The 3rd annual DF One-Wall Championships took place in the Mattie McDonagh Centre, Ballygar on 04 June. This event saw 34 players based in Galway, Cork, Westmeath, Dublin, Kildare & Kilkenny battle it out in 4 categories to become Defence Forces Champions. All games were of a timed format except the Senior Final, which was best of 3 sets.
The Novice was by far the largest category. Players who had only hit a ball last week were mixed in with players who had only taken up the sport a few months before, but proved that they had potential to become the next Ducksie, Brady or McCarthy, by showing a great natural talent and keen hunger to get to every ball.
The Novice was eventually wittled down to S/S Conor Keegan and Pte Tomás Dunne, with some early favourties being taken out at the early stages. The final was a fine battle, but Dunne proved too strong for his opponent and took the gold for Kilkenny.
The Junior Championship was a battle between Galway and Kilkenny, but the Cats were again to prove to strong for the Tribesmen, an all Kilkenny final of Pte Damien Brennan and Pte Darren Darcy. Darcy proved that anyone can take to sport in only a matter of months if they put in a small amount of training each week, and this was evident in the Junior final, but Brennan was no pushover and brought the final to a nail-biting tie breaker, eventually losing to Darcy 2-0.
The Intermediate Championships were in a round robin format, with the player to win two games being declared the winner (total aces being the next deciding factor). This saw Cpl Eddie Clifford, Pte JJ Hennessy & Tpr Stephen Smullen battle it out in front of an always packed spectator area for some excitingly close rallies and savage serves. Clifford eventually beat the two others to be declared the Intermediate Champion for 2015.
The highlight of the day was always going to be the Senior Championship, with Sgt Glen O'Kelly looking to retain his title against the current DF Doubles & 40x20 Champion (not to mention the Irish Team Captain for this years WHC), O/Mech Robbie McCarthy Jr. This match was a display of strength, skill & fitness at a high level, with both men leaving no ball go past them and not afraid to stand their ground. O'Kelly, took 4 & 1 from McCarthy Jr, but only after McCarthy had warmed up and started returning balls only millimeters above the floor each time he hit the ball.
The DF will now look forward to hosting the Garda Síochana in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Galway on the newly finished One-Wall facility on Friday 19 June in the first DF v GS One-Wall Challenge match.
If you would like to find out more about playing handball in the DF, please contact Saír Eric O'Brien (ext 1840) or your local BPEO.
All prizes were presented by Cft Cathal Esler on behalf of OC 1 Cn Cois