Ulster GAA Writers’ Association

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Charly Shanks

Paul Brady

All-Star Handball Awards

HANDBALL – 11/4/10 - The Final

After winning his sixth GAA All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Handball Championship title when beating Charly Shanks, at Kingscourt, Paul Brady immediately set his sights on next year’s contest.

The Cavan man is now equal with the great Pat Kirby from Clare who also won six-in-a-row and he is also equal with legendry Duxie Walsh who took the crown seven times as Brady has now achieved. He had a break of a year after winning his first title.

“I’m, obviously, delighted at equalling Pat’s record six-in-a-row of wins but records are not there to be equalled, they are there to be broken and that is what I will be targeting to do next year,” promised the champion.

In front of a capacity crowd at his home Kingscourt venue, Brady produced scintillating handball to overcome the brave challenge of Armagh man Shanks who was appearing in his first All-Ireland final after losing out in the semis for the past two years.

The challenger turned in some excellent play in the first game and pushed the hot favourite most of the way before Brady won the battle 21-17. In the second session, the World and All-Ireland champion upped the ante as he reeled off three dazzling serves and killshots to which Shanks had no answer.

The winner raced to a dominating 18-2 lead but the Armagh man didn’t cave in and made a determined comeback bid to claim five consecutive aces. That, however, was as good as it got for the challenger as Brady closed out the game and victory 21-7.

He now turns his attentions to reclaiming the All-Ireland Doubles Championship along with his Kingscourt colleague Michael Finnegan. The final of that will be next Saturday.

Shanks was optimistic in defeat by one of the all-time greats of the game and he also paid tribute to the champion.

"This was the first step for me in getting to the final and it will take an incredible effort to get back. Paul is such a special player that it will only take an outstanding display to eventually see him lose out in the championship," said Charly who this evening returns to Kingscourt to team up with James Doyle in the doubles quarter-final against Meath’s Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll.

The Final

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HANDBALL 04/05/10
By Tony McGee
Aisling Reilly and Paul Brady will be off to Texas to represent Ireland in the US Nationals, next month, as part of their award for winning the Men's and Women's Open National finals, at Kingscourt.
Once again, Brady proved he is the world's top handballer in the men's game with a comprehensive 21-5, 21-8 victory over Eoin Kennedy while Reilly  gained revenge over Maria Daly, after the Kerry girl surprisingly defeated  her Belfast opponent in the All-Ireland Championship decider.
Just last month, Dubliner Kennedy pushed Brady to the brink in the men's championship semi-final but there was no danger this time that Kennedy would pull off a shock.
In the first game, the Cavan man demonstrated his shooting prowess with kills from all angles and repeated the performance in the second game, as well. The current world No.1 notched up aces with ease and in Austin next month will bid for his sixth consecutive US National crown.
"Thankfully, things went my way but you always have to be on top of your  game to beat Eoin or he will punish you. Now my handball goal is to win the US Nationals again," stressed Brady.
Reilly and Daly, partners and finalists in the Ladies' World Doubles, fought  out a close opener in the ladies' final but Reilly showed full intent to avenge the championship setback. She took the first game 21-17, even though Daly pushed her all the way to the line.
Second time on court, the winner looked in control early on but Daly showed the same flair as in the championship decider and rolled off aces to get back into the game. However, she could not master her Belfast opponent who finished with style to win the title and those precious tickets to the US Nationals in Texas.
"I never have been to Texas and it should be a great occasion," enthused Aisling. "I'm hoping for a bit of sunshine and, of course, a good run in the Nationals."
In a thrilling Ladies' B Final, Mayo's Clodagh McManamon defeated Aoife McCarthy from Westmeath in a 11-9 tiebreaker. It was so close but not close enough in the Ladies' 23 & Under decider for Lorraine Havern as the Saval teenager lost out to Cork's Catriona Casey at 18 and 12.
In the Men's A Final, Leesider Brendan Fleming was in top form against Tyrone's Shane O'Neill. Fleming controlled the first game and with some clinical finishing recorded a 21-12 win while in the second game, the Ballydesmond clubman produced some excellent play to take the Men's A crown with a 21-5 victory.
In the Diamond Master's A Singles decider there was better luck for Eugene Kennedy than his son Eoin had against Brady as dad took the honours, 21-12, 21-10, against Wexford's Ned Buggy. There was a second defeat for a Down player as Laois' Paddy Donovan overcame Sean McNally 21-2, 21-11.