Kerry captain ready for handball challenge
Kerry captain ready for handball challenge
All-Ireland winning Kerry captain, Darran O'Sullivan, has had a very successful year, and next week he is hoping to continue his winning ways in the GAA Handball Showdown at Croke Park. Despite Kerry's presentation of their All-Ireland winning medals on Friday December 4th, O'Sullivan has committed to pairing up with Kerry handballer, Dominick Lynch, as they take on the top GAA stars from around the country the day after the gala event.
"I'm looking forward to the handball showdown; it's something different at this time of year," said the Glenbeigh-Glencar clubman.
"I used to tip around when I was younger, but to be honest I could move around the court well enough, but was never great at actually hitting the ball."
O'Sullivan has been a member of the Kerry team since 2005 and September victory granted the bank official a third All-Ireland, but the honour of collecting Sam on behalf of his county was some unique.
"It's nice to win an All-Ireland when the opportunity arises, but being captain, and in the historic year of the GAA's 125th anniversary, made it even better," said O'Sullivan.
"The year was up and down for us; our performances dropped early in the championships, but thankfully things came good in the end and we were able to hit form when we needed to."
In 1884, handball was included in the GAA Charter as one of the sports to be promoted by the new Association and 125 years later, the game has evolved into the only truly international game under the Gaelic games umbrella. With six new clubs registered in the past months, handball is the slumbering giant of Irish sport and on December 5th, top hurlers, footballers, camógs, ladies footballers and even a rounders player will come together to test their skills in the alley.
The Showdown involves pairing high-ranking handball players, such as Cork's Tony Healy, Kilkenny's Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh and Dublin's Eoin Kennedy, teaming up with a top GAA Star from their county in a knock-out tournament to become the 'Ultimate GAA Handball Showdown' winners.
A huge crowd is envisaged at what promises to be an absolutely absorbing occasion for the sport with the likes of Kilkenny's Hurler of the Year, Tommy Walsh, Mayo's All-Star nominee, Andy Moran and Dublin's dynamic forward, Conal Keaney all set to compete, with a host of star names. Also in action will be top Ladies GAA players, such as Mayo's All-Star forward, Cora Staunton, All-Star Goalkeeper, Cliodhna O'Connor, Cork's All-Ireland Camogie medal winner, Cathriona Foley and Galway scoring maestro, Aislinn Connolly.
There will be a host of other highly entertaining and unique games staged over the course of the day, not least as Uachtarán CLG, Christy Cooney, will don his handball gear for an historic GAA President's Showdown in the 40x20 court.
FOR TICKET INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Niamh Egan on 01-8192383 or email niamh@handball.ie
GAA 125 Handball Showdown
Dublin Eoin Kennedy Conal Keaney (Football)
Kilkenny Duxie Walsh Tommy Walsh (Hurling)
Roscommon Dessie Keegan Jim Reilly (Rounders)
Kerry Dominick Lynch Darren O'Sullivan (Football)
Cavan Michael Finnegan Seanie Johnston (Football)
Westmeath Robbie McCarthy Dessie Dolan (Football)
Wexford Gavin Buggy Anthony Masters (Football)
Meath Tom Sheridan Graham Geraghty (Football)
Wicklow Michael Gregan Paddy Dalton (Football)
Tipperary Ger Coonan Shane McGrath (Hurling)
Armagh Charly Shanks Diarmaid Marsden (Football)
Cork Tony Healy Donnacha O'Connor (Football)
Antrim Ricky McCann Michael McCann (Football)
Meath Brian Carroll Joe Sheridan (Football)
Mayo Joe McCann Andy Moran (Football)
Antrim Owen McKenna Mickey Kettle (Hurling)
Tyrone Ruari Kelly Justin McMahon (Football)
Ladies
Ashley Prendiville Cathriona Foley (Cork/Camogie)
Deirdre Donohue Cora Staunton (Mayo/ Football)
Anna Wrynn Cliodhna O'Connor (Dublin/ Football)
Bernie Hennessy Aislinn Connolly (Galway/Camogie)
Maria Daly Mairead Morrissey (Tipperary/ Football)
Fiona Shannon Goline Donnelly (Tyrone/ Football)
Aisling Reilly Katie McAuley (Derry/Camogie)
Marianna Rushe Mags D'Arcy (Wexford/Camogie)
All-Ireland winning Kerry captain, Darran O'Sullivan, has had a very successful year, and next week he is hoping to continue his winning ways in the GAA Handball Showdown at Croke Park. Despite Kerry's presentation of their All-Ireland winning medals on Friday December 4th, O'Sullivan has committed to pairing up with Kerry handballer, Dominick Lynch, as they take on the top GAA stars from around the country the day after the gala event.
"I'm looking forward to the handball showdown; it's something different at this time of year," said the Glenbeigh-Glencar clubman.
"I used to tip around when I was younger, but to be honest I could move around the court well enough, but was never great at actually hitting the ball."
O'Sullivan has been a member of the Kerry team since 2005 and September victory granted the bank official a third All-Ireland, but the honour of collecting Sam on behalf of his county was some unique.
"It's nice to win an All-Ireland when the opportunity arises, but being captain, and in the historic year of the GAA's 125th anniversary, made it even better," said O'Sullivan.
"The year was up and down for us; our performances dropped early in the championships, but thankfully things came good in the end and we were able to hit form when we needed to."
In 1884, handball was included in the GAA Charter as one of the sports to be promoted by the new Association and 125 years later, the game has evolved into the only truly international game under the Gaelic games umbrella. With six new clubs registered in the past months, handball is the slumbering giant of Irish sport and on December 5th, top hurlers, footballers, camógs, ladies footballers and even a rounders player will come together to test their skills in the alley.
The Showdown involves pairing high-ranking handball players, such as Cork's Tony Healy, Kilkenny's Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh and Dublin's Eoin Kennedy, teaming up with a top GAA Star from their county in a knock-out tournament to become the 'Ultimate GAA Handball Showdown' winners.
A huge crowd is envisaged at what promises to be an absolutely absorbing occasion for the sport with the likes of Kilkenny's Hurler of the Year, Tommy Walsh, Mayo's All-Star nominee, Andy Moran and Dublin's dynamic forward, Conal Keaney all set to compete, with a host of star names. Also in action will be top Ladies GAA players, such as Mayo's All-Star forward, Cora Staunton, All-Star Goalkeeper, Cliodhna O'Connor, Cork's All-Ireland Camogie medal winner, Cathriona Foley and Galway scoring maestro, Aislinn Connolly.
There will be a host of other highly entertaining and unique games staged over the course of the day, not least as Uachtarán CLG, Christy Cooney, will don his handball gear for an historic GAA President's Showdown in the 40x20 court.
FOR TICKET INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Niamh Egan on 01-8192383 or email niamh@handball.ie
GAA 125 Handball Showdown
Dublin Eoin Kennedy Conal Keaney (Football)
Kilkenny Duxie Walsh Tommy Walsh (Hurling)
Roscommon Dessie Keegan Jim Reilly (Rounders)
Kerry Dominick Lynch Darren O'Sullivan (Football)
Cavan Michael Finnegan Seanie Johnston (Football)
Westmeath Robbie McCarthy Dessie Dolan (Football)
Wexford Gavin Buggy Anthony Masters (Football)
Meath Tom Sheridan Graham Geraghty (Football)
Wicklow Michael Gregan Paddy Dalton (Football)
Tipperary Ger Coonan Shane McGrath (Hurling)
Armagh Charly Shanks Diarmaid Marsden (Football)
Cork Tony Healy Donnacha O'Connor (Football)
Antrim Ricky McCann Michael McCann (Football)
Meath Brian Carroll Joe Sheridan (Football)
Mayo Joe McCann Andy Moran (Football)
Antrim Owen McKenna Mickey Kettle (Hurling)
Tyrone Ruari Kelly Justin McMahon (Football)
Ladies
Ashley Prendiville Cathriona Foley (Cork/Camogie)
Deirdre Donohue Cora Staunton (Mayo/ Football)
Anna Wrynn Cliodhna O'Connor (Dublin/ Football)
Bernie Hennessy Aislinn Connolly (Galway/Camogie)
Maria Daly Mairead Morrissey (Tipperary/ Football)
Fiona Shannon Goline Donnelly (Tyrone/ Football)
Aisling Reilly Katie McAuley (Derry/Camogie)
Marianna Rushe Mags D'Arcy (Wexford/Camogie)
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