Patrick Finnegan is one of the leading lights on the national handball scene. Best of all though, he's a Cavan lad and although still only 19 is already being touted as a possible senior All-Ireland champion in the not too distant future. Kevin Carney reports Things just seem to be getting better and better for Patrick Finnegan, ace handballer and university student. Not content with winning a barrow-full of all-Ireland titles, the ambitious Kingscourt teenager continues to make waves on the international handball circuit. Just recently America's best handballers at under 19 level were the latest crew to fall at the hands (and feet) of the Kingscourt sensation, one of Cavan, Ulster and Ireland's finest. Over the last few years, Paul - in the company of Mullahoran's Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan of Kingscourt (a cousin) - has helped propel the Breffni county to the forefront of national and international handball. Indeed, the profile of the aforementioned has increased so much that the county can now take immense pride in having all three ranked in the list of the top 12 handballers in Ireland. And lying in waiting just behind Cavan's top three players are such talents as Paul Fitzpatrick, Sean Johnston and Patrick Clerkin. Yes indeed, the future of handball in Cavan looks very promising. Indeed, with the completion of three 40 x 20 courts in the Ulster Handball Centre in Kingscourt expected within the next couple of months, the scene is set for Cavan to consolidate its burgeoning status within Irish and international handball circles. But back to our man Finnegan. Representing Ireland in December last in the US Handball Association Junior Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona, Patrick demonstrated his full range of skills in careering to the 19 and under singles title. Seeded at number two in the competition - just behind a Californian in the pecking order - the 19 year old Star was among an official Irish team of three boys and two girls who travelled to represent their country in Arizona. It was young Finnegan though who stole the show. In only his second ever entry in the US Nationals, the young Finnegan travelled Stateside determined to preserve his unbeaten record over there. In this respect, it was very much a case of mission accomplished. In his opening salvo, Patrick was utterly convincing in disposing of the challenge of sixth seed Jason Knapp (21-4, 21-0) to make it into the quarter-finals. His opponent in the last eight was Jeff Kasner, another american. Again victory was achieved with much room to spare. With all of the American competitors now vanquished, it was left to the Cavan teenager and the rest of the best of the Irish to fight it out for the top prize. Patrick came up against long-time rival, Wicklow's Michael Gregan in the semi-final and as has been their wont, the combattants engineered another fine tussle with the Kingscourt Star eventually sealing his place in the decider with a 21-12, 21-17 win. The final was an all-Ulster clash with only Armagh's Charles Shanks now standing between Patrick and the ultimate prize. Played on December 29th last, it was a junior singles final which lived up to its pre-match billing with some terrificly skilful play exhibited by both players. At the end of the first game, Patrick - rated number 8 at 40x20 handball - was more than pleased to edge home by 21-14. Showing all his skills with both hands, the Cavan handball ambassador romped into a six aces to nil lead early on and thereafter showed great poise and composure to leave his a worthy 21-9 winner. Understandably, Patrick was delighted to have conquered America in such impressive and convincing style: "Winning in Arizona last December is the highlight of my career to date. It was fantastic to go over there and beat the best of the Americans and then getting the better of Charles Shanks put the icing on the cake because that was the first time I beat him," Patrick explains. It's not today or yesterday that young Finnegan was afforded the opportunity to bask in the glory of a title won for, if the truth be told, the Kingscourt teenager has been rolling in the silverware ad nauseum since almost from the moment he took up the sport, with the encouragement of his father Patsy, at the age of eight. From the time Patrick picked up his first medal at the age of nine as a member of the Kingscourt under 13 team which won the Ulster Community Games final, the budding star has seldom been out of the winners' enclosure. An All-Ireland under 13 Community Games triumph with Kingscourt followed at the age of ten. A couple of years later he won the Cavan under 14 doubles title with clubmate Alan McCabe and then All-Ireland titles followed in quick succession. In 1985, for instance, Patrick won the 60 x 30 All-Ireland under 14 title in 1995 when he beat Cork's Brendan Fleming. Simultaneously, Patrick was showing himself to be a dab hand at Gaelic football also and a county under 12 medal reflected that prowess. Patrick was to continue to play for the Kingscourt Stars club right up until minor level but, somewhat inevitably, heading to college in Dublin (UCD) and his continuing success at handball conspired to see his football career cut short, however temporarily. On the college front meanwhile, Patrick was in excellent form carrying the St. Pat's College, Cavan banner. Five All-Ireland college titles in total were hauled in by Patrick as he shone alongside such other handball notables at St. Pat's - under coach Fr. John Gilhooley - such as Paul Brady, James Brady, Pauric Kiernan, Hubert Smith, Ryan McCormack and Terence Tinnelly. Great times for Finnegan, great times for St. Pat's all-round then. "Having so many good handballers around at that time in St. Pat's was great for everyone of us because playing them kept you on your toes and helped you improve your game. There was great competition for places on the team too," Patrick admits. Now playing an average of four days per week, Patrick's game quickly matured and got stronger and weaknesses were worked on with great diligence and dedication as he exhibited his skills in his native Kingscourt and neighbouring courts in Kells and Carrickmacross. So how did he rate himself as he grew older and stronger? "Obviously when I was winning All-Irelands, I knew that I was in with a chance in each of the competitions I was entering and the more success I achieved the more hungry I became to keep getting to finals and winning them." Winning the US junior national title in Nebraska at the age of 15 helped re-inforce Patrick's belief in his own ability and fuelled both his enthusiasm and his confidence. Winning the All-Ireland under 16 title underpinned his rising stardom and then the national under 18 title was his too. In 2001 the national 40 x 20 under 21 singles title went Finnegan's direction also, predictably. For good measure, he added the doubles title as well in the company of club colleague Ryan McCormack. For the coming year, 2002, Patrick will be competing at intermediate level. So what's the chances of him careering to another All-Ireland title this year? "I think I have a good chance of going all the way but it's hard to know. I'll do my best but a lot depends on how things go on the day." And the quality of the opposition? "There are a lot of good players around right now. Des Keegan from Mayo got to the last two finals and he'll be gunning to make it third time lucky so he'll be one who will be fancied to win it out. "He (Des) beat me narrowly when I was very young but it could just as easily have gone my way. It would be nice to get a bit of revenge but we'll have to wait and see." Should make for a very interesting match. Come on Patrick, come on Patrick, come....... Tweet

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