Paul Fitzpatrick
The Fonacab St Paul's Golden Gloves serves off this Friday and will be the biggest and best renewal of the famous Belfast event yet.
That's according to tournament director Séamus Ó Tuama, who spoke of his pride in the rejuvenation of the event in an interview in today's Irish News.
"It's very emotional for me because it makes me think of past glories in St Paul's, past players and past friends who have passed away. You think of Stevie Madden, Jim McCullough, Sean Boyle, Kevin McCaffrey, boys who would have helped out and played in the Golden Gloves over the years. It's about putting something back," Ó Tuama, a selector with the Antrim U20 footballers this year, told the paper.
"I moved up beside the club in 1985 which was the first year of the tournament and to go in and have my eyes opened by this wonderful game which I had never been exposed to before.
"Then I became involved in it and ultimately got hooked - I played football and hurling for the club as well but for me handball just had that magic about it. It brought me to different parts of the world as well but it all stemmed from St Paul's and really from the Golden Gloves.
"Sean McEntee had that tournament running at a level that I suppose we are trying to get back to. For a few years it was kind of on life support but in the last couple of years, a new group of young enough people came on board and breathed new life into it."
With 180 matches down for decision over nine courts in St Paul's, Gort na Mona, Rossa, Coláiste Féirste and Queens, the Golden Gloves will be probably the largest club-run event in the world in 2018, an astonishing achievement which raises the bar for weekend handball tournaments.
Among the big names in attendance will be Charly Shanks, Martin Mulkerrins and Diarmaid Nash while Catriona Casey and local favourite Aisling Reilly head the Ladies Open field.
Click here for draws and here for the full article in The Irish News.
Kingscourt Shootout ll
Meanwhile, Kingscourt Handball Club have pencilled in the weekend of January 5-6 next for their annual Shootout tournament, subject to permission.
The inaugural 32-man Shootout was a huge success last January and the organisers hope to retain the one-day format for the adult event while adding a juvenile doubles the following day at the Cavan venue.
More details to follow.