GAA 125 Handball Showdown
Leinster GAA Newshttp://www.gaa.ie/leinster
GAA HANDBALL SHOWDOWN CLOSES 125 CELEBRATIONS
The Gaelic Athletic Association's 125 celebrations came to a close at Irish handball headquarters, Croke Park on Saturday, where stars from Football, Hurling, Camogie, Handball, Rounders and Ladies Football, came together to take part in the Ultimate GAA Showdown.
Some of the finest athletes in Gaelic Games took to the courts in four Showdown competitions, with Wexford and Cork emerging victorious in theMen's categories, and Leinster and Connacht taking honours in theLadies.
Cork sharp-shooter, Donnacha O'Connor, paired up with Rebel handballace, Tony Healy, to take the 40x20 Showdown title, where they defeated Mayo footballer, Andy Moran, and his handball partner, Joe McCann.
O'Connor recorded a six point victory over Moran in the first battle,and Healy sealed the deal with a one point win over McCann to take the title.
"It was a super day of handball and I really enjoyed it," said O'Connor.
"I think all of the GAA players got a lot from the experience and considering the high standard of play, we were delighted with the win."
In the 60x30 Showdown Final, top Wexford handballer, Gavin Buggy teamed-up with Wexford footballer goalkeeper, Anthony Masterson, where they defeated Kilkenny handball legend, Ducksy Walsh and 2009 Hurler OfThe Year, Tommy Walsh, by just one ace in a thrilling final.
"It was a great day to promote handball, and to meet handballers and inter-county players from other codes that you don't usually get to mix with," said Masterson.
"I suppose it was good to win too; Gavin pulled out a big win over Ducky and I did my bit against Tommy too; all the tipping about in the alley over the past few weeks paid off.
" Masterson is going to continue to train in the handball alley until Christmas, and from there, it's full steam ahead with next year's the Model County's football ambitions.
"I genuinely think handball is great for hand-eye co-ordination and footwork, and I hope yesterday provides a boost for the game," he said.
Fellow Wexford star, Mags D'Arcy, was also in winning form and joined up with Wicklow's Shauna Hilley as Leinster took the Ladies 40x20 Showdown title with a victory over Kerry ace, Maria Daly, and Tipperary footballer, Mairead Morrissey.
In the Ladies 60x30 Showdown, Mayo's Cora Staunton showed she can mix it with the best and paired up withRoscommon's Deirdre Donohue, as they defeated Ulster's Aisling Reilly(Antrim) and Derry's Katie McAuley.
Meanwhile, Mayo's Ballaghaderreen are the King of Clubs after they recorded a seven-point victory over Coolboy (Wicklow) in the All-Ireland Open Interclub Final at Abbleylara yesterday (Sunday). The destination of the 2009 title all hung on the last game, where Joe McCann defeated Johnny Willoughby to seal victory for Ballaghaderreen, who claimed their fifth consecutive crown.
RESULTS:
GAA 125 Handball Showdown, National Handball Centre, Croke Park:
Men's 60x30 Showdown Final: G. Buggy & A. Masterson (Wexford) df M. Walsh & T. Walsh (Kilkenny)19-18
Men's 40x20 Showdown Final: T. Healy & D. O' Connor (Cork) df J. McCann & A. Moran (Mayo) 28 -21
Ladies 40x20 Showdown Final:S. Hilley (Wicklow) & M. D'Arcy (Wexford) df M. Daly (Kerry) & M.Morrissey (Tipperary) 15-13
Ladies 60x30 Showdown Final: D Donohoe (Roscommon) & C Staunton (Mayo) df A Reilly (Antrim) & KMcAuley (Derry) 30-22
All-Ireland Open Interclub Final Ballaghaderreen, Mayo (D Keegan, P Flynn, V Moran, J McCann, S Cooney)df Coolboy, Wicklow (M Gregan, P Quaile, M Lennon, Johnny Willoughby,Jerome Willoughby) 107-99
GAA HANDBALL SHOWDOWN CLOSES 125 CELEBRATIONS
The Gaelic Athletic Association's 125 celebrations came to a close at Irish handball headquarters, Croke Park on Saturday, where stars from Football, Hurling, Camogie, Handball, Rounders and Ladies Football, came together to take part in the Ultimate GAA Showdown.
Some of the finest athletes in Gaelic Games took to the courts in four Showdown competitions, with Wexford and Cork emerging victorious in theMen's categories, and Leinster and Connacht taking honours in theLadies.
Cork sharp-shooter, Donnacha O'Connor, paired up with Rebel handballace, Tony Healy, to take the 40x20 Showdown title, where they defeated Mayo footballer, Andy Moran, and his handball partner, Joe McCann.
O'Connor recorded a six point victory over Moran in the first battle,and Healy sealed the deal with a one point win over McCann to take the title.
"It was a super day of handball and I really enjoyed it," said O'Connor.
"I think all of the GAA players got a lot from the experience and considering the high standard of play, we were delighted with the win."
In the 60x30 Showdown Final, top Wexford handballer, Gavin Buggy teamed-up with Wexford footballer goalkeeper, Anthony Masterson, where they defeated Kilkenny handball legend, Ducksy Walsh and 2009 Hurler OfThe Year, Tommy Walsh, by just one ace in a thrilling final.
"It was a great day to promote handball, and to meet handballers and inter-county players from other codes that you don't usually get to mix with," said Masterson.
"I suppose it was good to win too; Gavin pulled out a big win over Ducky and I did my bit against Tommy too; all the tipping about in the alley over the past few weeks paid off.
" Masterson is going to continue to train in the handball alley until Christmas, and from there, it's full steam ahead with next year's the Model County's football ambitions.
"I genuinely think handball is great for hand-eye co-ordination and footwork, and I hope yesterday provides a boost for the game," he said.
Fellow Wexford star, Mags D'Arcy, was also in winning form and joined up with Wicklow's Shauna Hilley as Leinster took the Ladies 40x20 Showdown title with a victory over Kerry ace, Maria Daly, and Tipperary footballer, Mairead Morrissey.
In the Ladies 60x30 Showdown, Mayo's Cora Staunton showed she can mix it with the best and paired up withRoscommon's Deirdre Donohue, as they defeated Ulster's Aisling Reilly(Antrim) and Derry's Katie McAuley.
Meanwhile, Mayo's Ballaghaderreen are the King of Clubs after they recorded a seven-point victory over Coolboy (Wicklow) in the All-Ireland Open Interclub Final at Abbleylara yesterday (Sunday). The destination of the 2009 title all hung on the last game, where Joe McCann defeated Johnny Willoughby to seal victory for Ballaghaderreen, who claimed their fifth consecutive crown.
RESULTS:
GAA 125 Handball Showdown, National Handball Centre, Croke Park:
Men's 60x30 Showdown Final: G. Buggy & A. Masterson (Wexford) df M. Walsh & T. Walsh (Kilkenny)19-18
Men's 40x20 Showdown Final: T. Healy & D. O' Connor (Cork) df J. McCann & A. Moran (Mayo) 28 -21
Ladies 40x20 Showdown Final:S. Hilley (Wicklow) & M. D'Arcy (Wexford) df M. Daly (Kerry) & M.Morrissey (Tipperary) 15-13
Ladies 60x30 Showdown Final: D Donohoe (Roscommon) & C Staunton (Mayo) df A Reilly (Antrim) & KMcAuley (Derry) 30-22
All-Ireland Open Interclub Final Ballaghaderreen, Mayo (D Keegan, P Flynn, V Moran, J McCann, S Cooney)df Coolboy, Wicklow (M Gregan, P Quaile, M Lennon, Johnny Willoughby,Jerome Willoughby) 107-99
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