards at a function in Monaghan, I was afforded a fantastic insight with regard to the enthusiasm and pride which those directly involved bring to their preferred discipline.

A host of awards were given out on the night, and many of the individual achievements would equal, if not surpass, any other sporting accomplishments worldwide.For too long the handball sector of our games had been given scant recognition for the significant strides they were making, not only in pursuit of their own excellence but additionally for the fact that they were creating, for the wider GAA family, a strong brand in the international arena. More recently, the GAA are to be commended for recognising the great work traditionally associated with this forgotten minority and have, through the appointment of a full-time National Handball manager, instigated a revitalisation of this skilful and taxing sport.

Despite the impressive array of national titles recognised at that particular function, all eyes were firmly fixed on the World Championships in Portland, Oregon in the USA. Because of this significant backing from Croke Park, and the integrated branding of handball, the touring party went off to the USA full of confidence.

In any sporting discipline, the ultimate ambition is to become a world champion. Indeed, some sports have a number of different governing bodies, all of whom boast 'world champions,' despite the fact that the exact accuracy of such a claim might be somewhat dubious. Nevertheless, these titles are much heralded by their relevant sporting branches and the various holders of said world champion status.

Handball affords our athletes this status in an increasingly significant fashion. The numerous world champions who returned from Portland last week can wear that badge of honour with more pride than many acclaimed world champions, as there were athletes from 12 countries competing in these particular championships.

As I intimated in my previous article around handball, the achievements of the handballers over many years, with limited resources and support, could act as a template for the development of our major GAA sports on the world stage. No compromises necessary – just the desire shown by our world handball trailblazers.

The fact that the next World Handball Championships are due to take place in Ireland in 2012, where a record 23 countries are expected to compete, might well be the catalyst to initiate some form of world series in GAA football and hurling.

Back to the achievements of the squad who competed in Portland, Oregon. Irish players dominated this world series with a haul of 35 world titles – yes, we now have 35 world handball champions. Pride of place for the Irish team must go to Cavan's Paul Brady and Antrim's Fiona Shannon, who achieved an unprecedented three World open singles titles in-a-row, confirming themselves as arguably the all-time greats of the 40 x 20 game.

Brady, who played through the pain barrier with a serious muscle injury, added to his already significant haul of five US national triumphs in-a-row and his sixth All-Ireland singles title earlier this year. Fiona Shannon was in equally imperious form as she romped to her Ladies open singles title and, reflective of the status of her club St Paul's, her opponent in the final was club colleague, Aisling Reilly.

The fact that no fewer than 19 countries won world championship medals indicates that the GAA handball initiative is reaping rewards, and that the sport is experiencing a positive revival. No fewer than 36 Irish players won gold medals at the Portland games.

WHILE many handballers actually play other GAA sports, there are others who concentrate exclusively on their chosen discipline and achieve a healthy lifestyle and level of self-esteem not previously available to them.

As well as the record-breaking achievements of Paul and Fiona, there was a significant breakthrough for two young players from Monaghan when they became the first players from that county to win world championship titles. Padraig McKenna and Darren Doherty completed a double of titles at U13 and U15, and the experience gained in the company of the aforementioned Irish world stars must ensure a big future for these young athletes.

Indeed, the world success achieved by no fewer than six Ulster counties (Cavan, two), Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan; Antrim (three), Fiona Shannon (two) and Sibeal Gallagher; Tyrone (three), Ruairi Kelly, Shane O'Neill and Darragh Daly; Monaghan (three), Padraig McKenna, Darren Doherty (two); Down's Lorraine Havern, and Armagh's James Doyle will act as a catalyst for significant growth of participation in handball as the organisation looks forward to the 2012 world games.

Michael Finnegan, along with Eoin Kennedy (Dublin) and Sibeal Gallagher, together with Fiona Shannon, deserve special mention having won the World open mens' and womens' doubles respectively.

As the end of year award ceremonies loom, Paul Brady must rank highly when the enormity of his personal achievements is considered. In addition to the previously noted accomplishments, the fact that he has now won five US nationals in-a-row, allied to becoming the first male player in history to win three consecutive World senior singles titles, is unrivalled in Irish sport this year.

With the Quinn Ulster GAA Writers' awards being held in the Slieve Russell Hotel this year, it would be appropriate that the Personality of the Year should go to one of Cavan's own sons.

Also, work is currently under way to have handball included as an exhibition sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, with the possibility of inclusion in the 2020 Olympics – football and hurling take note.

[Rollout]

Harte has always been a good supporter of handball in his writing, i'm not sure about the olympics part though. Handball wouldn't have near the numbers of players needed and as far as i'm aware a sport has to be played competitivly in a lot of countries to be elligible for inclusion.

During the World champs there was players from Japan, ecuador etc and i would say there is only a handful of people playing there. In the latin countries its probably just a few converts from Pelota who might work with an irish person.

[Celt_Man]

Looking for a bit of info and help...

What size is the ball used in Handball?? And where could I buy a few in around Dublin??

[Lar Naparka]

Looking for a bit of info and help...

What size is the ball used in Handball?? And where could I buy a few in around Dublin??

Probably the best place to go is the Irish Handball Centre on Jones's Road. It used to be located in the office complex at HQ but I'm told it has moved across the road and is down the laneway beside the old JMOB bakery site.
You'll get both half solids and 40X20 balls there.
John Malloy, the curator of the alleys on St. Joseph's Avenue, the far side of Croke Park, has them also but this centre only opens late in the evening. (Incidentally, this is the site earmarked for the new GAA Museum.)