Handball growing in strength in the county
December 30, 2010Handball has come on in leaps and bounds over this past number of years with a full programme of fixtures for all age groups in the county, improved facilities in all the clubs, improved coaching for juveniles, excellent inter-club tournaments which have all lead to improved standards and an unbelievable level of success at national and international level. The ladies game has also taken off and last season for the first time the county ran a very successful ladies league. The 60 x 30 game is also making a comeback and the one-wall game which is set to be a trial sport at the 2012 Olympics is an area that can definitely expand.
The highlights of the season gone past were Darren Doherty's brilliant win in the U16 All-Ireland final and also his win in the All-Ireland colleges and recently he added the U15 Irish open handball title, Mickey Todd's All Ireland win in the Diamond masters 60 x 30 and Terry Kernans march to the All-Ireland Junior final with James Gavaghan also making it to the All-Ireland Junior B final..
On the other side of the coin, all this success and increase in the numbers playing the game has put increasing demands on man power and woman power for those taxed with coaching, fixtures, organising and administration and more people are needed to help out. As it is, only for some very dedicated and hardworking individuals the whole show would grind to a halt. The long term hope would be that every football club in the county would also have a handball club integrated into their facilities to promote and keep alive this most ancient of Irish games.
Monaghan handball clubs
It is within the clubs that the health of a sport is reflected as it is at grass roots level where the sport is nurtured and preserved and where champions are moulded. There are currently nine clubs affiliated to the Monaghan handball board and a brief resume of each is given below:
St Mellans
Situated near the Tyrone border amid the rolling hills of Truagh, the St Mellans handball club has for years been one of the standard bearers of Monaghan handball. There is a great tradition of handball being played in the area for over a hundred years with the old 60 x 30 alley in Clara still a symbolic reminder of the history of handball in the area. Nowadays the club would be regarded as having the best facilities in the county with a state of the art 40 x 20 alley complete with a glass back wall and the original 40 x 20 alley which continues to serve its purpose well. The club had 47 adult members registered this year with 23 juveniles taking part in the county championships. With a good standard of coaching taking place in the club culminating with Padraig McKenna winning a world title, and some dedicated members, the club can look forward to the future with confidence.
Honours won this year: Novice 4 championship (Niall McMeel), Novice 1 doubles (C. McKenna / N. Treanor), Emerald Masters (Michael McCarron), U18 championship (Padraig McKenna), U17 championship (Fergal O'Neill), U15 doubles (Ryan Treanor / Niall Mooney), U13 girls (Shauna McAree).
Tydavnet
The Tydavnet handball club in the heart of Scotstown village is another stronghold of handball in the county with handball been associated with the area since records began. The club is in the Scotstown complex and has been closed over the summer months with major renovations taking place in the entire complex. The alley is due back in operation at the end of October and with a state of the art glass back wall, it has one of the best viewing alleys in the county and has been the stage for some epic handball matches down the years. This year the club had 24 adult members affiliated with 26 juveniles taking part in the county championships. They are always challenging for top honours while participation in the sport by players of all abilities is regarded as ultra important by the club.
Honours won this year: GAA club league (Paul Cassidy, Cormac Sherry, Pat Meehan, M. McMahon, Peadar Sherry, Ronan Sheehan, Kevin McCague). Novice 2 doubles (C. Sherry / P. Cassidy) Masters (Sean Scott), U12 championship (Conor Leonard), U16 doubles (Gary Holohan / Sean Mohan), U14 girls (Casey Treanor).
Bawn
The Bawn handball club are one of the great success stories of Monaghan sport. While handball has always been associated with the area as the old 60 x 30 alley in the area testifies, it is in the past few years that the club has really blossomed. Up until then the handballers from the area plied their trade with neighbouring clubs such as Carrickmacross and Corduff, but with the building of the handball complex in Bawn, they have become one of the most progressive clubs in Ulster. This has been reflected in their success in the alley as they have really started to dominate many of the novice handball grades in the county culminating in their first junior success this year when Michael Duffy won the junior title. This means they shall have a player in the senior league and championship next year for the first time. With 37 adult members and 12 juveniles playing in the county championships, Bawn are set to become one of the major forces in the game.
Honours won this year: Junior championship (Michael Duffy), Nov 1 championship (Michael Clerkin), Nov 2 championship (Sean Clerkin), Nov 3 championship (Tom Coyle), Junior doubles (M Duffy / M Clerkin), Nov 4 doubles (B McArdle / M Clerkin), U14 doubles Eugene McGeough / Gary McElroy), U12 girls (Dervla McElroy), U15 girls (Joanne Cullerton), U17 girls (Siobhan McArdle).
Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross have traditionally been the strongest club in the South of the county and they continue to operate at the highest level with 31 adult members and 11 juveniles in the county championships. Home of the current county champion, Terry Kernan, and Ulster club champions, the big hitters from the southern capital are never far away when it comes to winning honours. With the demise of the famed Ashburton club, it will be up to the likes of Corduff and Bawn to challenge their supremacy in the South. With some great people involved in handball in the area the future of the club looks assured.
Honours won this year: Senior championship (Terry Keirnan), Senior doubles (T Kernan / John Kernan), Ladies league and U16 championship (Niamh Farrell), U21 Championship (John Farrell), U21 doubles (J Farrell / C O'Gorman).
Monaghan Harps
The Monaghan Harps handball club in the centre of Monaghan town continue to fly the flag for handball in the county capital. With a few dedicated people putting their shoulder to the wheel, they are focussing on the youth and this is already paying dividends with numerous juvenile titles being won at county and national level. With a large catchment area the Harps have the potential to be the top club in the county but much help is needed to achieve this goal and as with all clubs, past players need to get involved with helping out. With 13 adult members affiliated and 13 juveniles in the county championships, the Harps club are well positioned going forward.
Honours won this year: Silver Masters (Conor McDonald), Golden Masters (Martin McEntee), U11 championship (Cailean Myles), U13 championship (Simonas Seskevicius), U14 championship (Ramunas Ramanaskas), U15 championship (Darren Byrne), U12 doubles (Martin Mullen / Cathal Power).
Corduff
Situated up in the Southern part of the Oriel county, the Corduff handball club continues to keep handball alive in that part of the county. A few dedicated individuals are keeping the club to the forefront of Monaghan handball and the club have some excellent exponents of the sport such as Tim Oliver and James Gavaghan in their ranks with Gavaghan reaching the county senior decider this year. The club have 17 adult members affiliated to the county board.
Emyvale
The club of the current world U15 champion, Darren Doherty, Emyvale are creating a proud tradition in the sport. With one of the best handball coaches, Pete Larkin, in their ranks, Emyvale are always capable of producing world class handballers. The dedication and drive of the people in that area is second to none. With 7 adult members affiliated, the club need more adults to become involved but with 16 juveniles playing in the county championships the future of the club looks bright.
Honours won this year: U16 championship (Darren Doherty), U13 doubles (Mark McDonnell / Gareth McDonald), U17 doubles (David Downey / Chris Curran).
Connons
The Connons handball club near Clones is close to the hinterland of Monaghan's most successful adult player, Pat McCabe, who won numerous county and All-Ireland handball titles. The club is one of the newest clubs in the county and as with all clubs it takes time to become established. It would be hoped that in the near future, many more people will become involved. They have a great new alley over there and a great set-up for playing handball. They have currently 8 adult members with 4 juveniles taking part in the championships this year.
Aughnamullen
The Aughnamullen handball club, which was in existence since the 1920's, has recently endured many years of inactivity. However they are showing signs of recovery and have affiliated to the county board this year. There have been some great handballers from the area down the years but unfortunately the club went into decline. It would be a major boost to handball in the county to have a strong Aughnamullen club back in action and with 6 adults affiliated to the county board this year and with juvenile coaching taking place, a great start has been made. Also the club have entered a team in the Monaghan GAA handball league for the coming season.
Monaghan college handball this year
Monaghan continues to dominate a lot of the grades in Ulster college handball with Eugene McGeough, Conal McKenna, Mark McDonnell, Darren Doherty, Padraig McKenna, Terry McElvaney and Christopher McKenna all winning Ulster titles this year with Darren Doherty going on to win the all Ireland for St Macartans and Monaghan.
Juvenile Ulster Championships winners
Monaghan had 14 juveniles taking part in the Ulster championships this year and after some great performances it was Darren Doherty at U16 singles and Martin Mullen and Ryan Mooney at U12 doubles who won Ulster titles
Doherty All-Ireland U16 champion
Darren Doherty achieved an amazing victory for Monaghan handball by winning the U16 All-Ireland against favourite, Donal Wrynn from Leitrim in Abbeylaragh back in April. Darren, who is still U16 again next year played the game of his life winning on a score line of 6 - 21, 21 - 12 and winning a nail biting decider 11 - 10. Having won the world U15 titles last year in 40 x 20 and one wall, and recently winning the All-Ireland U15 open championship, Doherty has pushed back the boundaries of what can be achieved by a county like Monaghan on a National and International stage. Displaying the grit, determination and never say die attitude that has served Monaghan people well down the years, players like Darren, Paudraig McKenna, Terry McElvaney, Christopher McKenna and a host of others are creating a handball dynasty for Monaghan that has not been seen since the time of Pat McCabe from Clones.
Monaghan Adult winners in Ulster
40x20: Minor (Padraig McKenna), Minor doubles (Christopher McKenna / Terry McElvaney), Junior singles (Terry Kiernan) Junior B singles (James Gavaghan), Ladies junior doubles (Kate and Siobhan Brennan), Golden masters (Martin McEntee), Emerald masters (Michael McCarron).
60x30: Minor (Terry McElvaney), Junior B (James Gavaghan), Junior B doubles ( John McGeough / Michael Duffy), Master B (Sean Scott), Silver Masters (Conor McDonald), Golden Masters (Peter Owen Fealy), Emerals Masters (James Fealy), Diamond masters (Michael Todd)
Michael Todd wins All-Ireland for Monaghan
Michael Todd was Monaghan's only adult to win an All-Ireland this year when he was in devastating form against Louth's Sean Devlin in the Diamond Masters B final. Todd was a man on a mission winning the first game 21-2 and although his opponent upped the tempo in the second game, Todd ran out a convincing 21-10 winner and thus became the 45th Monaghan adult to win a national handball title.
Ladies handball
The ladies game continues to grow in Monaghan and for the first time ever there was a ladies league this year. This is an area that can really take off if enough people get involved in coaching and helping out.
Ulster handball All-stars
National All Star Nominees have been announced and once again we have some Monaghan handballers in the line-up with Michael Todd named as Ulster Masters Player of the Year, Padraig McKenna as Ulster Young Male Player of the Year, Darren Doherty as Ulster Youth Male Player of the Year and the Bawn Handball Club as Ulster Club of the Year. Tweet
