Handball US Open sees two DCU winners

The big news out of the Simple Green US Open held over the October weekend was without doubt Cork’s Tony Healy’s tiebreaker win over Seattle’s Sean Lenning in the Men’s Singles A final.

However, there was also much joy here in DCU when the news came through that current DCU Handball Club President Prof Eugene Kennedy claimed the Men’s Over 60’s singles title winning the final in two straight games.

Eugene, father of multiple all Ireland champion and former DCU ace Eoin Kennedy has been the driving force behind Handball in the College since its introduction here in the early nineties.

Meanwhile former DCU student Eugene O’Reilly of Meath also claimed gold at the US Open winning the Men’s Singles C title. Both of these men have done much for handball in general and DCU handball in particular and it is with great pleasure we congratulate them both on behalf of the DCU Handball Club on their tremendous victories.

Sligo 60×30

DCU handballers enjoyed a successful weekend at the ICHA 60×30 Intervarsities hosted by Sligo IT between the 17-18 of October. Eleven players from DCU competed in three different grades.

The B team, consisting of David Smith, Ciarán O’Suileabhain, Cathal Walsh and fresher James Smith, showed a good mix of experience and determination to claim the B team title. They showed their true quality in a comfortable semi final victory over UCC.

The final pitted DCU against an aggressive NUIG team. First up to play was O’Suileabhain who gained a six point lead for the Dubliners.

Next, the two Smiths joined forces in the doubles. With the game tied, David was forced to take a time out with a troublesome hand injury, and in the mean-time Na Fianna clubman Cathal Walsh entered the arena against the illustrious Shane Hayes.

Walsh did well but lost by three points, meaning that DCU had a three point overall lead. Immediately the doubles game restarted and in a tense atmosphere DCU eventually came out on top, taking the B title.

In the Ladies B Plate, Marina Kilduff lost out in the final to NUIG’s Michelle Gaffney, sister of DCU’s Orla who reached the semi final of the Ladies B Championship, while first year student Ciarán Neary was narrowly defeated in the Men’s A Plate final.

Belfast 40X20

Next up on the Intervarsities calendar is a trip to Belfast this weekend November 21/22 for the team event in the 40×20 alley. A lot of time and effort has been put in by the players in training for this competition with many competing in the Dublin Leagues.

There has been a huge interest shown in the Handball club this year with the numbers of people playing doubling on the amount of previous years.

Any players wishing to join the club are most welcome. Training for the Handball club takes place on Monday (8-10) and Tuesday and Wednesday (5-7) in the handball alley.