Eoin Kennedy was presented with the Vodafone Player of the Year Award at a presentation luncheon at the Westin Hotel in Dublin on Monday 14th February last, writes Michael McGee. Kennedy had an excellent year on the handball courts in 2004, winning three National titles. He claimed the Hardball, FBD Nationals for the third year in a row and also the 60 x 30 open with a narrow victory over Wexford's Barry Goff. It was Kennedy's second Player of the Year Award to go with the title he won in 2003. Eoin was accompanied to the presentation with his parents Eugene and Carmel Kennedy, his girlfriend Elaine Sinclair, officers from the Dublin County Handball Board, as well as members of the St. Bridget's and DCU Handball Clubs. Also present were Tony Hayes, President of the Irish Handball Council; Lorcan O' Ruairc, Riarthoir Naisiunta IHC; Lisa Mitchell, Promotions Officer IHC and members of the National media. Helen Marks Head of Vodafone was delighted to welcome Tony Hayes, Kennedy and his family to the awards. Marks' commented that winning one Handballer of the Year Award was a great achievement but to win two in three years is truly remarkable, especially with so many top players emerging. Tony Hayes, who had an early morning start from Cappagh in Limerick, then spoke and thanked Vodafone and the GAA for honouring the country's top handball players each year. Hayes was full of praise for Kennedy whom he described as an excellent player. During his three-year term, which ends in April, Hayes has travelled around the country and to foreign shores with Eoin. "His attitude, behaviour and preparation for games are meticulous," said Hayes. "Kennedy is in the top four players of the country." Hayes added that Kennedy's commitment in all codes of handball is unique as he transgresses from one code to another without any difficulty at all. Kennedy was a member of the Irish team that represented the country in the Basque Invitational Handball Tournament and Hayes saw at first hand the preparations that Eoin put in before games. Eoin is also a member of the Central Council and gives the same commitment to that as playing. Hayes wished that the warm working relationship with the GAA would continue into the future and congratulated Eoin on his latest achievement. Kennedy, the double All-Star, then spoke and immediately thanked Vodafone for the Award. Eoin was very gracious in not forgetting all those who helped and supported him in his handball career thus far and thanked St. Bridget's Handball Club, DCU Handball Club, John O' Donnell, Eugene O'Reilly and Derek Henry. There were also thanks for officers from the Irish Handball Council and Dublin County Handball Board for promoting handball and helping to give the sport a higher profile that it deserves. He had special words of praise for his parents Eugene and Carmel Kennedy for all their support. After a sumptuous meal, Eoin kindly gave me a few minutes of his time and I began by asking him about his earliest memories in handball. He does remember going all over the country with his dad Eugene when he was about 6 or 7 but he did not start playing until he was 10 years old. Eoin's hero growing up was Duxie Walsh. Amazingly, when Duxie was winning his first of sixteen senior 60x30 titles in 1985, Eoin was only six years old. In 2001 he was to meet his hero face to face for the second time in a National final. The previous year Duxie got the better of the young Dubliner but in the 2002 final, he defeated the legendary Duxie, thus ending a golden era in Irish Handball. Other players that Kennedy admired were Peter McAuley from Louth, Tipperary's Eddie Corbett and Pakie Ryan, who won an All-Ireland for Dublin in 1980 and trained the young Kennedy when he was fourteen. He mentions his dad Eugene, Michael McCluskey and the late Shay Reilly R.I.P., who all have had a great influence on his career. Eoin won his first title in 1990 at the U-14 Singles 60x30 final. In 1997 he beat Paul Brady in the Minor 60 x 30 Singles final and repeated this again the following year when beating Brady in the U21 Singles on the big court. Eoin won two Junior championships when a student at Coolmine Community College and in San Diego in December of 1994 he clinched the USHA 15 and Under title. With younger brother Brian he won the 40 x 20 Minor Doubles in1997 and in the same year he took the Waterford Crystal Boys 19 and Under Nationals title and for good measure dad Eugene also won the Golden Masters A title. Kennedy has also won both National and Collegiate titles and also won the Canadian Open Singles in Halifax Nova Scotia, beating the legendary Merv Deckert from Winnipeg in he final. He has five All-Ireland titles between 40x20, 60x30 and hardball, and has won the Irish Nationals three years running. Eoin's most memorable game was the 2002 60x30 final against Michael Duxie Walsh as it was his first Senior title in 60x30 code. The Dubliner says that on their given day, any of the top eight Irish players are hard to beat. His trains six days a week which includes handball skills, practise matches, gym work two or three days a week, together with running and weights. He would like to see more handball being played in schools and it is an initiative the Irish Handball Council will be hoping to address shortly. Eoin has many other ambitions to win more Senior handball titles and to take part in the Pro-Stop's in America. He is making steady progress each year and is raising the bar even further. He has already beaten Brady and Healy in the first Provincial Open of the season last November With all the focus on the top two don't be surprised if Kennedy knocks over some more big names here and in the US. His ambitions are to win more Senior titles but I am sure the one he would really cherish is a World Title. Eoin is currently finishing off his studies for a Masters Degree in Electronic Engineering. At just twenty-six years of age, he has time and an abundance of handball talent on his side. Like his idol Michael Duxie Walsh, Kennedy has all the ingredients to become one of the most outstanding handball players this country has ever produced. Tweet

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