The 2017 GAA Handball Calendar of Events has now been released, and with the new year just around the corner, there are a lot of important dates/events to keep an eye out for in the not too distant future.

Key Upcoming Dates:

• 6th-8th Jan - Gaffney Memorial (Ballaghaderreen HC, Mayo) - Mens Open National Ranking Event
• 20th-22nd Jan - She's Ace Ladies Only Weekend (Breaffy House & surrounding Mayo venues)
• 2nd-5th Feb - 3rd Level 40x20 Intervarsities (Kingscourt HC, Cavan)
• 5th Feb - GAA Handball Congress (Tullamore)
• 25th Feb - National CnaB Day (Kingscourt HC, Cavan)
• 17th-19th March - All-Ireland 40x20 Singles Finals Festival Weekend (Kingscourt HC, Cavan)

By Kevin Mulligan

The eight annual John Gaffney Memorial Handball Tournament, proudly sponsored by Drury Oils Ltd., took place this weekend in Ballaghaderreen and St Coman’s Roscommon handball clubs.

Now a well-established tournament with coveted ranking points on offer, large crowds turned up expecting top class fair from the excellent field. They were not disappointed.

At the finish Cork’s Killian Carroll narrowly overcame Galways’s Martin Mulkerrins in a thrilling final to claim his second Gaffney Memorial crown in front of a full house in Ballaghaderreen, as well as hundreds more watching the match live via Facebook Live.

Two crowd favourites with exciting styles of play, the meeting of Mulkerrins’s power and Carroll’s pace provided a truly astonishing spectacle of handball. Their route to the final was no less exciting.

Carroll overcame maverick Kildare player Niall O’Conner as well as Dublin’s two-time previous champion Eoin Kennedy to set up a semi-final with current champion Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath. In an absorbing match, Carroll’s spin-serves and relentless attacking play proved too much for McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Mulkerrins came through tough battles with Cork fitness fanatic Brendan Fleming and the stylish Antrim player Owen McKenna. Waiting for Mulkerrins in the semi-final was Irish number one ranked player, Armagh’s Charley Shanks. Displaying the subtleties of his game, Mulkerrins prevailed on the back of a ream of thunderous low passing shots and delicate finishes to the corners.

Beginning at a roaring pace, the final burst into life from the get go.

The Galway native set the early pace of play, using strong passing shots to get Carroll out of position and set himself up for a kill to race to a 12-1 lead.

In spite of this onslaught, Carroll kept cool and stuck to his own game. Upping the power, the Mallow clubman displayed his full arsenal of devastating serving and pass-shots to draw level at 14-14, and then take the first game 21-14.

With both players visibly fatigued in the second game, Carroll dug in and compounded the huge momentum swing from the first game to claim victory on 21-11 score line.

A terrific weekend’s handball was had by all in what was surely the most successful Gaffney Memorials to date. Ballaghaderreen handball club would like extend our sincere thanks to Drury Oils Ltd, our main tournament sponsor, as well as Regan & Sons, Gaelectric, Spells Bar, Durkin’s Hotel, Jennings Pump Services, GAA Handball Ireland, GAA Handball Connacht Council, O’Hara’s Bakery, Ros Plant Hire, McHugh’s Wholesale, Cunniffe’s Butchers, and St Coman’s Handball Club and our other sponsors and volunteers.

Martina McMahon was in sensational form at the weekend when she produced truly scintillating Handball to defeat the reigning champion Catriona Casey in the 2017 She's Ace Ladies Open Final in Aughagower HC, Mayo on Saturday night.

In front of a packed gallery, both girls served of what genuinely must be considered one of the greatest games of Ladies Handball the game has seen. The athleticism, skill levels with both hands and the intensity displayed was a pleasure to witness.

Martina had never beaten Casey previously in a major four wall event, but took the opener 15-11 with breathtaking power serving and killing. But Casey is a great champion, and is to clever a player not to be able to adapt her game, as she responded to win the second 15-10 and force a tiebreak. 

With scores tied at 5-5 the game was there for the taking for either player. Martina stole a march to go 10-5 up, but Cat saved a match point before reeling off three quick points to narrow the score to 8-10. But Martina got back in again and didn't make any mistakes the second time round, sealing an 11-8 win.

Martina now excitingly has proven herself to be a genuine contender for All-Ireland glory in March.

Early on the Finals Night, after a hectic day of Handball across 6 venues, 7 grades, & 8 courts, the Girls 15&U and 17&U Finals provided the entertainment before the Open Final.

In the 15&U Final, it was Clare's Amber Nolan who emerged victorious in the final against Kilkenny's Noelle Dowling 25-16. Both girls came through 3 matches already on Saturday afternoon and showed a great standard at such a young age. It was followed by the 17&U Final where Kildare's Leah Doyle defeated Tyrone's Caitlin Conway 25-13 with her impressive serving proving the difference.

In finals played in Claremorris, Ballinrobe & Carnacon, there were wins for Aishling Mullin (Gal) in the Ladies B, Clodagh Munroe (Tyr) in the 13&U, and finally to Kilkenny's Bridget Mulholland in the Ladies Challenger.

GAA Handball would like to express their sincere gratitude to the six host clubs and the volunteers who helped make the weekend a success. Without them this celebration of ladies handball would simply not be possible.

Finals Results:

• Open: Martina McMahon dft Catriona Casey 15-11, 10-15, 11-8
• 17&U: Leah Doyle (Kildare) dft Caitlin Conway (Tyr) 25-13
• 15&U: Amber Nolan (Clare) dft Noelle Dowling (Kilkenny) 25-16
• 13&U: Clodagh Munroe (Tyr) dft Sadbh Ni Fhlaithearta (Gal) 25-10
• Ladies B: Aishling Mullin (Gal) dft Aoife Quinn (Sligo) 15-10, 14-15, 11-5
• Ladies Challenger: Bridget Mulholland (Kilk) dft Aine Ni Droigheann (Gal)

County 40x20 Singles champions

Boys

U12S Michael Brennan (Clogh) Def Niall Drennan (Galmoy)

U13S Thomas Sharkey (Galmoy) Def Luke Flannigan (Clogh)

U14S Billy Drennan (Galmoy) Def Kyle Jordan (Kilfane)

U15S Jack Doyle (Windgap) Def Jamie Maher (Clogh)

U16S Jack Holden (Kilfane) Def Kyle Dunne  (Clogh)

U17S

Girls 

U12S Emir Barron (Windgap) Def Ashling Cooney (Clogh)

U13S Lauren Power (Clogh) Def Nathana Jackson (Windgap)

U14S Amy Brennan (Clogh) Def Aine Duggan (Galmoy)

U15S Noelle Dowling(Mothal) Def Kelly-Ann Ryan(Gamoy)

U16S Mary Ellen Phelan (Galmoy) Def Roisín O'Keeffe (Kilfane)