Double Laois handball delight as Brennan wins Leinster title and county hosts Martin Mealy Cup

The Leinster Golden Masters B Final took place in Tinryland last weekend, where Laois’ Kevin Brennan faced off against the vastly experienced David Redmond of Wexford.

Both players had impressed in their semi-finals. Laois' Brennan, representing Clough-Ballacolla, came through a tough battle against Wexford’s Kevin Cowman on a scoreline of 14-21, 21-16, 21-07. Redmond had eased past Kilkenny’s Stephen Hally with a dominant 21-04, 21-08 victory.

As expected, the final was a closely fought and high-quality affair. The opening game was evenly contested, with little separating the players. However, Brennan’s superior fitness and determination saw him edge ahead at the crucial moments, eventually taking the first game 21-16. The second game followed a similar pattern, with both players matching each other point for point. Once again, it was Brennan who finished the stronger, closing out the game 21-16 to secure the Leinster title.

This win marks back-to-back Leinster Golden Masters B titles for Brennan, who also claimed the crown in 2023. Last year, he went on to reach the All-Ireland Final, where he was narrowly beaten by Cork’s Tom McDonagh. Now, with provincial success secured once more, Brennan will look to go one step further in the 2025 All-Ireland series.

The Martin Mealy Cup 2025

The 2025 Martin Mealy Cup Finals took place last weekend at St. Brigid’s Handball Club in Monavea, with a packed schedule of thrilling matches showcasing the very best of Laois handball. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions on the Laois handball calendar, the Martin Mealy Cup regularly attracts top players from across the county and beyond.

In the Division 3 Final, the pairing of Joe Brennan and Brendan Keogh delivered a strong performance to defeat Brandon Doyle and Conor Walsh. Pictured below.

The Division 2 decider saw a clash of experience and power, with Kevin Brennan and Kevin Rossiter overcoming the challenge of Eamon Brennan and Brian Brennan in an entertaining contest. Pictured below.

The Division 1 Final lived up to its billing, as Garryhill duo John Ryan and Ollie Ryan went head-to-head with the St. Brigid’s, Monavea pairing of Tómas Lennon and Andrew Dowling. In a tightly contested encounter, it was the Carlow side who came out on top to claim the 2025 Martin Mealy Cup. Pictured below.

There was also great excitement in the Juvenile Final, where Mason Neale and Ethan Lafferty took on Ollie Delaney and John Delahunty. The opener went the way of Delaney and Delahunty by a single ace, 15-14. Neale and Lafferty bounced back to take the second 15-11 and force a tie-breaker. In a nail-biting decider, Neale and Lafferty edged an 11-9 win to seal the 2025 Martin Mealy Juvenile Cup title.

The finals highlighted the strength and depth of talent in Laois handball, with players young and old delivering high-quality performances throughout the day.