A mammoth weekend of top class Juvenile Handball is just around the corner as Ireland's elite youth players descend on Cavan & Monaghan to compete in the Irish Junior Nationals, and in six special grades, vie for a cherished spot on the Official Team Ireland Squad for this summers World Championships.
Those six grades are Boys & Girls 15&U, 17&U, 19&U, and all feature a host of quality.
Last years winner Josh Kavanagh (Wex) is the top seed in the Boys 15&U, but hot on his heels is Billy Drennan (Kilk) at #2 seed who will be seeking revenge for a tiebreak lose to Kavanagh in this years Leinster Final. In the equivalent Girls grade, Tyrone's Mairead Fox looks the player to beat after she impressed in last months All-Ireland U16 Final. A talented chasing pack of Chloe Philpot (Clare), Clodagh Munroe (Tyr) & Amy Brennan (Kilk) among others will also be out to upset the odd against top seed Fox.
Kildare's recently crowned All-Ireland Minor champion Leah Doyle takes top seed in the Girls 17&U, which also sees strong competition from Galway's Niamh Heffernan & Doyle's doubles partner Mollie Dagg. Monaghan's Eoghan McGinnity enters the Boys 17&U as favourite after an excellent showing in winning last months All-Ireland U16 Final. Hunting him down will be the likes of Daire Keane (Kerry), Cian O'Driscoll (Cork), Mark Rodgers (Clare) & Jack Holden (Kilk).
Armagh's Megan McCann tops the field in a strong Girls 19&U grade which includes Minor Finalist Caitriona Millane (Clare). The Boys 19&U field is easily the strongest it has been in recent memory. Last years winner Diarmuid Mulkerrins takes #1 seed whilst the last three All-Ireland Minor Singles winners are all in the reckoning; Sean Kerr (Tyr), Tadhg O'Neill (Cork), Tiarnan Agnew (Clare). There is also the likes of Daniel Kavanagh (Wex) and Eoin Brennan (Kilk) who will be confident of defeating anyone on their day.
GAA Handball will be showing a HD Live Stream of Sundays showpiece Finals via our Facebook page.