Two DCU winners at Handball Intervarsity’s

A disappointing weekend for the DCU handball club at the All Ireland 40×20 Intervarsity’s earlier this month saw Cavan’s James Brady claim the Men’s A Championship and Orla Gaffney triumph in the Women’s Challenger title.

Overall 15 players competed from the university with Brady being the most consistent performer over the course of the weekend in Cavan.

He enjoyed a 15-13, 15-14 final win over his fellow club man and doubles partner Patrick Clerkin of UCD, who defeated up and coming DCU ace Ciaran Neary in a thrilling semi final. Brady was in fine form throughout the three days and came into the final having sensationally demolished David Walsh of UCC in the semi final.

Orla Gaffney took the Women’s Challenger title with a comfortable 15-7, 15-4 victory over Mary Glennon UL, and newcomer Donal “Donie” McDiarmuda was defeated in the Beginner final 0-15,9-15 by James Creavy UCD.

However, this was where the success story of the weekend came to an end, with only three of the remaining players reaching semi finals.

Cathal Walsh (Mens C), Brian O’Sullivan (Mens Challenger) and Aileen Quinn (Women’s C).

The club, which has doubled in size since the start of the year, will be pleased with the number of people that competed and the overall progress that has been made.
Attention now turns to the Dublin Championships where a good number of players competing both in singles and doubles and will be hoping to bring some success to DCU.

At the time of print 9 DCU players were in Minneapolis attempting to replicate last years success in the US Collegiate Championships.

Next up on the college scene is the UL One-Wall on March 21 in Limerick.