DCU Handball club looking forward to new season

The DCU Handball club is looking forward to the current academic year, and are hopeful of building on the success of last year when DCU players claimed a number of County, Provincial, National and International honours along with intervarsity titles.

Without doubt the highlights of last year were the exploits of Cathal Walsh and Marina Kilduff who brought US Collegiate titles back to DCU, while Cavan’s James Brady’s victory over UCD’s Patrick Clerkin in the 40X20 Irish Intervarsity’s A final was the highlight on Irish shores.

Turning back to the present, this year will be a challenging one for the DCU Handball club as long-serving member David Smith left to go travelling. it is up to all in the club to work harder in David’s absence to keep the club strong in his absence.

This year the club is running a 40×20 doubles league with emphasis on new and beginner handball, also at the end of the academic year the club has planned to hold a special Hardball tournament which will be the only tournament in the world in the oldest form of handball.

What the club is most looking forward to in the coming year, however, is the intervarsity championships 60×30 in Wexford (October 16-18), the 40×20 Team in Tralee (November 20-22) and the 40×20 singles in Kingscourt in late January/early February. It is with the performances in this competition that the players determine their year’s efforts.

Outside of the intervarsity scene there will be plenty of handball action over the coming eight months with the UL one-wall singles in March, the DIT one-wall doubles in May/June, Dublin competition in both league and championship in both 60×30 and 40×20. Most club members will also be competing for their home clubs and counties throughout the year.

The DCU players heading to Portland, Oregon to compete in the World Championships are Ciaran Neary, Cathal Walsh, Peter Flanagan, Club President Eugene Kennedy and former DCU Handball stars Eugene O’Reilly, David Smith and All-Ireland 60×30 Champion Eoin Kennedy.

The club recommends students who are looking to take up handball to come along and take part in the new mixed Doubles league, where one experienced player is paired with one beginner.