Leinster Wallball Championships deliver outstanding results for Laois GAA Handball

The recently held 2025 Leinster Wallball Championships proved highly successful for Laois handball, with titles claimed across both juvenile and adult grades.

In the Girls’ U16 competition, Aoife Kelly (Cullohill) captured Laois’ first championship win of the event. After overcoming the talented Kacey Coleman of Wexford on her way to the final, Aoife faced fellow Cullohill clubmate Ellie Lafferty in an all-Laois Leinster decider.

The final, played in Clough-Ballacolla, saw both players deliver outstanding performances. Despite a spirited effort from Lafferty, Kelly produced a superb display of skill and determination to secure a deserved victory.

That success advanced Aoife to the Girls’ U16 All-Ireland Semi-Final against Grace Murphy of Cork, scheduled for Kilglass, Co. Roscommon. Unfortunately, the Cork player was forced to concede, sending Aoife directly through to the All-Ireland Final against renowned wallball specialist Cliona McGinley of Antrim.

In the final, Aoife once again showed tremendous heart and fight, but the Antrim player’s superior experience and precision saw her claim the title in two straight games. While the result didn’t go her way, Aoife’s Leinster triumph and All-Ireland Final appearance represent an exceptional achievement and valuable experience for the young Laois star.

In the adult grades, Kevin Brennan (Clough-Ballacolla) once again underlined his status as one of Ireland’s standout handballers in 2025 with a brilliant performance in the Men’s 50+ Final, defeating a strong opponent in Stuart Heslin of Louth. Brennan played outstanding handball throughout, securing an impressive 15-8, 15-12 victory. This latest success means Kevin has now captured Leinster titles in all three codes (40x20, 60x30, and Wallball) in 2025, a remarkable achievement. He will now look to add the Men’s 50+ All-Ireland Wallball crown to his collection in the coming weeks.

The highlight of the championships from a Laois perspective was the much-anticipated Ladies Leinster Junior Final, a family affair between sisters Úna and Aoife Brophy (Cullohill).

In a thrilling and hard-fought encounter, Úna edged out her sister Aoife 15-12, 15-14 to claim the title and family bragging rights. Both players produced a high-quality, entertaining game that delighted spectators, but it was Úna who ultimately prevailed. She now advances to the All-Ireland series, where she is expected to be a formidable contender.

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