With Christmas just around the corner the greats of GAA Handball will have one thing on the top of their wish-list for the first weekend in January. The 2017 John Gaffney Memorial Handball Tournament, proudly sponsored by Drury Oils Ltd., takes place in Ballaghaderreen handball club from January 7-8.
Now in its 8th edition, the season opener has gone from strength to strength, consistently drawing the cream of Irish handballing talent west of the Shannon.
Last year saw a packed crowed in Ballaghaderreen treated to a tense tie-break tussle between Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy and Corkman Killian Carroll. While it was McCarthy who came out on top in 2016, this year’s tournament promises to be as competitive as ever.
Players provisionally confirmed to attend the 2017 Gaffney Memorial include Armagh ace and current No. 1 ranked Irish player Charlie Shanks. Hot on the heels of the Clann Eireann clubman will be young upstarts like Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins, Clare’s Colin Crehan, and current All Ireland Minor Champion Tyrone’s Sean Kerr. Adding to the exuberance of youth are seasoned campaigners such as Owen McKenna (Antrim), Brian Carroll (Meath), Darragh Daly (Tyrone), and Michael Gregan (Wicklow).
With more top players set to be announced in the coming weeks this year’s Gaffney Memorial is shaping up to be a true festival of handball.
For ticket and other enquiries, please contact Padraig Gaffney on 0868599533.