Report by Sáirsint Eric O'Brien
The 7th Defence Forces Handball Championships since Handball's reintroduction to the DF family of sports took place in Salthill HC on Wednesday 8th of March.
Although missing some of the heavy hitters due to operational commitments, over 20 players came to the West of Ireland & brought the good weather with them!
The Novice competition started the ball rolling, with Sgt Michael Hogan steamrolling his way to the final. Although the Clareman was hotly tipped from the outset after winning the 1 Brigade Novice Championship earlier this year, he hit a bump in the road in the Semi-Final against S/S Alan Horgan, who took 15 aces from Hogan in his 21-15 win.
The other side of the competition saw S/S Conor "Kygo" Keegan taking scalp after scalp on his way to the final. The Longford hurler however met his match with Hogan taking the Novice Championship home after a 21-12 win.
In the Junior Championship, the new comer Pte John Kerans made his mark by getting to the final in his first championship. The Quiet Man was steadfast in his 21-19 victory over S/S John Hurley, whilst Sáir Eric O'Brien & Pte Keith Mullarney endured a 45 minute battle for O'Brien to take the win at 21-15.
This set up the final between Kilkenny & Galway, but the skill & power of Kerans was too much for your author who took the silver after a long fought 21-11 win for Kerans.
Intermediate was the competition of the day, and produced both a new champion & the game of the day in the final. After battling through the Semi-Finals, both Gnr Rikki McCarthy & DF powerhouse Pte Darren Darcy set the final up with all attendees in awe of long rallys, fly-kills & back wall returns. The final (which was first to 21 aces) was a game of skill, endurance & grit. Both men went hand for hand until McCarthy pulled away to take the title 21-19.
Finally the Senior Championship was fought out by three DF legends. Cpl Eddie Clifford & Tpr Stephen Smullen played an entertaining Semi-Final which saw last years Intermediate Champ win at 21-10.
This laid on the much awaited Senior Final for the coveted Major General Quinn Cup (first awarded in 1923). Smullen had a mammoth task ahead of him when he faced the current All-Ireland Senior Champion, A/Mech Robbie McCarthy.
McCarthy opened up with low thumping serves, & whilst Smullen returned them time & time again, the Champion turned up the tempo & switched the play around time and time to push Smullen out, winning 21-3, 21-5. Taking 8 aces from the current Irish Champion was no small feat and was well recieved by the onlookers. McCarthy's skill was the subject of filming by some novice players, showing the growing interest in the sport at the top levels.
Lt Col Kevin Campion was in attendance to present the contested silverware & encouraged all players to keep up handball, as it is a national sport, a challenging sport & a sport for life.
Thanks to all who attended & provided some great games, & best of luck to our own man form the Naval Service A/Mech McCarthy in his run for 4 All-Irelands this weekend!
The DF will now focus on it's Wall-Ball (One-Wall) development & will host "come and try it" events at it's Wall-Ball facilities in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa (Galway), Cathal Brugha Bks (Dublin), Custume Bks (Athlone), Collins Bks (Cork) & Stephens Bks (Kilkenny) in preparation of GAA National Championships & Defence Forces Championships in Summer.
If you would like to take up handball at any level, please contact your BPEO or Sáirsint Eric O'Brien (ext 1840).