After winning the Macsports Irish One-Wall Nationals Ladies Open title last weekend, Cork woman Catriona Casey created a remarkable bit of history, which more than likely went unnoticed by most in the Handball community.
Casey is no stranger to success, but by defeating Lorraine Havern in a tough battle last Saturday evening in front of a huge crowd in Breaffy Sports Arena, Casey completed a career slam of every major Open title in Irish Handball across all codes.
40x20:
Having won the Intermediate 40x20 title in 2012, Catriona made an immediate impact the following year to seal the Senior Singles with victory over Kerry’s Maria Daly. Alongside doubles partner Ashling O’Keeffe she came close to slamming the division in the same year, but fell at the final hurdle to Maria Daly & Ashley Prendiville. However in 2013 she did get her hands on the 40x20 Senior Doubles title with a straight games win over the Kerry girls.
The Ballydesmond woman then sealed the Irish 40x20 Nationals just last year, overcoming current rival Aisling Reilly in the tiebreaker at O’Loughlin’s in Kilkenny, having previously won the event at 15&U, 17&U, 19&U and 23&U.
60x30:
A Minor 60x30 Singles Champion in 2011 was followed with the Intermediate title in 2012, and the progression was complete by 2014 with victory in the Senior Singles, defeating Mayo’s Pauline Gallagher.
She was then forced to wait a year before claiming her first 60x30 Doubles crown, when alongside O’Keeffe again she ousted the then champions Pauline Gallagher & Amy Corrigan who were bidding for an unprecedented 3 in a row.
One-Wall:
2015 was the year Casey sealed the only missing trophy from her cabinet, and she did so in style defeating Aisling Reilly, Martina McMahon and then three-time champion Lorraine Havern en route to victory.
Not bad for a 21 year old!
There are two other players who are just one title away from the unique sweep, and both happen to be current doubles partners. Kerry's Maria Daly is only missing the One-Wall Ladies Open title, whilst Ashley Prendiville is only missing the All-Ireland 40x20 Senior Singles crown.
- All-Ireland 40x20 Singles (2013)
- All-Ireland 40x20 Doubles (2014 & 2015)
- Irish 40x20 Nationals (2014)
- All-Ireland 60x30 Singles (2012, 2013, 2014)
- All-Ireland 60x30 Doubles (2013, 2014)
- One-Wall Nationals (2015)