Rewind 12 months and Tadgh Carroll was in the midst of refereeing the showpiece final, the Men’s Senior Singles, at GAA Handball’s 1st and hugely successful Finals Festival Weekend in Kingscourt HC, Cavan.
However 12 months later, Carroll will be taking to the courts himself as slight favourite in the Intermediate Singles Final at the 2017 Festival Weekend, bidding to win his way up to full Senior status.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend’s match, definitely much better than this time last year anyway when I had to ref the senior final!” he jokes.
“I’m looking forward to watching all the other matches on in Kingscourt this weekend. Having the finals on in the same venue and on the same weekend is a fantastic idea. Looking forward to the atmosphere it will create.”
The Mallow clubman faces Wexford teenager Daniel Kavanagh this coming weekend, who has impressed in his first year out of Minor.
“I saw Daniel play a lot in the Worlds in Canada last year. I was very impressed with him. He was playing in an extremely hard grade and I don't think he even dropped a game in the 17&U Singles grade. He is extremely athletic opponent and I’m sure I’ll have my work cut out for me! All these young lads coming up have a bright future in handball.”
But a more Handball focused training schedule this year for a talented Crossfit athlete, Carroll is showing signs of this shift of focus paying real dividends.
A promising run to Saturdays final has seen Carroll see of strong challengers from his own county in Michael Hedigan & Daniel Relihan, before defeating Tyrone’s Shane O’Neill 21-6, 21-20 in last weekends All-Ireland SF.
“I have taken a step back from Crossfit this year to focus on this Intermediate championship. This is the first year I have really focused on my handball a lot more than Crossfit.”
“The SF was a tough match. Having the home advantage gave me an upper hand especially against Shane who had to travelled all the way from Tyrone. Shane played an excellent second game. Every ball I left in the front of the court he killed every time! I really enjoyed playing Shane, he is an extremely good player.”
There is certainly no lack of Cork players in action on Finals Weekend, but the Mallow club are in line for a potential double in the Intermediate & Minor grades, seeing two players elevate themselves into the Senior platform as Tadhg O’Neill competes in the Minor Final in the game proceeding Tadgh’s Final.
“There will be lots of supporters up from Cork Handball. Tadhg is in his second Minor Final looking for redemption after last year. I think with Tadhg it's not a case if he will be a top senior player. The real question is when he will be a top senior player. He has an extremely bright future in the sport.”
The Mallow man completed his arduous training to become a National GAA Handball Tutor a few months back, a role he admits he is enjoying, despite now adding to his already hectic workload.
“I am really enjoying being a Tutor and helping to promote the sport. I have a pretty hectic schedule! My hours are pretty awkward as I work in the fitness industry. I usually train on my lunch break or play a match late at night if I have any players willing!”
“The reason I'm playing well at the moment however is due to the fact there is so many talented handballers in Cork. Even getting out of Cork County Intermediate was extremely challenging.“
“I also get to play the likes of Brendan Fleming, Robbie Mc Carthy, Tadhg O Neill, Ryan Harkin, Pa Herlihy (the best killer of all time), Ciarán Buckley, Darren Wheelan and David Walsh. Basically I am never stuck for a game in Mallow or Liscarroll.”
GAA Handball’s Finals Festival Weekend takes place on March 17th – 19th at Kingscourt HC, and brings together all 40x20 Singles Finals + all Juveniles Finals in one huge weekend of Handball. Ticket details can be found at the below link.
