TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA ANNUAL REPORT TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR Náisiúnta

Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thabhairt chun fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir anseo go McWilliam Park Hotel inniu don Cruinniú Cinn Bhliana CLG Liathróid Láimhe.

would like to extend a warm no doubt that he will be a fantastic was especially popular among the I welcome to all delegates to success in the role. I look forward to younger generation of handballers. On the McWilliam Park Hotel for today’s working with him over the next three behalf of the Association I would like to Annual General Meeting. As we years. I welcome his wife Elaine and thank him for his outstanding service reflect on what was another action- his family and friends here today. during his tenure and I would like to wish packed year in GAA Handball we can him and Annette the very best of luck do so with immense pride at the I have no doubt that our outgoing for whatever the future holds. Although performance of our handballers both Uachtarán Joe Masterson will Joe may be finished as Uachtarán at home and abroad. welcome the break as he steps down today I know we will see him involved in from his three year tenure and I am handball for some time to come. We are heading into a very exciting sure his wife Annette will welcome the period for GAA Handball with the well-deserved break too after what I welcome all our special guests who imminent opening of the new National has been a hectic three year stint for are here today to join us as we reflect Handball Centre. This, together with the them both where they travelled to the on another twelve months of success 2021 World Handball Championships four corners of the country fulfilling within GAA Handball. just around the corner promise to be handball duties. massive occasions in our sport. The past year has brought some Joe has been an outstanding President fantastic memories and moments and Today’s AGM sees us descend on for GAA Handball and has always we will reflect on all of these throughout Claremorris in Mayo for what is a represented the Association with the report. Some of the standout proud day for the county as one great pride at any event that he has moments of 2019 were as follows: of their own takes up the position attended. Joe was always available of Uachtarán of GAA Handball. to take a call for advice or to give his Emotional finals night in Ceannaras Ballaghaderreen clubman, Dessie thoughts on any situation and he was It was a night filled with nostalgia and Keegan, will today take the baton from a great assistance to me and the full emotion as handball said farewell to outgoing President Joe Masterson as time team over the last three years. the iconic Croke Park Handball Centre he completes his three year term. in October. Two finals nights filled with Dessie has some great ideas for Joe has been a hugely popular President excitement and drama were a fitting the game going forward and I have who made time for everyone and who farewell to the old centre. The sight

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 5 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA of many of the legends of the game the last number of years but the Cavan signing the front wall of the big alley Féile na nGael breaking records man proved that at 39 years of age where they spent many a memorable The introduction of a standalone he still has the ability to mix with the finals night was a fitting way to sign Softball Féile proved to be a best when he finally achieved his long off in the old centre. resounding success as 26 teams term goal and equalled Naty Alvarado’s travelled to Wexford to compete record of 11 US Nationals titles when he Kennedy rolls back the years in epic in the first ever standalone event. defeated Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins Softball final The day was a huge success and it in the final in Los Caballeros, California. Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy came into the was encouraging to see a number of A truly remarkable feat from a final under the radar, as Westmeath’s teams from non-traditional Softball remarkable player. Robbie McCarthy was hotly tipped clubs compete. The 4-Wall Féile was to retain his title as a result of the held in Cork and Limerick and it also Double Night of celebration at All imperious form he had showed so proved to be a massive success with Stars far in 2019. However, Kennedy hadn’t 78 teams travelling south to take part. Two All Star events made 2019 a read the script and in a fairytale With over 100 teams in total taking unique year within handball. Following ending for the man who ruled the big part over the two weekends Féile the 2018 All Stars held in February in alley for many years Kennedy showed was one of the outstanding success the beautiful Dunboyne Castle Ard tremendous grit and determination stories of the year. Comhairle decided to bring the All to defeat McCarthy in an absorbing and epic final in front of a raucous home crowd and secure a tenth and probably the sweetest Softball title of his career.

Record breaking She’s Ace The She’s Ace tournament has grown from strength to strength in recent years. Last year’s event surpassed all expectations with over 160 players converging on Mayo venues for the female only event. Two days of entertaining handball, the competitive 4-Wall on Saturday and the fun 1-Wall element on Sunday saw all ages and abilities catered for.

McMahon & Casey continue to set the bar for Ladies Handball What more can be said about these two fantastic athletes? We are fortunate to be around to witness one WHAT MORE CAN BE SAID ABOUT THESE TWO of the greatest rivalries not only in handball but in sport in general. Rarely FANTASTIC ATHLETES? WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE does an encounter between the two AROUND TO WITNESS ONE OF THE GREATEST RIVALRIES fail to live up to expectations and 2019 was no different with the pinnacle NOT ONLY IN HANDBALL BUT IN SPORT IN GENERAL being the 4-Wall final when the duo served up yet another three game thriller. It was Casey who came out on the winning side this time as she Progress on National Handball Stars back into the calendar year with edged out McMahon 21-19 in the third Centre the 2019 event held in November. It while McMahon would go on to gain The past year has seen huge progress proved to be another outstanding revenge in the Softball Singles final to made as the opening of the new occasion in what is quickly becoming collect her third title. National Handball Centre draws the stand out social event on the GAA ever closer. Excitement is building Handball calendar. Hugely successful 4-Wall Final within the Handball Community in Festival Weekends anticipation of the opening of the The 2019 season has been an One of the big success stories of state of the art centre, the like of extremely busy year with a lot to recent years has been the 4-Wall which has never been seen before in reflect on and be proud of as once Finals Festival Weekends and this Irish handball or indeed worldwide. more Irish handball has excelled year’s instalment was no different. This is the first centre of its kind to both nationally and internationally. Huge crowds made their way to be built and will be a modern, vibrant A phenomenal effort has gone in to Kingscourt, Cavan and were treated home for Handball and one that will running the programme of events to two fantastic weekends of handball hopefully inspire the next generation from the National Office right down for the singles and doubles weekends. of handball stars. to our clubs and with a hugely exciting The quality of play on display all period for GAA Handball on the weekend was outstanding with Brady equals Alvarado’s record horizon handballers everywhere can several games going to tiebreak in Cavan’s Paul Brady may not have been look forward with great excitement to order to separate pairings. to the forefront of Irish handball for the years ahead.

6 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

4WALL The finals festivals in Kingscourt were a massive success once more as players from all over the country descended on Kingscourt over two weekends to take part in finals from juvenile level to over 70s.

This format of multiple games across three days with all players in a central venue has proven to be hugely successful since its introduction in 2016. The format not only allows spectators to watch several games under the one roof it also gives an opportunity for players at all levels to play their finals in front of huge crowds. Several games on Saturday needed tie breakers to separate very evenly matched pairings resulting in a marathon programme of games on Saturday that finished late into the night. One note of caution in relation to the weekend is that finishing at nearly midnight after the programme commenced early that morning is unfair on players, spectators and the volunteer venue officials. This was not a fault of scheduling or avoidable battle in the McMahon and Casey continued their impressive form from delays but due to the unpredictable rivalry as the two best players in the 2018 as they captured the Minor nature of handball games and the world locked horns once more in the Singles and Doubles titles in 4-Wall. potential length of same. The obvious final. McMahon and Casey’s duels on Doyle was partnered by Abby Tarrant solution to this is to change the the court are the stuff of legend now while McGinnity was partnered by format of the games or to reduce the within the handball community with Konrad Kowal who became the first amount of games played during the their outstanding skill levels and the Polish born player to win an All Ireland day and this is something we need to tight tussles between the two. With Handball medal. The young Kildare seriously look at going forward. Ladies sport overall on an upward lady is sure to make an impression We are indebted to the Kingscourt curve these two supremely talented in the Senior ranks if her impressive club for hosting both weekends over athletes deserve more recognition for Minor career is anything to go by. the past number of years, it was an their talent and for the entertainment The 4-Wall Nationals took place in enormous undertaking but one that they routinely provide. Galway and Mayo venues and were you embraced fully and played a huge Casey went on to complete the once more a huge success. The open part in making the event the huge double in 4-Wall as she, with her titles went to Westmeath’s Robbie success it was. You can be very proud partner Aishling O’Keefe defeated McCarthy and Limerick’s Martina as a club to have facilitated such a Roscommon’s Tully sisters, Fiona & McMahon following a cracking finals major event over the last five years Siobhan to capture the Doubles title. day in the impressive Claregalway with such great success. This was the Cork duo’s fifth title in Handball club. At open level the competition the last six years. There was over 700 games played is closer than ever with numerous At Minor level both Leah at National Level in the 4-Wall code genuine contenders for the number Doyle (Kildare) and which is a huge undertaking for our one spot in both Mens and Ladies. Eoghan McGinnity venues and officials around the This year’s finals saw Westmeath’s (Monaghan) country over a five month period with Robbie McCarthy retain the title he club, county and provincial games last won in 2016 defeating Clare’s also adding to the burden. Diarmuid Nash in a repeat of the Congratulations to Clare who 2014 final. Huge credit is due to both sit on top of the 4-Wall honours players for providing a high-class list taking 8 titles of the 72 on spectacle despite having to wait offer followed by Galway next on 7. to take the court and finishing Wexford and Kilkenny follow close late into the night. behind with 6 titles each. In all, Clare’s Diarmaid Nash and 22 counties took home one title Colin Crehan retained their or more over the course of the Doubles title by defeating championships showcasing once Galway brothers Martin and more the widespread popularity Diarmuid Mulkerrins in the and the great work being done in Doubles Final to capture their the 4-Wall code at present. second All-Ireland Senior title. In the Ladies, it was another epic

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 7 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA

SOFTBALL The introduction of the first standalone Softball Féile breathed some much needed life back into the Softball code as 26 teams from across the country competed in the Féile na Gael competition.

This was a huge increase on previous years and with several traditional 4-Wall clubs taking part it gives great hope for the future of the code to see so many young players enjoying the traditional game. The Irish Softball Nationals travelled to Wexford where a warm welcome was received by all who attended. The organising committee and the clubs in Wexford deserve great credit for the hospitality they displayed and also for the condition of their facilities on the day. Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins broke his duck at senior level when he took the Mens Open title with Martina McMahon defeating Catriona Casey to seal the Ladies Open title in Castlebridge. It was a nostalgic occasion as the last Softball Finals Nights took place in Ceannaras in September and October. Kilkenny’s Kyle Dunne had the honour of being the last Minor champion in the old centre as he overcame Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity. Martina McMahon ensured her spot in history as the last ladies winner at Ceannaras as she outgunned Catriona Casey in two games in the Ladies Senior Singles O’Keefe ensured their status as the complete the clean sweep at Minor final. most successful Softball Doubles level. The Softball Singles final was played partnership in the Ladies game On both the Singles and Doubles out in front of a large crowd with when they captured their seventh Finals night, we recognised the past Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy rolling back the title defeating Kilkenny in the Ladies Senior Singles winners who joined years to capture his tenth title with an Open Doubles Final. Kilkenny duo Kyle us on court for the presentations outstanding performance to defeat Dunne and Billy O’Neill collected the which provided a fitting end to the old hot favourite Robbie McCarthy. This final Minor title in the old centre as centre. There are so many memories final had everything and was a fitting they defeated Monaghan’s Eoghan and so many stories from nights in the finale to honour the finals nights that McGinnity and Tiarnan O Rourke. old centre and we now move to our had gone before. It was an absorbing Kildare’s Leah Doyle (Kildare) had an new home and will make many more encounter between two of the outstanding year as she captured memories as we watch the next batch finest Softball exponents and the Ladies Minor Singles to of stars take to the courts and bring one that will live long in the the magic of finals nights back once memories of all who witnessed more. it. A special commemorative booklet Meath duo Brian Carroll was produced for the occasion and and Gary McConnell ensured my thanks to all who contributed in another title was added to particular Paul Fitzpatrick. One of the the long list of title wins most pleasing aspect of the Softball in Ceannaras for the Finals was the media coverage that Royal County as they the finals attracted and I thank proved too strong everyone who contributed to this for Westmeath’s effort. Robbie McCarthy The events of this year have proven and Colm Jordan to be a positive start and should give in the doubles hope that with the right promotion showpiece. The and right attitude that we can build Cork duo of Catriona a bright future for the Softball code. Casey and Aishling With the Féile set to grow and more

8 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

facilities in mind. While in Wexford at both the Irish Nationals and Féile ONE OF THE MOST PLEASING ASPECT OF THE SOFTBALL it was inspiring to see the pride that the clubs had in their facilities with FINALS WAS THE MEDIA COVERAGE THAT THE several Softball courts warm and welcoming with a splash of colour, FINALS ATTRACTED AND I THANK EVERYONE WHO proof of what can be achieved with a can do attitude and a hard working CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EFFORT. committee. We must continue to look at ways of improving the aesthetics of our young players being exposed to the on children’s perception of the game current 60x30 venues and making game it is vital we do everything we will be extremely positive. While many them more attractive places for both can to encourage all these young challenges remain we must embrace players and supporters if we want players to keep playing the Softball them head on and set a positive tone future generations to take up the game. for the code and it’s growth in order code. I have previously mentioned and I to see the next generation of stars The big alley needs more would reiterate that we do need to develop. tournaments and more opportunities be careful of the language we use I would hope the new centre will for players to play the game. Club when talking about the code. Phrases inspire our current Softball clubs to tournaments are the perfect way to like Softball is dead or dying or on its modernise their facilities and to make achieve this so I would encourage knees immediately gives a negative them more welcoming to potential more clubs to take up the mantle and impression of the code. If we, as an new players. Softball courts in general run tournaments. association, cannot talk about the can be a vast concrete arena with In 2019 a total of 20 counties won code in a positive light, then how can often little or no colour in a building titles with Tipperary and Kilkenny we expect non handballers to have a that to non handballers has little leading the way on 8 titles each. positive impression of it? charm or appeal. This is mainly due Numbers were in line with 2018 and With a vibrant new modern court in to the fact that Softball courts are with a spread of 20 different counties our state of the art National Centre, it much older buildings and were not winning titles this is encouraging for is hoped that the impact this will have built with the modern-day sports the traditional game.

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 9 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA

MISSING CUP Unfortunately the saga continues with the missing Senior Doubles cup. Last presented to Meath in 2014 the cup has not been seen since which is most disappointing.

This is a most unfortunate situation and is an insult to those legends who received the cup and returned it for so many years before. If anybody has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the cup I would ask them to come forward to ensure that the cup is returned to its rightful place as soon as possible.

WALL BALL Over 400+ players made their way west to compete in what has become the best weekend in the GAA Handball calendar in recent years.

The Wallball Nationals is in my opinion the best and biggest National tournament in the World. The introduction of player walk-ons and music to the finals night added to the atmosphere and was warmly welcomed by all. This is something we must build on to create a complete package for players and supporters going forward. on show the largest crowds were often work in Wallball and there is no reason On the court the action was as surrounding the courts with juvenile why we cannot explore other ideas competitive as ever. Galway’s Martin encounters taking place. for a Wallball All-Ireland to ensure Mulkerrins came through a strong This year’s event was another the competition would be a success field in the Mens Open to take the title major success and thanks must go to and would not have the dropout rates following a final victory over Tyrone’s Breaffy House Hotel and the countless that the previous competition had. Sean Kerr. The athleticism shown by volunteers who ensured the event ran I welcome alternative ideas from both players in the final was a joy to smoothly. counties in this regard. We should not watch. The Loughmacrory showdown once always have to do the same and run In the Ladies Open Armagh’s Megan more attracted a huge crowd and is the same competitions for each code McCann caused a shock by defeating growing in strength year on year while of handball as each code is different reigning Irish and World champion successful tournaments were also and different formats might suit Martina McMahon in the semi final to held in Mount Talbot and Inis Mór. better. qualify for her first Ladies Open Final. The subject of a Wallball All Ireland We have a huge opportunity to Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin came is a cause for debate at the moment introduce the game of handball on through the other side of the draw to after CCCC reviewed the three-year a large scale to clubs and schools qualify for her maiden final too and it trial and recommended that the through the game of Wallball and one was the Galway girl who took home competition would not continue in which we must take advantage of. The her first Wallball Open title with a two its current format based mainly on Wallball schools initiative continues to game win over McCann. a high withdrawal rate that would grow from strength to strength but I In the Juvenile grades the standard suggest there is not an appetite for an would urge clubs to tap into this and is higher than ever with several high All-Ireland competition in this code explore club school links to avail of quality encounters taking place over at this moment in time. I feel that potential new members and also to the weekend. Such was the skill level the one game model does not really provide a pathway for the handballers

THE WALLBALL NATIONALS IS IN MY OPINION THE BEST AND BIGGEST NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD. THE INTRODUCTION OF PLAYER WALK-ONS AND MUSIC TO THE FINALS NIGHT ADDED TO THE ATMOSPHERE AND WAS WARMLY WELCOMED BY ALL. THIS IS SOMETHING WE MUST BUILD ON TO CREATE A COMPLETE PACKAGE FOR PLAYERS AND SUPPORTERS GOING FORWARD.

10 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT once they leave school to continue in the game. With new and unique forms of exercise in constant demand in this country to beat the battle of obesity and to get people active what better way is there to get out in the fresh air and exercise and all you need is a ball and a wall! As a sport we are very much competition centric but Wallball can be the perfect recreation game to keep fit, get active or simply just to have fun. Plans are still in the pipeline to host a stop on the European Tour but the issue is finding space in a packed Clár to host such a weekend that suits the European calendar of stops. Talks will continue to find a solution and I hope that this will be achievable in the near future. Once up and running I believe that this exciting venture will add to the growing popularity of the code throughout Ireland and across Europe.

HARDBALL A total of 69 entries were received defeated neighbours Kerry’s Dominick The Juvenile Softball Finals took in the Hardball Championships this Lynch and John Joe Quirke with the place in Moycullen and St. Comans year with 46 games played across Minor Doubles title going to Kilkenny’s and again the standard was excellent the championships. Billy O’Neill and Harry Delaney throughout both venues with several following their victory over another high octane encounters taking place. The number of withdrawals is still Kilkenny pairing of James Love and Eleven counties took part in the very high in this code and this needs Sean Barron. finals with Cork topping the medals addressing if it is to continue in its table with four titles while Galway, current format. JUVENILE HANDBALL Roscommon and Tipperary took two In an effort to promote the Hardball each and Clare, Kilkenny, Sligo, Tyrone code a decision was taken to stream The standard at Juvenile level in and Wexford all took home one title. the finals live this year. all codes is incredible and this is Congratulations to all on the hard On the honours front Robbie testament to the fantastic work work being put in to promote our McCarthy continued his good run carried out by coaches throughout traditional game at Juvenile level. of form in 2019 when he captured the country. You can all be very At the Wallball Nationals in Breaffy the All Ireland Men’s title following proud of the great work you are the standard of the Juvenile grades victory over Limerick’s CJ Fitzpatrick. carrying out. was exceptional with several high The Minor singles title was won by class encounters taking place Kilkenny’s Billy O’Neill who defeated Throughout the different Juvenile throughout the weekend. It was often Meath’s Daniel Farrelly. The Senior grades they are littered with quality the case that the largest crowds were Doubles title went to Cork’s Michael players each capable of forging a long gathered round the courts watching Hedigan and Daniel Relihan who successful playing career in the game. an underage game such was the level Huge credit must go to the coaches of quality on display. and parents for the way these players At colleges level successful have developed and the standards competitions were held in 4-Wall and that they are continuing to reach. Softball. The 4-Wall Colleges took The Juvenile 4-Wall Finals took place in Bawn, Corduff and Kells and place in Kingscourt on the Festival like the Juvenile Finals the standard finals weekend. The standard at these was exceptional with many familiar finals continue to rise each year with names taking part representing their this year being no exception. Fourteen schools. counties travelled to the Cavan The Softball Colleges competition venue to take part on finals day with took place in Clogh, Kilfane and ten counties sharing the honours. Talbots Inch and again there was Kilkenny topped the medals table some excellent action on show as the with an impressive four titles followed up and coming Softball stars took to by Wexford, Tyrone and Clare with two the courts. each while Armagh, Cavan, Galway, It is getting increasingly hard to get Tipperary, Kerry, Roscommon all took schools to commit to handball and home one title. Congratulations to all to bring kids to competitions. This the winners and to all the counties is often left to the volunteers in the involved in getting to the finals. clubs to take care of and is something

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 11 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA

that is currently being reviewed FÉILE NA NGAEL tournament. The introduction of a with a view to coming up with some standalone Softball Féile proved to alternative colleges structures to The Féile na nGael tournament has be a resounding success as 26 teams grow the game at second level. It is been one of the real success stories travelled to Wexford to compete in hoped that the schools taking more in recent years for GAA Handball the first ever standalone event. When responsibility will take some pressure with numbers competing exceeding you consider that only two teams off the already overworked volunteers. the 100 mark this year between the had taken part in the previous couple Other juvenile competitions three codes. of years this represents a fantastic organised at national level were the increase in the number of young Gael Linn, the Team of Four/Six in The 4-Wall Féile was held in Cork and people getting the opportunity to 4-Wall and Softball, the Girls Team of Limerick and it was a massive success experience Féile and also to play the 6 in Softball and the Girls Team of 10 with a total of 78 teams travelling Softball code. in 4-Wall. South to take part. The event saw The day was a huge success and As an association we can be very 56 4-Wall teams (37 Boys and 19 it was encouraging to see a number proud that the structures we have Girls) taking part in 6 divisions with of teams from non-traditional in place produces the best juvenile Loughmacrory (Tyrone) and Lahorna Softball clubs competing. In the end players in the world. Right now, Ireland (Tipperary) taking the Division 1 Boys Loughmacrory and Lahorna made it a are a long way ahead of the rest of & Girls titles respectively very impressive double for their clubs the world when it comes to juvenile The Wallball Féile that was as they took home the Division 1 titles development and the standard introduced two years ago continues in the Softball to add to the 4-Wall of our juvenile players and this is to grow and this year an impressive 22 Division 1 titles won earlier in the year. something we should be rightly proud teams took part in the fantastic Conna This is a remarkable achievement for of. We must ensure that we provide complex with the Division 1 titles going both clubs and credit to the great the correct platform to keep these to Clogh Ballacolla (Laois) in the Boys coaching work being done in both fantastic players playing Handball and and Oughterard (Galway) in the Girls. clubs. try to prevent a drop off in numbers A wonderful welcome awaited As with the 4-Wall and Wallball when they progress from juvenile to the young Handballers in Cork and Féiles, the welcome afforded to the senior handball. Limerick with every club stepping up young players was second to none in There will always be a lure of other to the mark in terms of officiating Wexford with fantastic hospitality and sports, of social lives and other life and also hospitality in what was an top class officiating at all venues. This pressures but if we provide a clear excellently ran competition. Over commitment from our clubs helps to pathway and an exciting modern 350 games were played over the add to the experience for our young sport then I am confident we can and weekend over ten venues which gives players to give them a memorable entice them to remain as handball an indication of the level of effort that Féile experience. players. went into running such a fantastic I would like to thank the committees

12 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT in both Cork and Wexford for the fantastic job they both did hosting the respective Féiles. Also, to our Féile Rep Willie Roche and to National Fixtures Officer Austin McKenna for their hard work which is clearly paying off. With over 100 teams in total taking part over the two weekends Féile was one of the outstanding success stories of the year.

LADIES HANDBALL The 20x20 initiative is at a crucial juncture with the campaign aimed at creating a measurable cultural shift in the presentation and perception of Women’s sport in Ireland.

It is a broad-based approach with three key metrics in mind to boost media coverage, attendance at key events and participation each by 20 per cent by 2020. GAA Handball are delighted to be part of this very worthy initiative and look forward to being part of the campaign over the next year. Over the past decade, huge work has gone in to developing and promoting Ladies handball and the advances made have been excellent. While there is still more to do, we are heading in the right direction. Just this year I was delighted to sit down with Nora Stapleton, WIS lead for Sport Ireland, and she was very impressed with GAA Handball’s progress in terms of promoting ladies handball. We had a full and open discussion on the challenges facing Singles while the Bridín Uí Mhaologáin At the moment we are blessed to ladies sport and in particular ladies Cup will be awarded to the winners be around to witness the outstanding handball. I thank Nora for her time and of the 4-Wall Ladies Senior Singles. rivalry between our top two ladies her advice and wish her well in her role. Munster GAA Handball have also players Catriona Casey and Martina We are aware that although we are generously committed to donating McMahon, one of the greatest rivalries doing a lot of things right it is vital a cup for the 4-Wall Ladies Senior not only in handball but in sport in that we must continue to improve and Doubles competition. There are still general. maintain these standards. It remains a number of competitions in both The duo have competed in the last disappointing that there still a small codes that do not have cups but three 4-Wall Finals, six Softball Finals number of our venues that have not steps are being made to rectify this so and the Worlds Final with five of the got adequate changing facilities for that all our elite ladies competitions ten major finals going to tie break Ladies and in reality this is not good have a cup to match the significance and each game being a spectacle of enough in this day and age. Our top of the competition. I wish to thank handball. These two ladies have raised female players do not receive the the Long family, Aidan Mulligan and the standard in ladies handball and recognition that they deserve in the the Munster GAA Handball Board for continue to set the bar for others media but unfortunately this is not donating the cups. to follow both at home and on the just confined to ladies handball and The She’s Ace tournament has international stage. we will continue to strive to better this grown from strength to strength I would like to take this opportunity and give all our players the exposure in recent years. Last year’s event to commend those who are they deserve. surpassed all expectations with over replicating the She’s Ace format and Just recently Ard Comhairle 160 females converging on Mayo are running She’s Ace Events in their approved two new cups for Ladies venues for the female only event. At counties. It is by showing this sort of Competitions in honour of two the time of writing this report the initiative and continued hard work prominent figures of the game. The 2020 She’s Ace tournament has that will see ladies handball grow and Julie Long Cup, which is being kindly once more surpassed all previous reach its full potential. donated by the Long Family and tournaments in terms of competitor It is encouraging to see more friends of Julie will be awarded to the numbers which is a most welcome women involved at administrative, winner of the Ladies 4-Wall Minor development. coaching and officiating level in

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 13 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA

clubs and counties and this is a huge in Wallball is a priority for us and Aguilar to take the Womens Open positive for the game. I would like to positive discussions around this have Doubles title defeating DCU pairing see more female representation at been ongoing with the hope of finding Fiona Tully/Meadhbh Ní Dhalaigh Provincial level and National level and a suitable date for all parties in 2020. I congratulate the ICHA on a hopefully this will be the start of more As an association we must fantastic year and commend them for getting involved. continue to work alongside our fellow the great work they are doing. I look We currently have a wealth of talent associations in both the US and the forward to working with them once in our ladies game with a host of top- rest of the world to grow the game more throughout 2020. class players at senior level added to globally. I look forward to working possibly the strongest ladies underage closely with our sister associations crop of players in a long time and this throughout the world over the next CLUB TOURNAMENTS all bodes well for the ladies game. year as we build up to Ireland 2021. Once more a large number of clubs While numbers in female grades hosted tournaments throughout are steady there is always room ICHA the year and I compliment them for improvement. There is a high for putting in the effort to host drop off of girls in their late teens/ The ICHA had another successful tournaments and provide handball early twenties and this is something year in 2019 and once more ran for members at all levels. we need to address and improve some excellent competitions in all numbers. three codes. Tournaments like the Gaffney Finally, I wish to thank the She’s Tournament, Golden Gloves have Ace Committee of Frances Ni The ICHA 4-Wall Singles event a long history behind them and Churraoin, Paula Doyle, Paula Clarke took place in Belfast venues with continue to excel while newer and Pat Murphy for their assistance Colin Crehan (UL) and Fiona Tully tournaments like the Moycullen and throughout the year. (DCU) retaining their titles. The Breacach Open in recent years are a 4-Wall Doubles saw Galen Riordan/ welcome addition. INTERNATIONAL Brian Mahon (UCD) and Fiona Tully/ The Lough Showdown once more Meadhbh Ni Dhalaigh (DCU) take the attracted huge numbers while Irish Handballers once more titles. regulars Mount Talbot and Inis proved their dominance on the The Softball Singles saw Kilkenny’s Mor both catered for the Wallball international stage with several Shane Dunne representing ITT and community. victories for Irish players in the US Fiona Tully (DCU) capture the open There are numerous other club in 2019. titles.The Softball Doubles Mens title tournaments held throughout the

In the US, Catriona Casey continued her dominance as she captured the US Nationals title and also the Race CAVAN’S PAUL BRADY REALISED A LIFETIME GOAL 4 Eight Players Cup. Cork’s Killian Carroll, who is based in Boston, WHEN HE EQUALLED NATY ALVARADO’S RECORD OF 11 continues to dominate the Men’s scene as he captured the Men’s Race US NATIONALS TITLES DEFEATING MARTIN MULKERRINS 4 Eight Players Cup. Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins picked IN THE FINAL IN LOS CABALLEROS up his first title on the US tour when he took the Tuscon Stop of the tour. Cavan’s Paul Brady realised a went to ITT with Shane Dunne & year and I congratulate all clubs on lifetime goal when he equalled Naty Gearóid O’Connell) while Fiona Tully their successful events. Alvarado’s record of 11 US Nationals capped off an impressive year joining Club tournaments are a fantastic titles defeating Martin Mulkerrins up with Meadhbh Ní Dhálaigh to take way for handballers to get more in the final in Los Caballeros. He the Ladies Doubles title for DCU. handball and also great social also captured the New York Stop In the Wallball Singles LIT’s James occasions to meet handballers from title defeating Westmeath’s Robbie Prentice took the Mens Open title all over the country. McCarthy in the final. defeating Terry McElvaney (DCU) With the 2021 World Championships while Aishling Mullin (NUIG) defeated coming to these shores in less than 24 Eleanor Percy (NUIG) to take the FIXTURES months’ time, planning will commence Ladies Open. A quick glance at the competitions to make this another World A strong representation travelled table will give you an idea of the Championships to remember. to the USHA Collegiates 4-Wall number of fixtures that were The success of the 2021 World Championships in the University of administered at national level Championships hinges on good Minnesota where there was success in GAA Handball with nearly two participation and buy in from the for the Irish in the Men’s Open Singles thousand games administered at other member countries of the World where Galen Riordan (UCD) defeated national level over the year. Council in order to provide credibility Tyler Stoffel (MNSU) and also in the to the World titles. We want to Men’s Open Doubles where David When you consider that this does encourage the best players in the Walsh/Adam Walsh (CIT) defeated not include club, county or provincial world to come to these shores in 2021 Niall Joyce/Kevin Diggins (DCU). In games it gives you a sense of the and every effort will go in to making the Women’s Open Galway’s Ciana weight of expectation on our this happen and making the 2021 Ni Churraoin representing MNSU volunteers and venues to host such a World Championships the best yet. defeated Fiona Tully (DCU) while vast fixtures programme. An Irish stop on the European Tour Ní Churraoin partnered with Corina Often times when one competition

14 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

ends another starts immediately The job of administering fixtures is administrators and also to the which increases the pressure on not often a very unforgiving job with very majority of other players who abide only our Fixtures Administrator but little thanks. One huge problem that by the fixtures as they are set. I also also on our venues and volunteers. We still rears its head is when players or feel it is extremely disrespectful need to be cognisant of the pressure counties wish to change fixtures. The when players repeatedly seek fixture that this puts on families who may rules surrounding fixture changes are changes. have family members wishing to clear and one of the great frustrations There will always be exceptional play in multiple events in multiple in organising fixtures is the blatant circumstances and the CCCC always areas of the country. This needs to disregard some players and counties try to look at these in a balanced and be addressed and a better-balanced have for these rules. fair way but it requires a common programme of fixtures produced for Players organising games between sense approach and co-operation everyone. themselves or pulling out of fixtures from players, county boards and all The past year has seen at times a without notifying the relevant units to ensure everybody involved in struggle to get venues to host games officials is not acceptable and shows fixtures are given the best platform to due mainly to overloaded fixture lists a complete lack of respect to the run as effective a fixtures programme and venues having multiple fixtures officials, the volunteers and venue as possible. over multiple days. Venues are asked officials who all have an important I would like to compliment the to cater for club, county, provincial role to play. With the amount of ways National Fixtures Officer Austin and national fixtures and often the now available to contact people McKenna and the CCCC for the venues in the most accessible parts nowadays this is really not acceptable. excellent job they carry out year in of the country become inundated. As We cannot expect people to take our year out in completing such a hectic an association we have a duty to our games seriously if we want to treat programme of fixtures often under volunteers to act on this and to try to our fixtures with such little respect at trying circumstances. counteract the clear slide in available times. venues and volunteers throughout When you consider that a fixture the country. Otherwise we will see contains an opposition player, a VENUES the volunteers we do have becoming venue official, a referee and possibly Without venues we can have no burnt out and it will be too late to stop supporters who all have made time fixtures so to those venues who it. for the original fixture and are now have stood up once more in the last There is a responsibility too on our been asked to accommodate a fixture year I say a huge thank you, you are county boards and our players to change often at short notice you making a huge contribution to the respect the fixtures list and to work get a sense that it is not always just success of our sport. with the CCCC instead of against as simple as two players agreeing them to enable the fixtures list to run between themselves to rearrange a The standard of hosting for our off smoothly. fixture. It is unfair on venue officials, National events has been exemplary

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 15 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA in recent years and 2019 was no welcome, top class venues and on committees at local level. Of our different. officiating. Breaffy House hosted current volunteers we have seen Wexford hosted two exceptional another excellent Wallball Nationals a number of clubs and volunteers Softball events with the Softball while Ceannaras in Croke Park played decline to host fixtures over the past Nationals and Softball Féile heading host to the last ever finals in the old year mainly due to the sheer amount to the Sunny South East. The handball centre. of time that fixture programmes take welcome received by all players, the When you add to this the hundreds and a lack of help at ground level in excellent venues and the efficient of venues who hosted individual hosting same. hosting made the two events very games throughout our major A lot of volunteers are also players, enjoyable. championships and team events but it is impossible to keep the Galway/Mayo once more stood up you see a phenomenal example of volume of games going and expect to the plate to run the Adult Nationals all that is good about volunteering people to play and volunteer in the for the second year in a row. Again in our sport. We are blessed to have current climate. People are more time the clubs in both counties were some amazing venues and amazing sensitive nowadays and have other excellent with plenty of volunteers volunteers who make hosting events commitments and we must look at and the competition was efficiently a pleasure throughout the country. ways to alleviate the pressure on our run. The Junior Nationals went north I would like to offer thanks on venues and volunteers. to Tyrone/Monaghan/Armagh with behalf of all the association to our We will prioritise efforts to try and the finals held in the impressive venues who hosted games from attract more people into volunteering Bracach Handball club and was a major national events down to club in GAA Handball and to do this huge success with players receiving championships throughout the year. we need to create an attractive excellent hospitality in every club and It is hugely appreciated and is a major environment for volunteers that is a huge volunteer effort was evident credit to you all. both rewarding and enjoyable. Many over the weekend. hands make light work and we can The 4-Wall Féile headed for Cork never have too many volunteers. At with Limerick lending their assistance VOLUNTEERS national level we will continue to look and as outlined above the Féile We are indebted to our network at meaningful initiatives to energise experience for the competing players of volunteers throughout the our current volunteers and attract was enhanced by the excellent country who ensure that our sport new volunteers. This must be a hosting of all clubs involved. Once is in safe hands at the moment. priority for us all in 2020. more the Kingscourt club was From venue officials to coaches to In 2019, a total of 1948 games were impeccable and hosted the two referees to administrators we are played across 223 venues. This is major 4-Wall Festival weekends. blessed to have a fantastic group of a phenomenal undertaking by our Mayo venues hosted the Annual volunteers in our sport at present. network of clubs and volunteers. I She’s Ace tournament and as is the salute you all for your dedication to case every year they did a fantastic In recent years we have seen a decline the game it is very much appreciated. job with all players receiving a warm in new volunteers taking up positions

16 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

CLUBS together we will grow our sport from The club is the lifeblood of GAA the club level up. Handball. It is at club level that The Club Iontach programme the game can only ever truly was launched this year by our grow and attract new players. Development team. Club Iontach is GAA Handball’s new quality standards With this in mind GAA Handball programme for Handball Clubs welcomed the appointment of across Ireland. The programme was Pauric Dowdall to the positon of Club devised to help guide clubs to achieve Support Officer earlier this year. I hope minimum operating standards in core you would all join me in welcoming areas, aimed at improving all aspects Pauric to the team and we wish him of club development. the very best of luck in his role. We are confident that there is Pauric’s role will concentrate on something in this document that club development and support and have managed to raise funds and all clubs can learn from as they will run a number of initiatives to to upgrade their facilities over the continuously endeavour to create help strengthen our clubs. This is a last year and I congratulate them for positive sporting experiences in very positive addition in our plans to having the foresight and commitment a safe, enjoyable and supportive support our club network. to do so. It takes a supreme effort to environment. November saw the first ever Club do so but the reward is worthwhile. There is no deadline for completion, Forum take place with 35 clubs I would encourage clubs to learn instead clubs can work at their represented on the day. The day was from those clubs who have already own pace for accreditation. We a resounding success with several been successful in fundraising and are confident that all clubs who informative talks and interactive obtaining grants as we can all assist sign up will reap the rewards and sessions held. This is the first of each other in developing our clubs. inevitably grow stronger as a club. The a number of initiatives aimed at This was one key aspect of the development staff at GAA Handball helping our club network to thrive and Club Forum in November that was are always on hand for guidance when prosper. warmly welcomed as a number of required. Throughout 2020 a greater clubs shared knowledge in relation This is a fantastic scheme and one emphasis will be put on club support to funding, structures, player that will help our clubs to grow while and training for volunteers. Several development etc. operating to the best standards and further club support initiatives and At national level we will offer all I encourage all our clubs to embrace workshops to upskill our volunteers the support we can and by working the programme. in areas such as Club Officer Roles, Coaching, Safety, Recruiting Volunteers, Fundraising etc are in the pipeline for the coming year. It is important that our clubs work NOVEMBER SAW THE FIRST EVER CLUB FORUM TAKE with Pauric to enable them to grow and prosper and that clubs make PLACE WITH 35 CLUBS REPRESENTED ON THE DAY. THE every effort to attend any training or development workshops that are DAY WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS WITH SEVERAL provided. INFORMATIVE TALKS AND INTERACTIVE SESSIONS HELD There are a number of clubs who

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 17 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA

COACHING & DEVELOPMENT to be a great support to the full time CCCC for a decision when they are Our Coaching & Development team team. Finally, I thank our National bound by a rule but then fail to bring continue to perform to the highest Development Officer Darragh Daly a motion to the AGM to amend the possible standards despite limited and Club Support Officer Pauric rule in question if they feel it needs to resources and a lack of manpower. Dowdall for their continued hard work be amended. The easier option is to that has achieved impressive results blame the committee who made the In reality more Development Officers despite limited resources. decision instead of addressing the are necessary if we are to truly realise issue and looking to amend the rule. the potential of our great game on DISCIPLINE The CCCC have worked extremely a nationwide basis. This must be a hard throughout 2019 and have been priority for our sport if we are to fully Our CCCC committee continue to consistent and fair in their decisions realise our potential in developing the do their work under at times very and this is all we can ask for. I want game throughout the country. trying circumstances. to thank the CCCC committee led by Despite this there are a number of Kevin Cooke for the excellent job they exciting projects that have happened As a committee they make decisions did in 2019 and would urge all units or are coming soon. Last year saw that may not always be popular to work with the CCCC in the coming the launch of the brand new Club but they have the courage and year. Iontach programme and the GAA conviction to make them The new referee pathway was Handball Academy both of which nonetheless as that is their launched in late 2019 and it is are excellent initiatives. The Club remit and they are simply planned to set up a referees panel of Forum in November was a huge following the rulebook. Many experienced referees to take charge success with plans for further people who criticise them of the open championships. It is also workshops and forums in seem to forget that they are planned to recruit and train more the future. volunteers elected by their referees in 2020 to hopefully ease You will see from the peers and they are trying to the burden on venue officials and Coaching Report later make decisions in the best current referees. This is not as easy on the volume of interest of the game. as it sounds as there needs to be work that has taken A lack of knowledge a willing cohort of volunteers who place throughout the surrounding the wish to become referees firstly. With last year is impressive rules of the game the right pathway hopefully this will considering the often leads to very attract more people to referee and shortage of staff this unfair abuse been ease the burden on our current batch year. directed towards the of excellent officials. I want to thank CCCC arising out of decisions This will only be a success our tutors who have made by the committee. however if players, officials and delivered courses all over One source of frustration spectators observe our respect the country and continue is when counties blame the initiative and respect the referee.

18 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

show our voluntary administrators coverage in local media outlets. This is the respect they deserve, they are very important in the overall context volunteers at the end of the day of gaining media coverage as the more and they have stood up to the plate coverage at local level then the more often when no one else was willing likely it is to seep through to national to. Maybe think about this before you level. I commend all the active PRO’s criticise the next time. for their work in promoting our game If genuine changes in personnel and achieving such coverage. need to be made at any level, there From a TV and general media are official channels in which to interest point of view, the fact that do this and if a member feels that we will have a state of the art centre they could do a better job then they in the confines of Croke Park will are free to get involved and put hopefully remove some of the barriers themselves forward for the position. to media exposure as the majority of As an association we need to the national media are Dublin based. provide more support and educate Once more our Live stream coverage all administrators at all levels in their of our major games on Facebook roles of what is expected of them and Live has been a resounding success best practices in carrying out that bringing our games to a worldwide role. If we do this and our members audience with fantastic viewing allow them to do their jobs then the figures. This year saw over 80 live administration of the sport becomes games streamed to a worldwide a lot more streamlined and efficient. audience. I commend all our administrators GAA Handball began streaming live for the work that they do throughout games five years ago and it has been the year and hope that they have a huge success since. The number of found the experience enjoyable and live games continues to grow with our some way rewarding. audience and potential reach growing year on year. When you think that our sister associations are only really MEDIA/PR/COMMUNICATIONS beginning to explore live streaming in The battle continues in what is the last couple of years it shows that we have been ahead of the pack in There is absolutely no place for a hugely competitive field for terms of online coverage. abuse of officials in our game, they media coverage yet 2019 saw an The work and attention that goes are volunteers and have given up improvement in media coverage for into streaming an event is not always their free time to officiate and they our sport. noticed but it has become a valuable deserve respect for doing so. The fear tool for us to showcase our sport to of getting abuse for making a split Our All Ireland Softball finals attracted mass audiences. We are constantly second decision can often put people the best coverage in a number of looking for ways to improve our live off refereeing and this should not years with coverage on RTE Radio, streaming offering and introduced be the case. All our officials should RTE News, TG4 and in many of the some of these throughout this year’s feel welcomed and comfortable in National newspapers not to mention finals. their role, mistakes will be made but numerous sports websites. I thank MacAV for their camera everybody is human at the end of the On a local level a number of counties work throughout the year which as day and we are all there to enjoy our have forged successful relationships always was excellent. I also thank all games officials included. with local media and receive good Showing respect to officials should not be an exception but the norm. As supporters emotion can get the better of us but this is still not an excuse. Our top players need to lead by example here too and the younger generations will follow. We need to create a safe culture for our referees and officials and then we will see more people volunteer to officiate.

COMMITTEES Our provincial and county committees were tasked with a huge workload once more in 2019.

For a provincial or county setup to operate efficiently then the committees must be given the full support and backing of the members of that county/province. I would urge all members to

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 19 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA the commentators throughout the over 22,000 followers on Facebook when posting comments that could year who imparted their knowledge on alone the potential reach is massive. potentially cause hurt. the watching public and kept so many When you compare these numbers to Positive comments are always people entertained. other NGB’s at similar size and some welcome and it helps to portray a Our National website continues bigger we are exceeding the average in positive image for our sport. We all to be the number one source of terms of social media followers. have a responsibility to Like, Share, information for members and the A lot of NGB’s have full time staff Retweet and post positive comments general public. Our award winning to take care of media and social to enable our sport to gain the site continues to provide up to date media so when you consider that GAA maximum positive exposure that we information on all handball events Handball have achieved all of this possibly can. with a comprehensive news section without a full time staff member it I commend the number of social where over 350 articles were posted really is an impressive achievement. media accounts that are doing great in the past year. In that regard I want to thank the work in promoting the game at local Added to this the comprehensive office staff and in particular Darragh level and encourage any units that video library and resources for clubs Daly for their work on our social media do not have an account to spread and members available on our site channels. the word by setting one up. I also including venue information and As always I would appeal to people would like to pay tribute to the many player profiles and you see why our when they are commenting on counties and clubs who are doing an website is regarded as best in class. Facebook to be mindful that potential excellent job at promoting our sport Once again our Social Media sponsors and all media outlets are through local media. You are creating fanbase has grown steadily over the online nowadays and a negative post essential links with local media outlets year and have been invaluable tools in or an ill-informed post could have a that are essential in the overall quest promoting the game. negative effect on their perception of for national media coverage. Sometimes we can overlook the the sport and it can mean a serious In 2020 the new online club importance of social media for an loss of opportunity. We must also be registration system due in quarter NGB of our size as a marketing tool for mindful of potential mental health two will lead to more effective our sport. When you consider we have issues and need to be aware of this communication channels within handball and enable an easier transfer of information to all our units. In the past couple of years with OUR AWARD WINNING SITE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE changing email addresses and GDPR regulations it has at times limited UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON ALL HANDBALL EVENTS the amount of information that was being sent from national office. WITH A COMPREHENSIVE NEWS SECTION WHERE OVER However once the new system is up and running and distribution lists are 350 ARTICLES WERE POSTED IN THE PAST YEAR. updated this should enable more

20 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT efficient communication between all levels of the association. In the meantime all our news, information, fixtures and results are available on our website through our social media channels and also emailed to your county secretary. I thank Paul Fitzpatrick for coming on board and assisting with the PR and Media for the association, his advice and help as a journalist and his creative style of writing have been invaluable.

FINANCE When you take a look at where our income comes from a total of 66% of our income comes from grant funding from our two major funding bodies GAA and Sport Ireland.

We are continually liaising with the GAA Finance department in relation to GAA Handball funding. Sport Ireland are also supportive in terms of funding but are limited year on year and this is encouraging. We held very productive meetings to what they can offer and with 70+ Plans are in place to increase the with both our sponsors during the NGB’s competing for a slice of the product range in 2020 to further year and I am delighted to say that funding pie it shows the challenges raise funds and I would encourage all both sponsors have committed to faced when trying to fund each counties and clubs to encourage your continuing to sponsor GAA Handball organisation. members to buy through the online and both are very excited for what the Grant funding by it’s nature is not shop as all profits will be reinvested future brings. Positive meetings are secure as there are always terms in the game. Prices at present on the ongoing with the GAA Sponsorship and conditions attached and the online shop are very competitive and Department in relation to obtaining amount of grant funding available we are continuously meeting with further sponsors for our sport and is dependant on the performance suppliers in an effort to bring down while the initial talks were very of the association or on the money costs in order to increase the profit encouraging there are still a number made available in the Budget. If this margin rather than increase prices to of issues we have to address in order falls then grants are likely to decrease our members. I wish to thank Brigid to make our games more attractive to so we cannot rely on just grant Doheny for her work in maintaining sponsors. funding to be our major contributor of the online shop throughout the year. We have increased our commercial funding. Once more our sponsors O’Neills income over the past year and work At present only 34% of our income and MD Sports (Myclubshop.ie) is ongoing to increase this further. is self-generated income and we need provided generous sponsorship in We have clamped down on a number to look at ways of increasing this. 2019 for both the 4-Wall and Softball of manufacturers who were using Registrations at 19% of our total championships respectively. We owe the GAA Handball logo without income represent the largest income our sponsors a huge debt of gratitude. permission and going forward only generator by the association itself. approved licensees will be allowed to Registrations increased slightly on use the official GAA Handball logo on 2018 figures and this year will see the official GAA Handball merchandise. introduction of an online registration This safeguards our association and system. This is in line with General the use of our brand and also provides Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) an important revenue stream for GAA requirements. It will also make life Handball. easier for clubs when submitting If suppliers wish to apply for a registrations. Registrations are one licence they can do so by contacting of our main sources of income and the office and the relevant forms will I would encourage all clubs to try be sent out to them, their application and increase their membership and will then be assessed by the GAA register all members of their club commercial team and a decision whether actively playing or in an made whether to grant a yearly administration role. Our membership licence or not. fees are still very low when compared Our competition and event income with NGB’s and this is an area where at 6% remains steady and with many we could potentially see an increase. of our competitions at maximum The figure of 2% for Profit on Sale entry levels this figure is expected to of merchandise is one area where stay steady. improvement can be made. Our Gate receipts represent 2% of our online shop profits have increased income and this is an area we can

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 21 TUARASCÁIL AN BAINISTEOIR NÁISIÚNTA

massively improve on with a change units of the association and to truly year to make ends meet. in mindset. Attendances at our realise the potential of our sport. There are numerous grants games in general are poor and when Competition and event expenses available to clubs and I would people do attend they often do not expenditure represents 16% and encourage all clubs to work closely approve of being charged to watch promotional materials 4% of our with your Local Sports Partnership the game. Our All Ireland entrance fee total expenditure and I think anybody and the National office to explore any of €20 represents fantastic value for who has attended any of our national avenue for potential funding. While money for a three game programme. events would agree that this money is it may take a bit of work to apply for In general our entrance fees are well spent with the standards of our these funding streams the rewards extremely reasonable and I would events higher than ever before. are definitely worth it and you can encourage all clubs to charge in to We are constantly looking at ways see in the past number of years watch games. No other sport has a to introduce grant funding for clubs the number of Handball clubs that free for all attitude and the money and to increase grant funding to 3rd benefitted from such funding. you collect will contribute to the level and provincial bodies and will I would also encourage Handball development of your club. continue to explore avenues to make clubs to take advantage of the GAA If we can increase our own income this a possibility. Club Draw. So far there has been a strands then I am confident that our Coaching and development projects sporadic number of clubs availing grant contributors would be much represent 13% of our total spend and of this draw. This is a free draw happier to increase our funding levels again we must look to raise this in available to all clubs with an array of when they see the good use that the order to be able to fully offer support excellent prizes. The tickets cost €10 money is being put to. to all our units across the country. euro and all money is retained by the In terms of expenditure the major It is important that any funding club. The costs are all covered by the difference this year is that we had received is spent wisely and we must GAA so it really is an excellent way no expense for travelling to a World continue to work to come up with of fundraising. For more information Championships. Despite this we initiatives that are worthy of extra contact the National Office. have raised our spending in line investment to attract further funding. There are several other ways of with the rise in income. As evident Overall our annual accounts show a fundraising and raising money and from Figure 2 the main expenditure surplus this year following a steady all these require effort and hard is in Administration and general. year and I would like to thank the work. However there are a number This covers the cost of running the accounts department in the GAA of clubs throughout the country who National Office as well as various particularly Rachel O’Reilly and Joan have raised the finances to fund other items and while this percentage Kelly for their assistance over the development of their facilities and may seem high as a percentage of year. they are a shining example of what a the total expenditure I feel additional I am aware that a lot of our clubs club can achieve if they have the right staff are needed in key areas in order are operating on minimal finance and attitude. to fully support the volunteers and many of them struggle from year to

22 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

AWARDS Two All Star events made 2019 a unique year within handball. Following the 2018 All Stars held in February in the beautiful Dunboyne Castle Ard Comhairle decided to bring the All Stars back into the calendar year with the 2019 event held in November.

It proved to be another outstanding occasion in what is quickly becoming the stand out social event on the GAA Handball calendar. A greater emphasis has been placed on our volunteers with a number of volunteer awards introduced to reflect the fantastic work been done throughout the country. Nominations were open to the Handball public for these awards and voting was by online secret ballot with the winner announced live on the night. On both nights the Handball community turned out in style and both nights were a roaring success with old friends reunited and the Handball community celebrating a fantastic year of action. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the finalists and winners, and to thank our various sponsors O’Neills, Together Digital, Macsports, Advertees & MMI. service to the GAA earlier in the year. 2018 AWARDS WINNERS Tony has had a long and distinguished I would like to offer my Male POTY – Martin Mulkerrins (Galway) service to GAA Handball, and I offer Congratulations to all those who won Female POTY – Martina McMahon (Limerick) my congratulations to Tony on a well- richly deserved awards on the night. Young Male POTY - Eoghan McGinnity deserved award. The All Stars night is quickly (Monaghan) becoming the standout event on our Young Female POTY - Leah Doyle (Kildare) calendar and a way of rewarding our ANTI-DOPING Club of the Year – Inis Mór HC (Galway) volunteers so we must build on this Venue of the Year – Moycullen HC (Galway) positivity and continue to make each It is essential that all members Administrator of the Year year better. familiarise themselves with the –Margaret Walsh (Cork) On both nights we featured Handball Anti-Doping regulations. Volunteer of the Year talent performing on stage. At the – Paula Clarke (Tyrone) 2018 Awards Inis Mór’s Jason O Toole Information for all GAA Handball Club Person of the Year - Aidan Marron wowed the crowd with his guitar skills members is available on www. (Corduff, Monaghan) and a number of modern day hits while gaahandball.ie. Also, anti-doping Media Award - Paula Carr (Clare) the star of the 2019 Awards ceremony wallet cards are available at today’s Hall of Fame- Greg Sheridan (Cavan) was young Alanna Coggeran from AGM or from the GAA Handball Hall of Fame-Vinny Wrynn (Kildare) Kilglass Gaels who despite only being Office, Croke Park, Dublin 3. Phone Hall of Fame- Ger Prendergast (Mayo) 14 years of age performed her own 01-8192385. For any members who Hall of Fame- Billy Buzzer Kerins (Kerry) Handball version of Galway Girl aswell wish to learn more or who have any as two other numbers one assisted questions in relation to anti-doping 2019 AWARDS WINNERS by her father John on stage. The huge further information can be found on Male POTY - Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) crowd gave her a deserved standing http://www. irishsportscouncil.ie/ Female POTY - Catriona Casey (Cork) ovation following her performance. Anti-Doping. Young Male POTY Whether on stage or in the alley both - Eoghan McGinnity (Monaghan) have very bright futures ahead. SYMPATHY Young Female POTY - Leah Doyle (Kildare) It was encouraging to see so many Administrator of the Year - Paula Carr (Clare) of our handballers recognised at During the year GAA Handball lost Clubperson of the Year - Pat Donnellan local level once more throughout the a number of members and friends (Kilkishen, Clare) year. This is a vital step in creating each who were an important part of Volunteer of the Year - Frank Daly (Dublin) awareness of Handball at local level in the handball community. Venue of the Year - Breacach (Tyrone) the media in general. Congratulations Club of the Year - Kilfane (Kilkenny) to you all. I extend the sympathies of our Media Award - Wexford GAA Handball Website Wexford’s Tony Breen received the association to anyone affected by Hall of Fame - Sean Finnegan (Galway GAA Presidents Award for outstanding bereavement throughout the year.

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One sad loss in particular was the passing of Bridín Uí Mhaologáín. Bridín was a former Uachtarán of the Ladies Handball Council. Bridín had a long and distinguished career in Irish Handball and alongside her beloved husband Aidan were great supporters and familiar faces at numerous Handball occasions in recent years.

THE FUTURE We are now entering what promises to be an extremely exciting phase for GAA Handball with the opening of the new National Handball Centre on the horizon and the World Championships coming in 2021.

With the standard of Juvenile Handball never higher and with our Open competitions producing excellent quality it is important that our next steps continue to support the good work been done all over the country. With the right planning and the right mindset, we can have a vibrant modern sport ready to move into a vibrant modern new centre which will increase the attraction of our sport to potential sponsors, new members and assurances that the courts will be of state of the art home as anything less the media. the highest quality and standard. and we will be doing this exceptional We all want the same outcome The visual impact alone of the new auditorium a disservice. for our sport so it is vital we all work new centre on the walkway from I have no doubt that there are a together to achieve it. This may mean Ballybough has already raised multitude of questions in relation to that we have to refocus our individual exposure for our sport with people the running of the centre, booking aspirations and accept changes that already seeing a positive image and a courts etc and this will all be finalised we may not always approve of but clean modern state of the art complex. and communicated to members in once it is for the good of the game You cannot help but be impressed the near future. We have never seen and helps provide a better, brighter when you see this magnificent building a project like this in handball before future for our sport then they are the sitting proudly beside the Croke Park either in Ireland or across the world sacrifices that have to be made. Stadium. and it has proven and will continue to From a TV and general media be a learning curve for us all. I have no interest point of view the fact we doubt there may be challenges ahead NEW HANDBALL CENTRE have such an impressive centre within but I am confident that we will work Work has been ongoing on the the confines of Croke Park should through these and it will be worth it brand-new state of the art Handball remove some of the barriers to media when the end result is so spectacular. centre and we are finally nearing the exposure that bringing our major finals I look forward to seeing you all finish line as members everywhere around the country created. With sample the excellent facilities over wait with baited breath for the the majority of the national media the next year and enjoy many games opening of our new home. based in the capital the commitment in our new home. I would like to finish to attend and cover handball games by thanking everybody who has been I have no doubt that many of our should be made a little bit easier. involved in the process not just to build members felt that they might never As an association we need to ensure the centre but over the past number see this day come and I am delighted that we have a modern state of the art of years in getting this amazing project that handballers and members sport ready to move into the modern to a completion. There are too many will finally get the opportunity to have a home that befits a modern progressive sport and one that will portray a hugely positive image for our THE IMPACT OF THIS NEW CENTRE CANNOT BE sport. The impact of this new centre UNDERESTIMATED AND WILL BE MASSIVE FOR GAA cannot be underestimated and will be massive for GAA Handball with HANDBALL WITH THE BUILDING BEING TRULY STATE OF the building being truly state of the art with all the modern facilities that THE ART WITH ALL THE MODERN FACILITIES THAT WILL will set it apart as an iconic Sports SET IT APART AS AN ICONIC SPORTS BUILDING building. We have also received

24 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

There was a number of misunderstandings clearly evident on the day in relation to the proposals and this was unfortunate. I would reiterate that the workgroup came up with these proposals with the best interests of handball at heart. Nobody involved in the process had any ulterior motive other than to progress the game and anybody involved had the genuine best interests of handball to the forefront of their minds. We will continue to look at ways of improving our sport and introducing change where change is needed and this will always be done with the consultation of our members. It is important to remember however in a sport where there are three codes and various different opinions on how the future of the sport should be shaped it may not always be possible to come up with proposals that are universally approved and sometimes we may have to put aside personal preference and accept certain changes for the good of the sport as a whole.

SUMMARY As we enter into 2020 we can look people to name individually but on STRATEGIC PLAN back on the last year and indeed behalf of GAA Handball I thank the the last decade with a tremendous GAA for this major investment in our One of our major objectives for sense of pride at where GAA sport. 2020 will be to develop a strategic Handball has come from and the plan that will guide us through the standards it has set. WORLDS 2021 next number of years. When we take a look at some of the achievements over the past number It promises to be a very exciting The launch of this will coincide of years it gives an indication of the period over the next 2 years as the with the opening of the new progress we have made and the World Championships come to National Handball Centre giving our potential for the future. Ireland in 2021. association a strategic direction for - Building of our state of the art the next number of years. National Handball Centre The 2012 World Championships were To enable this plan to work and - The success of the 4-Wall Festival spectacular and it is important that to achieve the required outcome it Finals Weekend we as an association maintain the needs buy in from everybody from - The success of GAA Handball high standards we have set for hosting grassroots level through to national Live Streaming and the amount events and showcase our sport, our level of the Association, this will not of live handball now available to a players and our volunteers in a positive be a plan for individuals but a plan worldwide audience. light in 2021. for GAA Handball as a whole and - The growth of She’s Ace and the As mentioned earlier in this report everyone will see benefits from it. strength of ladies handball in general the success of the 2021 World The plan will be produced from our - Several of our clubs development Championships hinges on good volunteers feedback, so it is vital that into top class facilities participation and buy in from the other everybody takes their opportunity - The huge success of the Schools member countries in order to provide to have a say when the opportunity Wallball initiative credibility to the World titles. We want comes around. - The growth of Féile and the to encourage the best players in the introduction of the standalone world to come to these shores in 2021 Softball Féile and every effort will go in to making WORKGROUP PROPOSALS - The standards of our juvenile players this happen and making the 2021 The proposals put forward by and their dominance at world level. World Championships the best yet. the Clár Workgroup were met - Our elite players dominating at home It is also vital that we run the with strong resistance at last and abroad. championships in a cost effective way year’s AGM and while this was - The continued growth of the Wallball and that we leave a positive lasting disappointing we are at the end Nationals into the biggest and best legacy that will have no knock on of the day a democratic Handball tournament in the world effect to our finances in the future. association and Ard Comhairle - The growth in followers on social Dates and further information will respected the wishes of the AGM media channels and also our award follow in early 2020 when the road to as expressed. winning website voted Best Sports Ireland 2021 will begin in earnest. website in Ireland in 2015.

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I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES AND ALSO TO THE MANY EXCITING PROJECTS COMING OUR WAY IN THE NEXT These are just some of the NUMBER OF YEARS AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT BY WORKING achievements in what has been an unprecedented era of growth for GAA TOGETHER THE NEXT DECADE FOR GAA HANDBALL WILL SEE Handball. Popularity levels are at an all time high and we are starting to see OUR SPORT REACH HEIGHTS NEVER SEEN BEFORE an increase in media coverage for our game. While we continue to face many I look forward to the challenges and Rehill and Lorena Kelly for their challenges, we have hugely exciting also to the many exciting projects assistance and guidance throughout times ahead too. The opening of our coming our way in the next number the year. new National Handball Centre will of years and I am confident that by I would also like to thank Uachtarán catapult GAA Handball into the next working together the next decade for CLG John Horan for his support decade as a sport with a state-of- GAA Handball will see our sport reach throughout the year and wish him the-art home that can sit proudly heights never seen before. well as he enters the final year of his among any of the elite sports and tenure. their home stadiums. With the World BUÍOCHAS Our own Uachtarán Joe Masterson Championships set to arrive in 2021 comes to the end of his three year we have an opportunity to showcase There are so many people who have tenure today. Joe has been a pleasure the brilliance of our players and contributed to the success of the to work alongside and he has volunteers to a worldwide audience last year and continue to do so year shown a great enthusiasm for the putting handball on the Irish sporting in year out. role. Throughout his three years as map and leaving a positive legacy that Uachtarán Joe was always available will last for years to come. I would like to thank Ard Stiurthoir and was a great support to the This has to be a key aim as an of the GAA Tom Ryan for his support National Office. association as nine years is a long throughout the year. He was always Joe was not afraid to try and time to wait for another chance. It is available and very approachable at all change things during his presidency vital that we put any differences aside times. His support has meant a huge for the good of handball and he to work together for the greater good amount to me personally in my role has started a very important of the game. This is our opportunity to but also his support and guidance to conversation around change in the put handball on the sporting map and the association is invaluable. organisation I commend him for keep it there. I would also like to thank Teresa doing so and know that in time he

26 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

in particular Ronan Kelly, Rachel should be very proud of you all. O’Reilly, Joan Kelly and Ger Mulryan To Paul Fitzpatrick for his many thanks for your assistance contribution in relation to PR for over the year and for preparing the the All Ireland Championships and accounts for today. also throughout the year I thank To Ard Comhairle and the CCCC I you. I thank all the PROs who work thank you for your commitment to tirelessly at all levels to strive for the sport and for your support and greater recognition. The battle may hard work throughout the year. be tough, but we are starting to see To our sponsors O’Neills and Martin signs of improvement so keep up the Donnelly (Myclubshop.ie) I say a good work. huge thank you for your generosity To the Provincial Councils who and support once more in 2019. I tirelessly work to promote Handball look forward to working closely with in their provinces I say thank you you both in 2020. To our commercial and keep up the good work. To the partners in O’Neill and Bodibro I County Boards who again work so thank you both. To our main suppliers hard to keep the game alive in their MacSports, MMI, Parrot Print and EM respective counties I thank you for Creative for your help throughout the your efforts and look forward to year I say thank you. working with you all in 2020 once To Anne and her team at the more. McWilliam Park Hotel for helping with To all our clubs, the lifeblood of our the preparations for today’s AGM a association and the production line sincere thank you. for so many of our top players I thank To the GAA full time Staff for you sincerely for your outstanding their assistance throughout 2019 I work throughout another successful look forward to continuing to work year for our sport. To the clubs that closely again in 2020. In particular host club tournaments I compliment to Cian Murphy and Lisa Hayden you and encourage you to continue (Communications), Diarmuid Murphy as they are an invaluable way of and Donal Marah (Sponsorship), Colin attracting new members and giving Regan (Healthy Club) and Eimear handball to those players who may Doherty (Commercial Licensing) I not reach provincial or national finals. thank you all and look forward to To our venues that host games once working closely again with you in more in 2019 you stood up and were 2020. counted as an incredible 1948 games To our GAA Rep John Fawl I thank were played at National Level over him for his support and advice over 223 venues. This is a phenomenal will be remembered as a President the year he has been a valuable asset amount of games and I say a sincere who helped change handball for the to our Ard Comhairle committee and thank you to all the venue officials, the better. I look forward to working with him referees, the volunteers who provide Joe embraced the role of President again in 2020. the refreshments and anybody else with great enthusiasm and travelled To Sport Ireland and the Federation that contributed in running such the length and breadth of the of Irish Sport especially Shane Califf a vast fixtures programme. Your country and was always available and Melanie Lettis I thank you for your commitment to this great sport is to clubs, counties or provinces who continued support and assistance. an inspiration to us in the National required his attendance. The job of To our sister associations and our Office and we will continue to work President is a time consuming one office neighbours in Camogie and hard at National Level to provide but Joe was never seen without a Ladies GFC and to GAA Rounders the necessary levels of support for smile on his face. He was extremely thanks for your support throughout you to make your job easier and popular especially with the younger the year and I wish you the best for more rewarding. You have made an generation of players and he will be 2020. invaluable contribution to our sport missed however I know Joe will be To the full time staff of Darragh Daly, and I hope you have found it rewarding still involved as a passionate handball Austin McKenna, Pauric Dowdall and even in some small way. person. Brigid Doheny I extend a huge thank I thank you all for your hard work Today we see a new era ushered in you for the extraordinary lengths you and dedication to GAA Handball as Mayo’s Dessie Keegan assumes go to on a regular basis to ensure over the past 12 months it is greatly the role of Uachtarán of the that our office and our association appreciated and I look forward to Association. Dessie as a former top runs smoothly. The level of dedication seeing you all throughout 2020. player has many ideas on how to you display to your job is exemplary Keep up the good work! advance the association and I am and I hope it is appreciated by our sure he will embrace the role with volunteers just as much as their work great enthusiasm and the same is appreciated by you. determination that drove him to be a I get to see first-hand your passion top player. I look forward to working and commitment to your job and with Dessie for the next three it is an honour to work alongside years to enhance and develop the you all. You continue to perform to association going forward. the highest levels despite a hectic John Kelly To the GAA Finance Department workload and for this the association National Manager

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 27 COMPETITIONS REVIEW 2019

2019 COMPETITIONS REVIEW

28 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

JANUARY We can look back on what was another The first competition of the year saw phenomenal year in GAA Handball on the Clare’s Diarmaid Nash strike first blood as he defeated Westmeath’s Robbie courts with great pride and satisfaction as our McCarthy in the 10th John Gaffney Memorial Tournament as the Clare man players once more displayed amazing skill and set out his intentions for the year ahead. The 2019 She’s Ace Festival Weekend fitness levels and produced some outstanding was certainly one to remember with a total of 162 females headed west to spectacles along the way. smash our entry records, aged from 9 through to 40+. The showpiece final was of course the Ladies Open and brought another cracking contest between the best two players in the world in Catriona Casey (Cork) & Martina McMahon (Limerick). Reigning All-Ireland & World champion McMahon entered as favourite but it was Casey who stormed into an early and dominated the opening exchanges with some aggressive play. A few surges from McMahon from nowhere saw her serve at game ball 14- 12, but Casey refused to give in edged the first 15-14. That appeared to give her the confidence to push on, and that is what she did, winning the second 15-7 to win her 5th She’s Ace Title in the 6th edition of the event. The 29th Annual Gael Linn competition took place in Ballydesmond HC, Cork with Clogh’s (Kilkenny) Katie Brennan and Bobby Brennan coming out top of the pile following a 50-26 final victory against Cork’s Carmel Kelliher and Tomas O’Connor representing the Boherbue club. In the Solas section, Una Ni Dhugain and Niall Ó Draighneain of Galmoy overcame Annaghdown Ava Sweeney and Daniel Kavanagh. The new National Handball Academy was also launched in January and would go on to be a huge success.

FEBRUARY February saw the Annual All Stars take place with over 200 attending a gala event in Dunboyne Castle as the achievements of 2018 were celebrated. It was a fantastic night with entertainment provided by Inis Mor Handballer Jason O Toole. On the night the major awards went to Moycullen HC (Venue of the Year), Inis Mor HC (Club of the Year) while Limerick’s Martina McMahon was crowned Ladies Player of the Year with Martin Mulkerrins taking home Male Player of the Year. The young player of the year awards went to Kildare’s Leah Doyle and Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity. The following morning saw Annual Congress take place which saw Mayo’s Dessie Keegan win the race to become the next President of GAA Handball. The 4 Wall Adult Nationals took place in Mayo/Galway venues and were a

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roaring success. In a magnificent CORK’S CATRIONA CASEY WON BACK HER O’NEILL’S ALL- new facility at Claregalway HC, a full house was witness to some thrilling IRELAND FOUR-WALL SENIOR SINGLES TITLE AFTER COMING Handball between our country’s finest. For the second ranking event THROUGH ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY FINAL AGAINST HER in a row we saw a final between Nash & McCarthy. Last time round Nash GREAT RIVAL, MARTINA MCMAHON OF LIMERICK. was a dominant two game winner. This time however McCarthy gained his revenge in another tiebreak epic Crehan and DCU’s Fiona Tully retaining McMahon was sensational in game 11-9 as both players produced some their Open titles. The O’Neills 4-Wall one but Casey refused to wilt and, astonishing handball. In the Ladies All Ireland championship also kicked with pinpoint kills and some awesome section, the top two seeds advanced off towards the end of February. retrieving, eventually began to take as expected by many. Catriona Casey charge to force a decider. was in cruise control in the opening Meanwhile, in the Men’s decider, game as she held a 13-6 lead. But from MARCH Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy won nowhere Martina McMahon put on Once again the O’Neills 4-Wall All his fourth O’Neill’s Senior Singles a sensational display of serving and Ireland Finals Festival weekend proved crown with a straight games win over killing to win the first 15-13, and carry to be an outstanding success as Clare’s Diarmaid Nash (21-17, 21-15). In that momentum into the second players from all over Ireland travelled general play, there was little between winning 15-6. That was Martina’s first to Kingscourt to compete in finals the experienced duo but the Mullingar Irish 4-Wall Nationals title. across the weekend. right-hander edged the battle in The 4 Wall Colleges took place Cork’s Catriona Casey won back the front court, where his uncanny in Bawn, Corduff and Kells with her O’Neill’s All-Ireland Four-Wall deadweight paddle kills to either the main titles going to Kilkenny’s Senior Singles title after coming corner managed to negate the Banner Jack Holden representing Grennan through another extraordinary final man’s attacking game. College, Thomastown when he against her great rival, Martina Eoghan McGinnity brought the captured the Boys Senior Singles title McMahon of Limerick. McMahon Minor Singles cup to Monaghan for while Kildare’s Mollie Dagg, Colaiste had defeated Casey in two 21-20 the first time with a 21-10, 14-21, 21-13 Chiarain, Leixlip took home the Girls third-game thrillers in the last two win over Clare hurler Mark Rodgers in Senior Singles title. All-Ireland finals in both courts but a cagey, cat and mouse final which Also in February the ICHA 4Wall the Ballydesmond woman came saw an intriguing clash of styles usually held in Kingscourt event took roaring back to reclaim the crown while Kildare’s Leah Doyle retained place in Belfast with Clare’s Colin here on a 12-21, 21-12, 21-19 scoreline. her Ladies Minor title against Galway

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Leah Doyle & Abby Tarrant took the honours after a tough battle with Mayo’s Claire Reynolds & Cuilleann Bourke, winning 21-18, 21-8. That win sealed a Minor Slam for Doyle for the second successive year an incredible achievement for the Kildare youngster. The Boys Minor Final was a marathon, as Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity & Konrad Kowal defeated Kilkenny’s Jack Holden & Jack Doyle 9-21, 21-16, 21-17. The win sealed the Minor Slam for McGinnity, and notably saw Konrad become the first Polish native to win an All-Ireland title. The 2019 40x20 Juvenile Boys Team of 6/4 competitions took place in Kilkenny and Wexford venues. In the U12/13 competition Kilkenny overcame Tyrone on a scoreline of 90-22. In the U14/15 competition Clare captured won the title when they overcame Galway 80-41. In the U16/17 competition Cork just edged their Galway opponents on a score- line 49-39. Meanwhile Munster won the Shes Ace Girls Interprovincial Team of Ten on aggregate scores after an exciting day of play in Kingscourt.

MAY The curtain came down on the 2019 4-Wall season in some style with the top Juvenile players in the country producing an exhibition of Handball in venues in Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh. The weekend was one of the outstanding weekends of the year. The 13 & under girls saw Wexford’s Jodie Keeling defeat Tipperary’s Hannah Grace on a 15-9, 15-9 scoreline. The Boys 13 & Under saw the title head down the road to Monaghan as Sean Callan defeated Cavan’s Oliver McCrystall 15-7, 15-14 in a close final. camóg Niamh Heffernan (21-8, 21-16). APRIL Sunday saw the Juveniles take The 15 & Under grade saw centre stage with many cracking The action returned to Kingscourt for impressive performances from Clare’s encounters taking place throughout another hugely successful weekend Chloe Philpott and Wexford’s Mark the day. in the O’Neills All-Ireland 4-Wall Doyle to take home the titles. Philpott Action commenced in the O’Neills 4 Doubles Finals, there was joy for the defeated Amy Brennan from Kilkenny Wall Doubles Championships. reigning champions Cork & Clare on a 8-15, 11-15, 11-2 scoreline while The ICHA Wallball event took place in the Ladies & Men’s Senior Finals Doyle defeated Galway’s Mikey Kelly in March with LIT’s James Prentice respectively. on a 15-7, 15-4 scoreline. taking the Men’s Open title following Catriona Casey & Aishling O’Keeffe The 17&Under Girls grade saw victory over Terry MacElvaney (DCU) justified their favourites tag as the Kildare’s Mollie Dagg defeat Galway’s while Aishling Mullin of NUIG defeated now 5-time champions defeated Niamh Heffernan on a 15-14, 15-11 Eleanor Percy (NUIG) to take the Roscommon sisters Fiona & Siobhan scoreline while Monaghan’s Eoghan Women’s Open title. Tully in two games. In the Men’s Final McGinnity defeated Mayo’s Lorcan Yet again the National Cumann na Clare’s Diarmaid Nash and Colin Conlon on a 15-5, 15-0 scoreline to cap mBunscoil Handball Day proved to be Crehan defeated the sibling pairing of a fine 4-Wall season for the Monaghan a superb day, with 48 young stars of Martin & Diarmuid Mulkerrins to win Harps man. the future travelling to Kingscourt HC the Senior 4-Wall Doubles title 21-17, The 19&Under girls grade saw in Cavan to represent their Province 21-12. Megan McCann defeat Kildare’s Leah with pride. In the Girls Minor Final, Kildare’s Doyle in the 13-15, 15-8, 11-7 while the

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Boys 19&Under final also needed a final, Billy O’Neill of Kilkenny defeated teams taking part, almost 400 Boys tiebreak to separate the pairing of Meath’s Daniel Farrelly on a 21-14, 21-5 and Girls involved, and 350 games Wexford’s Adam Walsh and Cork’s scoreline while Kerry’s Jack O’Shea played in the 4-Wall and 1-Wall grades Conor Walsh with the Wexford defeated Cork’s David Walsh in a tight with team numbers well up on the last man prevailing on a 15-13, 12-15, 11-9 Junior Singles Final on a 21-13, 21-17 few years. scoreline. scoreline. Loughmacrory (Tyrone) were May saw the attention turn to The John West sponsored celebrating after almost ten hours Hardball with Cork pairing of Daniel national Féile na nGael Handball of play they emerged victorious in Relihan and Michael Hedigan competition once again proved to the Boys 4-Wall Div. 1 Final in Fermoy. claiming their maiden Hardball Senior be an exceptional day of Handball They overcame Kingscourt (Cavan) by Doubles title with victory over Kerry’s as the county’s top young Under 14 the slimmest of margins. In the Girls Dominick Lynch and John Joe Quirke Handballers displayed great skills 4-Wall Div. 1 Final Lahorna (Tipperary) in Broadford. Cork also won the highly for everyone to enjoy. The action had a tight two game victory over competitive Junior Doubles Final when took place at venues across Cork & Kilkishen (Clare) on a final score-line David Walsh and Jamie O’Donnell Limerick. It was one of the largest 37-23. overcame Tipperary’s Paul Mullins and Handball Féile of all time with 78 In the 1-Wall Boys Div. 1 competition, Kevin Dempsey in a two gamer on a this was won by Clogh Ballacolla 21-12, 21-7 score line to secure the title. (Laois) for the second year in a row as Elsewhere the Intermediate Doubles they overcame Oughterard (Galway) title went to Kilkenny’s William Love 36-11 in the final after an action- and Shane Dunne as they defeated packed long day in Conna. While in Dublin’s Ian Griffin and Michael Carrie. the 1-Wall Girls Div. 1 Final Galway’s Oughterard are the champions following an exciting final win against JUNE Mayobridge of Down. The girls from Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy the west won out on a 37-23 score- captured the 2019 Hardball Senior line. Singles title after overcoming Cavan’s Paul Brady won the US Limerick’s CJ Fitzpatrick on a 21-5, Nationals title and equaled the record 21-10 score line in Thurles. Kilkenny’s of 11 US 4-Wall Nationals titles, tying Shane Dunne completed the double with Mexican great Naty Alvarado in the Intermediate grade as he added Snr. Brady saw off Galway’s Martin the Singles title to the Doubles title Mulkerrins 21-11, 21-7 in the final in he won last weekend with victory over California, erutping with emotion Mayo’s Patrick Murphy. In the Minor upon sealing the final ace. Meanwhile

32 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT in the Ladies grade, Catriona Casey bounced back from an opening game loss against Ciana Ni Churraoin to win her 4th US 4-Wall Nationals title on a score line of 4-21, 21-8, 11-0. Kells HC, Meath captured the GAA Handball All Ireland Softball Senior Club title for an incredible eighth time in as many seasons when they defeated Ballina, Tipperary 77-56 at Crinkle. The Junior title was won by the Ballymore Eustace club Kildare as they overcame Moycullen of Galway 73-35. The Junior B competition saw Friary/Abbeyside (Waterford) overcome Wiliamstown (Galway) on a 60-27 score-line.

JULY The Wallball Nationals once again proved to be the outstanding tournament in World Handball as over 400 competitors descended on Breaffy House to compete in various grades in early July. There was double delight for Galway at the 2019 Irish Wallball Nationals as Ciana Ni Churraoin & Martin Mulkerrins sealed the Elite Men’s & Ladies Open titles at Breaffy House Arena, Castlebar. Ciana overcame Armagh youngster Megan McCann in the Ladies final. Megan herself had a sensational 31-17 SF win over reigning three time champion Martina McMahon in the semi final but it was Ciana who made the crucial push in the final taking her maiden THE WALLBALL NATIONALS ONCE AGAIN PROVED TO BE title on a 15-12, 15-7 scoreline. In the Men’s Final, it was a clash of the top THE OUTSTANDING TOURNAMENT IN WORLD HANDBALL AS two seeds, Martin Mulkerrins and Sean Kerr (Tyrone). Both players wowed the OVER 400 COMPETITORS DESCENDED ON BREAFFY HOUSE crowd with their pace and athleticism TO COMPETE IN VARIOUS GRADES IN EARLY JULY as the lead changed regularly during the opening game. But it was Mulkerrins who took the title 15-11,15-6. Irish Softbal Nationals hosting a to be a tremendous success with The 6th annual Lough Handball well run event, with great hospitality 26 teams and 130 of the country’s Showdown in Loughmacrory served shown in each facility. In the top young Under 14 Handballers up another feast of high octane and end Martin Mulkerrins and Martina displaying great skills for everyone to quality handball over the weekend. McMahon captured the Mens & enjoy. Loughmacrory (Tyrone) were Over 200 players from all over Ireland Ladies 2019 Irish Softball Nationals celebrating a Féile double after they travelled to the mid Tyrone venue to Open titles after strong showings in emerged victorious in the Boys Div. bid for major titles. Castlebridge HC, Wexford. Mulkerrins 1 Final in Taghmon. They overcame In the Mens Open Sean Kerr, who won his maiden major senior Softball Kells (Kilkenny) in the final on a was in blistering form in front of a large title, impressively seeing off local man 39-12 score line. In the Girls Div. 1 Tyrone crowd blitzed his way to a first Gavin Buggy 15-10, 15-5 in the final. The Final Lahorna (Tipperary) are also Lough Showdown crown with a 25-10 Ladies Final had a familiar feel to it double Féile winners as they had victory against the Irish Nationals with reigning champ Catriona Casey & a two-game victory over Kilkishen Champion Martin Mulkerrins. In the Martina McMahon doing battle having (Clare) on a final score-line 42-14 in Ladies Open Grade the final came seen off Kilkenny duo Aoife Holden & Castlebridge. GAA Handball would down to a shoot-out between the Ciara Mahon respectively in the SF’s. like to thank all the Wexford clubs for reigning Lough Ladies Showdown From the off it was Martina’s power their hospitality and especially all the Champion, Armagh’s Megan McCann, and precision serving that set the tone volunteers at each of these venues and former two-time World Champion, in a dominant 15-5, 15-6 showing. that ran everything so smoothly on Antrim’s Aisling Reilly with Megan the day. McCann picking up her third Ladies The Myclubshop.ie All Open Showdown title with a 23-21 AUGUST Ireland Softball Singles triumph. GAA Handball’s inaugural Softball championship kicked off in August. Wexford played host to the 2019 Féile sponsored by John West proved

Annual Report 2020 • GAA HANDBALL • 33 COMPETITIONS REVIEW 2019

SEPTEMBER Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy rolled back the years on an emotional night at Handball HQ as he captured his tenth Myclubshop.ie Senior Singles title in what surely must rank as one of, if not his sweetest ever victory. The 40-year-old legend rolled back the years with a sensational performance to defeat the 5 in a row chasing Robbie McCarthy 21-20, 21-18 to win his 10th Singles All- Ireland, and the last to be played in the historic Croke Park HC. It was an enthralling game that had the capacity crowd on the edge of their seats throughout. In the Ladies Final Limerick’s Martina McMahon captured her third title following a ruthless display defeating Cork’s Catriona Casey in two games. McMahon and Casey have been the two outstanding players in Ladies Handball in recent years and games between the two have been incredibly close. McMahon was dominant throughout and displayed some outstanding shots as she powered her way to a 21-12, 21-9 win. Meanwhile Kilkenny’s Kyle Dunne captured the Minor Singles title following a thrilling tie break victory over Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity in a 14-21, 21-13, 21-18 win. Kildare’s

34 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

THE 40-YEAR-OLD LEGEND ROLLED BACK THE YEARS WITH A SENSATIONAL PERFORMANCE TO DEFEAT THE 5 IN A ROW CHASING ROBBIE MCCARTHY 21-20, 21-18 TO WIN HIS 10TH SINGLES ALL- IRELAND, AND THE LAST TO BE PLAYED IN THE HISTORIC CROKE PARK HC. IT WAS AN ENTHRALLING GAME THAT HAD THE CAPACITY CROWD ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS THROUGHOUT.

Leah Doyle captured the Ladies Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity and Tyrone and Wexford all taking one title Minor Final with victory over Mayo’s Tiernan O’Rourke. Kilkenny’s Shane back to their respective counties to Cuileann Bourke on a 21-14, 21-3 Dunne made it a memorable family complete a very successful weekend of scoreline. night capturing the Myclubshop. Handball. The game of the day was the Brian Carroll and Gary McConnell ie Intermediate singles title. Dunne Boys U16 Singles Final with Galway’s retained their Myclubshop.ie Softball was too strong for his opponent from Mikey Kelly defeating Kilkenny’s Billy Doubles title with a 21-11, 21-7 victory Tyrone Ryan Mullan winning out on a Drennan in a high-quality match. The over Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy 21-12, 21-7 scoreline. Girls U16 Singles Final saw Kilkenny’s and Colm Jordan on a nostalgic night Cork’s Catriona Casey and Aishling Amy Brennan defeat Galway’s Sadhbh at Handball HQ in Croke Park. On the O’Keeffe won the Ladies Senior Ní Fhlaithearta 21-19, 21-4 in another night that GAA Handball said goodbye Doubles for the seventh year in high quality game. to the old centre as it gets ready to succession with a 21-12, 21-7 win over The 2019 Softball Juvenile Team of move into the state of the art new Ciara Mahon and Aoife Holden of 6/4 competitions was hosted by the National Handball Centre the Royal Kilkenny. Ballina club in Tipperary. In the U12/13 county took the honours once more competition Kilkenny had a good as Meath captured their 18th title. win over a Cork team in the final to The Meathmen were dominant from OCTOBER win 90-30 in the end. In the U14/15 the start in this encounter and while The cream of Ireland’s Juvenile Softball competition Tipperary had a good win Westmeath fought hard in the first the players converged on Moycullen and over a much-fancied Kilkenny side Meathmen stepped up a gear to pull St Comans to battle it out for the in the first semi-final, while Galway away in the second and seal the title in 2019 MyClubShop.ie All Ireland titles received a bye in the other semi- two games. in the Softball code. Eleven counties final. In the final the strong Galway Kilkenny’s Kyle Dunne and Billy in all competed with Cork topping the team just proved too powerful for O’Neill claimed the MyClubShop.ie medals table with four titles. Galway, the Munster team and in the end the All-Ireland Minor Softball Doubles Roscommon and Tipperary took team from the west won the final on a title with a 21-15, 21-10 win over home two while Clare, Kilkenny, Sligo, score-line 76-55.

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Leinster clubs Clogh, Kilfane and they defeated Laois sisters Aoife Beresford/Sean Callaghan. Talbots Inch hosted the semi-finals and Una Brophy Coláiste Mhuire The Boys Senior Doubles title went and finals of this year’s Softball All Johnstown 15-10, 15-8. to the strong Kilkenny pairing of Kyle Ireland Colleges. In the Girls Junior In the Boys competitions, the Junior Dunne/Billy O’Neill of Castlecomer CS Singles Final Kilkenny’s Amy Brennan Singles final was won by Kilkenny’s when they overcame Darragh Ducey/ of Castlecomer CS won this title Kyle Jordan of Grennan College Evan Enright of Boherbue Comp. Cork for the second year in a row as she when he accounted for Rory Carthy 15-3, 15-11. Finally, the Boys Blue Riband overcame Chloe Philpott St. Joseph’s of Roscommon CBS after two tight event namely the Boys Senior Singles Tulla 15-2, 15-5. The Girls Junior games. The Junior Doubles title went final went to Monaghan’s Eoghan Doubles title went to Roscommon to Gary McAleer/Thomas Duff Dean McGinnity representing St. Macartan’s CC as Carragh Kennedy and Siobhan Maguirc Carrickmore when they Monaghan where he overcame Dylan Treacy defeated Lauren Power and overcame Charlie Treen/Jack Power of Hanley, Roscommon CBS after three Holly Byrne of Heywood CS, Laois. St. Augustine’s Dungarvan. The Boys tight games on a 13-15, 15-4, 15-4 In the Girls Blue Riband event the Intermediate Singles final was won score-line. Senior Singles, Noelle Dowling of by Mark Doyle of Wexford CBS after Munster claimed the 2019 Girls Presentation College Kilkenny was a tight three game victory over Mikey Softball Interprovincial Team of Six awarded the title as Laura Shinners Kelly of Clarin College, Galway 4-15, 15- in Broadford. In the final Munster Borrisokane CC and Cuileann Bourke 11, 15-13. While the Boys Intermediate overcame Leinster after a very tight Balla SS both could not play. While Doubles was won by Joe Devereux/ contest that went down to the very the Girls Senior Doubles title went to David Doyle representing St. Peter’s last match before they won on the Limerick’s Ciara McCarthy and Aisling College, Wexford as they overcame score-line 84-61. Shanahan (Hazelwood College) as St. Augustine’s partnership of William NOVEMBER GAA Handball hosted its first ever GAA HANDBALL HOSTED ITS FIRST EVER CLUB FORUM Club Forum in November. The theme of the day was “Growing Together” IN NOVEMBER. THE THEME OF THE DAY WAS “GROWING and a full and informative selection of speakers were lined up. We were TOGETHER” AND A FULL AND INFORMATIVE SELECTION OF delighted to have over 35 clubs represented on the day and from the SPEAKERS WERE LINED UP feedback we have received so far,

36 • GAA HANDBALL • Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Donnellan who were representing UL. The bright lights of Croke Park played host to the cream of GAA Handball players and volunteers as a large crowd gathered in Croke Park to reflect on and celebrate the 2019 year at the O’Neills GAA Handball All Star awards. The red carpet was full of style as the Handball public dressed to impress on a night of celebration and glamour. The night recognised both volunteers and players as 6 volunteer awards and 4 player awards were presented by Uachtarán Joe Masterson and Cormac Farrell from sponsors O’Neills. The undoubted star of the night was Alanna Coggeran from Kilglass Gaels, a young Handballer with an enormous talent for singing as she wowed the crowd with her own Handball version of The Galway Girl that she rewrote herself aswell as the Lumineers hit Hey Ho aided by her father John and Greenday’s Time of your life. She thanked GAA Handball for inviting her to perform on what she described as the best day of her life as she finished off her set with another rewritten version of the American Authors hit Best Day of my life to a standing ovation from the large crowd present. Alanna certainly each club has gained knowledge and has a bright future ahead of her. are keen for more of these types of Following the break for forums to be held. entertainment the Players of the The 4-Wall season opened with a Year were announced. First up were bang with some fantastic handball the Young Players with a repeat of at the Golden Gloves in Belfast. In 2018 as Kildare’s Leah Doyle and the game of the weekend, Martina Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity McMahon just edged Catriona Casey took the Female and Male awards to claim the Ladies Open title, in respectively following outstanding yet another classic between these years for both. Next up the Female two incredible players. McMahon Player of the Year Award went to Cork won out on a scoreline of 8-15, 15-13, with Catriona Casey taking home the 11-9, much to the joy of the packed accolade of Female Player of the Year galleries. In the Men’s Open Robbie while Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy McCarthy showed his class as he collected the final award the Male blitzed Colin Crehan in the final. Player of the Year to cap off a fine The 2019 GAA Handball season season for the Mullingar man. came to a close with the 4-Wall Inter- REWIRED kept the crowd on their club All Ireland Championships. In the feet until the end of the night as Open grade Moycullen (Galway) took the 2019 GAA Handball season was the premier title for the first time closed off in style. when they defeated Kells (Meath) in the final on a 66-57 score-line. In the Junior final Broadford defeated DECEMBER Carrickmore 60-42 while in the Junior Martin Mulkerrins claimed his first B competition Breacach (Tyrone) major ranking win of the Irish 4-Wall overcame Kells (Meath) 71-62. season, defeating Diarmaid Nash in In the ICHA 4-Wall Doubles event the Final of the Breacach Open in Galen Riordan and Brian Mahon Tyrone 15-7, 15-11. In the Ladies Open, representing UCD defeated Fergal a now standard final saw Catriona Coughlan and Mark Rodgers Casey & Martina McMahon do battle, representing UL to take the Mens with Casey coming out on top in two Doubles title while Fiona Tully & straight games. It was not the usual Meadhbh Ni Dhalaigh representing classic one would expect from the DCU took the Women’s title following pair, but high quality none the less, victory over Doireann Murphy & Ella and impressed the gallery.

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