pbrady

TENNENT'S/UGAAWA MONTHLY MERIT AWARD
- February 2004

Records are nothing new to PAUL BRADY and today he sets yet another by collecting our Tennent’s Merit Award for February 2004. He is the first handball player to win the award four times, having previously collected the honour in December ’98, December ’02 and jointly with Fiona Shannon in October ’03.
It’s also the second award this week for the Mullahoran man, who splits his sporting interest between handball and Gaelic Football, being a staunch defender with Cavan at senior level. On Monday, he collected the Vodafone GAA Player of the Month/Handballer of the Year award in Dublin.
After winning the men’s World Handball title last October, Paul increased his global status even more last month by winning the inaugural $135,000 Ultimate Handball Showdown in Seattle, beating the great David Chapman in the final to collect a prize of $50,000. Brady and Chapman also met in the finals of ProStop events in Dallas and Anchorage on the weekends either side of the Seattle spectacular. Chapman, from St Louis, won those two finals but the ‘Ultimate’ was top of the pile.
“It has been a busy and very fruitful time for me recently and I am delighted with it all. This Tennent’s Monthly Merit Award polishes off the action superbly. I am delighted to receive it again,” enthused Paul (24) who helped Cavan easily defeat Armagh on Sunday, 24 hours after successfully beginning his defence of the Irish National 40x20 title.
For the next few months, Paul will concentrate on handball and Gaelic Football at home with his next major aim in the States being the US Nationals in Oregon in June. Cavan’s success or otherwise will determine whether or not he plays in some ProStop tournaments.
As his award, Paul receives a sports voucher from Tennent’s Ireland, training gear from Pro*Star Sport, a specially engraved Belleek China vase and cuff links from Garrett Mallon of Cloicín, Omeath. He edged out Antrim camogie legend Mairead Magill, who was selected in the ‘Team of the Century’, for the award, with others in the running being Paul Finlay and Kevin Cassidy, both of whom helped Sligo IT to win the Sigerson Cup, and Dunloy hurlers on reaching the AIB All-Ireland Club final.
Paul Brady received his award from John Morgan, Regional Sales Manager Tennent’s Ireland, at a reception in the Ulster Brewery on Wednesday, March 10th.