A backward glance while moving forward

THERE are occasions in all sporting disciplines when it’s appropriate to take a backward glance to fully appreciate the strides taken to ensure success in a particular sport.

In 2008 Kerry handball was on the crest of a wave with some exciting results and the long term prospect of new names being inscribed on various winning trophies.

The 60x30 court provided the silverware at championship level for Kerry that year, as the talented Ballymacelligott player Ashley Prendeville won the Senior Singles and Dominic Lynch and John Joe Quirke from Glenbeigh in Junior Hardball Doubles took gold in their respective All-Ireland Finals.

In the highly prestigious USHA Collegiate championships Catriona Casey from Ballymacelligott, one of the top players of that year, returned home with two gold medals from Missouri. She won a thrilling B Singles title and then added the Ladies Open Doubles title with Marianna Rushe.

Karen Lawlor retained her A Singles title as she beat Mary Masalaskis in the A Final, the player she beat the previous year.

It proved a memorable year for Kerry and the Kerry Handball Board under the direction of Brendan O’Connor (Ballymacelligott), the County Chairman.

The Kerry GAA Supporters Club honoured Ashley Prendeville from Ballymacelligott

at their social, in recognition of her outstanding success in 2007.

Juvenile handball in Kerry was also climbing the ladder of success with Alanna Diggins (Tralee) and Hazel Prendeville (Ballymacelligott) winning the Girls U-17 60x30 Doubles All-Ireland titled with an incredible display of stylish and aggressive handball.

There was further juvenile success for Kerry at the Cumann Na mBunscol National Finals in Croke Park. The Ballymacelligott duo of Aisling O’Brien and Aileen Twomey, representing Clogher National School, won the prestigious U-11 Doubles title. The won both their matches in a three county play-off to finish top of their group.

The West was awake when the An Ghaeltacht girl’s team of Róisín Breathnach, Orlagh Ní She, Ellen Nic Gearailt and Katie Ní Mhuircheartaigh were joint winners in the

Feile Na Gael Girls 40x20 Division Three final.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

WITH handball at an all time high in Kerry during 2003 the Kerry Handball Board hosted trials for juvenile players to represent Kerry in the Munster championship. These took place at the Tralee Sports Complex. Following the trials a team of successful players were selected to represent Kerry in the 2003

40x20 championship. Looking over this list of very talented players, very few are playing or involved in the sport today on a regular basis, 17 years later.

The glaring exception is Jack O’Shea from Glenbeigh, 17 years of age in 2003, who has since won Kerry, Munster, Irish and World medals and is currently regarded as one of the top

competitors in the sport.

U-12 Boys Singles: Colin McGillycuddy (Glenbeigh)

U-12 Girls Singles: Louise Ni Mhuirchear taigh (An Ghaeltacht)

U-12 Boys Doubles: Rory O’Connor (Glenbeigh) and Gary Marshall (Tralee)

U-12 Girls Doubles: Sarah Cunningham and Aoife Dillane (Tralee)

U-13 Girls Singles: Edel Murphy (Glenbeigh)

U-13 Boys Singles: John McKenna (Tralee)

U-13 Girls Doubles: Eabha Rinn (Tralee) and Naomi O’Sullivan (Ballymacelligott)

U-13 Boys Doubles: Joseph Sheehan (Glenbeigh) and Cian Counihan (Ballymacelligott)

U-14 Girls Singles: Maebh Prendeville (Ballymacelligott)

U-14 Boys Singles: Shane McKenna (Glenbeigh)

U-14 Girls Doubles: Sharon Twomey and Brenda Carmody (Ballymacelligott)

U-14 Boys Doubles: Leon Seidler (Glenbeigh) and Colm O Muirchear taigh (An Ghaeltacht)

U-15 Girls Singles: Elaine Ryall (Abbeydorney)

U-15 Boys Singles: Damien Moriar ty (Glenbeigh)

U-15 Boys Doubles: Daithi O Se (An Ghaeltacht) and Colin McSwiney (Ballymacelligott)

U-16 Girls Singles: Ashley Prendeville (Ballymacelligott)

U-16 Boys Singles: Tim Prendiville (Ballymacelligott)

U-16 Girls Doubles: Catriona Casey (Ballymacelligott) and Karen Lawlor (Tralee)

U-16 Boys Doubles: Liam Thompson and Dennis Buckley (Ballymacelligott)

U-17 Boys Singles: Jack O’Shea (Glenbeigh)

Maria Daly, left, and Ashley Prendiville who have been two of Kerry’s handballers over the last decade and a half