The mighty Walter O’Connor claims the world handball crown

MEATH welcomed home its very own world ‘ champ this week — Walter O’Connor who dazzled the international handball set at Orange County, California, to take the under

17 title at the weekend.

After flying out with the Irish team to the world handball championships on December 20 he trounce American, Australian and Canadian opponents in the early rounds to beat Mexico’s top player In the final match.

Walter, who has played handball since he was 7 and trains at the Drogheda Newtown Blues Centre, is Meath’s first world handball champion.

His delighted father and coach Tom O’Connor said as he waited on him to fly home to Dublin Airport this week: “It is marvellous. He trained very hard and is a very keen player.”

He said his son had shown the potential of becoming one of the greatest handball players to come of this country. Still a student at St. Patrick’s C.B.S., Navan, where he sits his Leaving Cert, this year, he is the holder of six juvenile All-Ireland titles.

Last year was his first as a minor and it proved very successful, winning four minor titles. He won the McGee International Tournament in August and was voted Meath personality of the year for handball.

He is being hailed as the successor to Joey Maher the great Drogheda handball player who has seen him in action and is impressed by his and dedication.

Equally delighted with Walter’s world win are Peter and Betty Clarke, the Drogheda fruit and vegetable merchants who sponsored his spending money while he was in Orange County.

The O’Connor family lived in Drogheda for many years in Sandyford Terrace off Chord Road before .they moved to Kentstown in 1972. skill