The players in the Ladies Open grade of the 2017 40x20 Nationals in Ballinrobe HC, Co Mayo, had possibly one of the best competitions of Ladies Handball, and indeed, Handball in general in recent years.
The early rounds proved an exciting affair as both young and seasoned players alike laid it all on the line for the coveted Sunday Semi-Final Slots. After some incredible rallies that left a captivated audience on the edge of their seats, Fiona Tully (Roscommon), Catriona Casey (Cork), Aisling Reilly (Antrim) & Martina McMahon (Limerick) respectively prevailed.
In the first of the Semi-Finals, cool and collected Catriona Casey took on the talented and tenacious Fiona Tully. Tully was slow to start and Casey was quick to capitalise on every mistake, eventually taking the first 15-1. In the second, Casey again had nothing but the final in her sights and with no distractions she sailed through with a score of 15-3.
Shortly after in the second of the Ladies Semi-Finals, the two power houses of McMahon and Reilly met for the first time since Reilly’s rehabilitation on a shoulder injury. Perhaps being dazzled by the occasion at hand, or nerves, McMahon looked to have the Semi-Final wrapped up in one game as she stormed a 15-0 win. Reilly isn’t reigning world champion for nothing and she fought with all of her muster to take a win in the second 15-6. Things really got interesting in the third as both athletes made shots and rallies that one would be lucky to witness in the best games of their male counterparts. To say the game was tooth and nail would be nothing shy of an understatement, both Ladies served for the game, yet neither seemed to pip it. Then, with resounding grit and that impressive left hand of hers McMahon synched the win with a shot down the left-hand wall of the alley and took the third game 11-10.
So, the scene was again set for Casey v McMahon, two titans of one sport. Again, Casey stepped into the alley with a cool disposition and a deadpan look of conviction in her eye. McMahon, too was confident after her dazzling display recently in Tuscon AZ, where she overcame a huge lead that was held by Casey.
The game started as any fan of Handball would have predicted, fast, furious & ferocious. However, after the first Ace or so, Casey settled in and really hit her stride. She didn’t hold back as she soared to a win in the first game 15-1. In the second game of the final, Casey again had nothing but victory in her sights. She smelled the blood as McMahon let the situation get the best of her, and like any true champion she went in for the kill, not taking her foot off the accelerator until the referee called the winning mark of 15-3.
The final was a poor reflection of the skill that McMahon displayed against Reilly in the Semi-Final, however, not to take anything away from Catriona, as it is hard to shine when your opponent doesn’t even give you the chance to play. The athletes who competed in this tournament are a true reflection that the standard of Ladies Handball is continually growing. As players like Casey and McMahon keep breaking all the proverbial glass ceilings that lay before them – Ladies Handball will grow even further on both a domestic and international stage. For today, Casey is the Champion, but the winner is ultimately Ladies Handball.
To review all of today’s Ladies Semi-Final and Final games, make sure to watch the videos on GAA Handball’s Facebook page.