The courts of Kilkenny and Carlow will come alive on Saturday 15th March when the top handballers go to battle in the Envirogreen Resource Irish National Finals. The tournament will showcase the talent in Irish handball, with current number one Irish seed, Cork's Tony Healy, bidding for his third consecutive title. "I won my first Open title in 2000, but now I am going for three in a row, and reaching that target would be something special," said the Ballydesmond clubman. "This is the biggest weekend tournament on the Irish handball calendar and when I set down my goals on the beginning of the season, winning the Nationals is one of the top objectives." The crème of the crop in senior men's handball will take to the courts for their quarter-final meetings this afternoon with Healy facing a tough semi-final meeting against Antrim's Owen McKenna at the O'Loughlin Gaels venue. "Owen is a great player and I met him in the Senior Championship last year," recalled Healy. "He's one of rising young talents in the game and proved this by making the Irish Casey Lawlor Cup Team last year. "I'm looking forward to the weekend's competition but you can only focus on one game at a time," he said. The expected final will pit Healy against Dublin's Eoin Kennedy, who takes on Mayo's Joe McCann, a player also producing some fine handball at present, in his quarter-final opener. In the third quarter-final, Armagh's Charly Shanks, takes on Westmeath young-gun, Robbie McCarthy and this will provide a close encounter with two contrasting styles of play. Antrim's Ricky McCann also looks to continue his present good form when he meets fellow Ulsterman, Tyrone's Ciaran Curran. In the women's section, the most eagerly anticipated quarter-final clash sees Kerry's Maria Daly face Kildare's Anna Spence, and there is no doubt that this will be close battle. Fiona Shannon opens her campaign, with a quarter-final match-up against Kerry's Ashley Prendeville. "It's great to see so many of the top female players in action," said Healy. "We have been talking for some time about all the juvenile talent coming through, and the time has come when they are now taking to the senior stage." In the juvenile events, there will be some top action in both the girls and boys categories. The 19 and Under and 17 and Under Boys events sees some of the rising stars in the game take to the courts. Limerick's Seamus O'Carroll is the hot favourite in the 19s, while the 17s in too close to call, but American Tyree Bastidas (New York) will be pushed to the edge by any of the other candidates, of which Cork's Shane Hedigan looks impressive. "The minor boys handball is being played at the highest level in years; these players are phenomenal," Healy said. "I think the 19 and Under boys will be one of the most competitive categories of the weekend, and it will take a great player to win it." In the Girls 17 and Under, Leona Doolin (Roscommon) is hotly tipped to add another crown to her impressive collection, but the likes of Wicklow's Shauna Hilley and Kildare's Louise Walsh will test her ability. There will also be some top action in the Master grades, with veterans Tom Sheridan (Meath) and Kilkenny's Michael Ducksy Walsh both in search of glory. An exciting weekend of handball action is certainly in store Noreside, with the finals taking place on tomorrow afternoon at the famed O'Loughlin Gaels club. Tweet

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