Student’s handball prowess sees them invited to prestigious contest

STUDENTS from St Brendan’s College in Killarney are Sweden bound this July, when they will compete in handball’s prestigious Partille Cup.

The invitation to compete in the competition came after the school entered the All Ireland Schools contest for Olympic Handball for the first time last year. This debut outing ended amazingly, with the school winning not one but two All-Ireland titles, in the U15 and U18 age groups respectively.

The school’s U15 boys will represent Ireland, and this will be the first time that Ireland has entered a team in the competition.

The Partille Cup is the world’s largest youth Olympic Handball competition, with over 1,400 teams from 50 countries taking part.

Speaking to The Kerryman this week, Coramarie Kelliher, one of the boys’ handball coaches, said that the squad of 18 players is very excited about the opportunity to represent not only the school but the country on the world stage, and it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the lads.

“It’s huge. They [Olympic Handball Ireland] were just very impressed with the lads... they asked for the U15 team to be brought. Their skill level at U15, while it wouldn’t be as high, but because they play every sport under the sun in The Sem, they have a good chance of doing well. They have just picked up the sport so well,” said Coramarie.

“We’re practicing two to three times a week at the moment and then thankfully, Olympic Handball Ireland, they are sending down a coach to us. He was down to us in April, and he’s coming down again on May 22 and May 23 to do two days more training with the lads.”

“I only played Olympic Handball in Community Games back when it wasn’t even known as Community Games,” she laughed, adding “the other two teachers, too, we’re all in the same boat, and one day, sure, we just gave the option to the lads to try out a different sport, and sure they were only delighted. It’s all taken off from there.”

The school is currently in the midst of a major fundraising drive to help cover the costs of getting the boys to Sweden. The group has set up an online fundraising page, too, if anyone wishes to contribute.

The link to the fundraiser can be found on the online version of this article on The Kerryman’s website.

STUDENTS FROM ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE IN KILLARNEY WILL REPRESENT IRELAND IN THE PARTILLE CUP IN SWEDEN IN JULY IN WHAT WILL BE THE COUNTRY’S FIRST EVER TIME HAVING A TEAM AT THE COMPETITION