GAA Handball Championships bring All-Ireland Success to Laois

Men’s 40x20 All-Ireland Championships:

The 40x20 Handball Championship season ended last weekend with a number of All-Ireland Finals taking place in the Handball Centre at Croke Park. It was a historic occasion for Clough-Ballacolla Handball Club with Kevin Brennan becoming the first handballer from the club to reach and play in an All-Ireland Final at adult level. In reaching the All-Ireland Final, Kevin produced some outstanding handball with impressive victories over Wexford, Kilkenny and Cavan opponents. In the Leinster semi-final, Kevin defeated a strong opponent in Damien Kelly (Wexford) on a scoreline of  21-14, 21-16. 

He maintained this form in the Leinster final with a thrilling tie-breaker victory over Stephen Hally (Kilkenny). The Clough-Ballacolla handballer played exceptionally well in the opening game taking it on a scoreline of 21-7. Hally produced a stirring comeback to take the second game 21-18. Brennan remained composed and upped his game in the tiebreaker to capture the Leinster title on a 21-18, 7-21, 11-3 scoreline. For the All-Ireland semi-final, Brennan travelled to Croke Park to face Vincent Mulvey (Cavan). The Laois handballer produced a scintillating performance to claim a thoroughly deserved 21-8, 21-14 victory and progress to the All-Ireland Final where he faced Tom McDonagh (Cork). 

The GMBS All-Ireland Final was set for Croke Park for Saturday, 13th April and a sizeable Laois support travelled in support of the Clough-Ballacolla handballer. The Cork handballer played the better handball in the opening game to take it on a 21-10 scoreline. The second game was a much more exciting and evenly contested encounter with Brennan now showing his true form and repertoire of handballing skills. Unfortunately, despite Brennan’s best efforts, it was the Cork handballer who eked out victory in the second game after a titanic battle on a scoreline of 21-19. It was a very brave effort by the Laois handballer and hopefully Brennan will be able to go one step further in 2025 and capture the All-Ireland title that would be rich rewards for the efforts and commitment he shows to handball.  

Kevin Brennan receiving his GMBS 40x20 All-Ireland runners-up medal from GAA Handball President Conor McDonnell. Read more below picture.

Ladies Junior 40x20 All-Ireland Championships:

In the Ladies Junior All-Ireland Championships, Laois were represented by Úna and Aoife Brophy of Cullohill Handball Club. Both these players entered these championships with realistic ambitions of challenging for All-Ireland honours. However, Úna Brophy’s challenge ended at the quarter-final stages with a 21-9, 21-9 defeat to the very talented Aoife Kelly (Tyrone). Aoife Brophy gave a masterful performance in her All-Ireland quarter-final encounter with Aisling Shanahan (Limerick) winning on a 21-7, 21-12 scoreline. Unfortunately, in her All-Ireland semi-final she faced an inspired Cora Doyle (Wexford) who produced an outstanding performance to eliminate the Laois handballer from this year’s championship in two games 21-2, 21-11.

In the Ladies 40x20 Junior Doubles Championships, Úna and Aoife Brophy reached the Leinster Final where they faced familiar opposition in Cora Doyle and Holly Hynes (Wexford). The final proved a very competitive encounter with the Laois pairing able to go toe-to-toe with the Wexford pairing. However, the greater experience of the Wexford handballers shone through in the end and they took the Leinster title on a 21-6, 21-9 scoreline. Both Úna and Aoife Brophy have made good progress in 2024 and the future still looks bright for the Cullohill handballers as they target further success in the coming years.  

Ladies Leinster 40x20 Junior Doubles Finalists: Úna and Aoife Brophy (Laois) & Cora Doyle and Holly Hynes (Wexford). Read more below picture.

Juvenile 40X20 Championships: 

Laois had three players progress to the Leinster Juvenile 40x20 Finals which were held in Croke Park with Ethan Lafferty, Jimmy Whyte and Orla Brophy (Cullohill HBC) facing Kilkenny opposition in their respective finals. Indeed, Laois were very unlucky not to see another player in Leinster Final action with Theo Neale  (St. Brigid’s, Monavea) heartbreakingly losing out to Ciaran Treacy (Kilkenny) 15-14, 11-15, 15-14 in the Boys U13S Leinster semi-final. Neither player deserved to lose after such a thrilling and hard fought encounter, but unfortunately from a Laois perspective it was the Kilkenny handballer who won the final decisive ace after a rip-roaring encounter.

In the Boys U17D Final, Ethan Lafferty and Jimmy Whyte battled bravely throughout but in the end the title deservedly went the way of Sean Morrissey and Dan McCormack (Kilkenny) on a scoreline of 21-7, 21-15. It was a great achievement by the Laois pairing to reach the final and they should be proud of their efforts this year.

Boys Leinster 40x20 U17D Finalists, Ethan Lafferty and Jimmy Whyte (Laois) & Sean Morrissey and Dan McCormack (Kilkenny). Read more below picture.

In the Girls U17S Final, Orla Brophy produced a truly spectacular performance to capture the Leinster title with a 21-1, 21-3 victory over Emily Shortall. This excellent victory marked Orla out as a strong favourite for All-Ireland glory and she delivered in style with resounding victories over Mayo and Antrim.

In the All-Ireland semi-final she defeated Shauna Hallinan (Mayo) in two straight games to set up an All-Ireland Final encounter at Croke Park with the Ulster champion Meadhbh Gallgher (Antrim). In similar fashion to her Leinster final success, Orla made a fast start to the final seizing the upper-hand and taking control of the alley straight from the off. The Cullohill handballer was relentless and never allowed her Antrim opponent gain any foothold in the game. Having taking the opening game on an impressive 21-5 scoreline she replicated this performance again in the second game to capture the Girls U17S All-Ireland title 21-5, 21-4.       

Orla Brophy receiving her GU17S All-Ireland winner’s medal from GAA Handball President Conor McDonnell. Read more below picture.

This All-Ireland success is a truly deserved accolade for the highly talented Cullohill handballer. She certainly ranks as one of the rising stars of Laois sport and this success marks her out as a player to watch out for in the future.