Peter heads for world finals in Australia

WHEN 18-year-old Drogheda handball player, Peter McAuley (left), flew out to Australia via Bangkok al the week-end he was carrying with him his country’s hopes of a world championship.

For the teenage handball player is in a world class at the sport—the reason he was selected for the nine strong Irish team at the world handball championships in Melbourne.

He will be playing in the senior event, competing against the top players from countries like the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Australia and probably the United Kingdom.

Peter said before flying out: “It is the first time for me to play senior and I will be up against the world number one, Naty Alvarado, a Mexican who will be playing for America. He has not been beaten in national championships for 10 years. The other main contender is Danny Bell, Canada, ranked number 10 in the world. So I am really up against it.”

Peter is the youngest player ever to represent Ireland in the senior level at the world championships. He won the world under-17 title in Canada in 1986 and the U.S. under-15 in 1984.

Joining Peter and the Irish contingent is Paschal McGuffin, College Rise, Drogheda, who left for Australia last Thursday. While Paschal plays handball with the Newtown Blues club, he is going to the world games purely as a spectator. Peter plays handball with the O’Raghallaighs and some of it with the Blues.