Leinster Handball
Convention 2010
The 2010 Leinster Convention took place on the shores of picturesque Lough Gowna in Cavan on Sunday February 21st last .Leinster Handball Secretary Liam Mahon recalled a special year in handball in his full report.
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Liam Mahon Secretary, Tom Rossiter Chairman, Joe Masterson, Treasurer |
Gerome and Richard Willoughby with Tom Rossiter |
The Abbeylara Club hosted the 2010 Leinster
Convention. As customary prior to the Convention each year there is a
Convention & Delegates Cup competition. This year Richard & Jerome
Willoughby had an exciting 12-11 win over Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy snr & Kilkenny’s Seamus Reade. The
delegate’s cup final was
equally exciting with Laois’s Andrew Dowling & Darren Flynn from the host club just edging it
over Wexford’s Ricky Barton &
Tom Rossiter.
Before Convention convened a delicious meal was held
in the Pikers Lodge Gowna for the delegates who travelled long distances. It
was one of the best attended Conventions in recent years. There were a number
of special guests including Martin Skelly Longford G.A.A. Chairman, Tony Hannon
Irish Handball President and Chris Curran National Handball Manager were all in attendance. Chairman Tom Rossiter asked Anna O’Reilly
Abbeylara Club Secretary to say a
few words. O’Reilly hoped “the meeting would be both productive and constructive.”
Chairman Tom Rossiter asked Uachtaran Tony Hannon
Irish Handball Council to say a few words.Hannon stated that the application
for the development of the new handball centre in Croke Park has gone in with 4
40 x 20 courts and 1 60 x 30.“It
is hoped to have it ready for 2012 for the World Championships which Ireland
will host.There has been a lot of hard work put in with many Leinster delegates
multi tasking doing 3-4 jobs”
according to Hannon. The President complimented the Laois/Offaly officials who
hosted the Feile na nGael and did a great job. The President praised
the Leinster players that won National & International with 18 county’s winning
World titles. “It was a tremendous
achievement” said Hannon.He ended
his speech by “thanking Leinster Council for the invitation and wished everyone involved in Leinster handball the
best of luck for 2010.” The President received a warm round of applause.
Secretary’s report
Liam Mahon delivered another comprehensive Secretary’s report
which ran to 13 pages. Mahon
also thanked the Feile Committee of Kevin Cooke, Andrew Dowling, Patsy Dowling
& John Carroll for the “professional way in which the Feile na nGael handball tournament was
organised.”The Secretary also
thanked Hannah Hannon for organising the Leinster Colleges Championships.Ladies
Handball is going from strength to strength according to the Leinster Secretary
with 8 county’s now taking part in Ladies competitions and is a source of great satisfaction to the Council’s efforts.
The Development Committee under Chairman Tom Walsh was
also thanked with 4 new clubs in Westmeath alone and the Crossakiel Club in
Meath reforming.Coaching Officer Richard Willoughby was also thanked for
organising a number of level 1 foundation level courses in the province and
already his hard work is paying off with the level of skill displayed in the
Juvenile Championships.
In the World Championships 9 Leinster players won
World Championshipsand the entire World Champions squad visited Aras an
Uachtarain to meet President McAleese last December and were later guests of
honour at the G.A.A. Christy Ring & Nicky Rackard All-Star Awards shortly
afterwards.
Leinster players continue to dominate the Softball
championships with Eoin Kennedy again the King in the big court overcoming
Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy in
the Softball singles final.Kennedy & Egin Jensen beat Meath’s Tom
Sheridan & Brian Carroll
in the doubles final. Leinster backboned by Kilkenny players also won the
Intermediate & doubles titles.Wexford Handball Board was thanked for
running a successful time tournament on behalf of the Leinster Council to
celebrate the G.A.A.’s 125th Anniversary.
Leinster picked up 4 Awards at the National Awards
night last December Michael Ducksy Walsh, Shauna Hilley, Tom Walsh &
Leixlip handball club were the recipients .Mahon thanked his fellow
Officials and to Chris Curran & Niamh Egan in Croke Park and to all the
officials, players, and people who opened courts and refereed games.
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Cianna Connell, Mary O'Reilly,
Frank Semple, Elizabeth Martin, Kevin McKenna & Anna O'Reilly |
Chris Curran
- National Handball Manager, Liam Mahon, Tony Hannon Handball President,
Martin Skelly Longford GAA Chairman and Tom Rossiter Leinster Handball
Chairman. |
A heated discussion relating to some county’s canvassing
for awards rather than on
merit was aired. Also the Chairman was asked for an explanation why Leinster
was not represented at the awards night .Longford G.A.A. Chairman Martin Skelly
was listening intently to discussions and Rossiter asked Skelly to take the
floor and address the delegates.Skelly said “it was a great honour
and privilege to be here.”Skelly
recounted his own handball playing days in Newtown Cashel.Skelly was delighted
to see Chris & Niamh present. Skelly knew Niamh Egan well from her days
working in the Longford News and is delighted that she is doing great work in
Croke Park. It is great to see handball making strides as it is the 1 true
dimension to G.A.A in International games.The likes of Brady,
Shannon, Kennedy are really international stars. It is a hugely exciting
time ahead for handball with the 2010 World Championshipsand is a great
time for anyone involved in handball with the possibility of handball making it
into the 2016 Olympic games as well.” Skelly said it was good to have a little bit of interaction between
delegates and the top table. He ended by wishing everyone well for the future.
Maith an obair was his last contribution. With that Skelly also received a very
warm round of applause from delegates. Treasurer Joe Masterson thanked Skelly
for his remarks.
Next was the Treasurers report and in it Masterson
showed a healthy balance to the Councils coffers. Dublin delegate Frank Semple
asked about the possibility of a grant towards Clubs to develop especially
those with no clubs of their own.The Treasurer in reply said they are trying to
generate enough income to run the Council.“We will give consideration to individual merits. “ Former
Leinster Chairman & Irish
Handball President Tom Walsh posed the question was there any audited
expensesMasterson was happy to confirm that the Leinster G.A.A. Council dealt
with this.
With that Chris Curran National Handball Manager spoke
to delegates and covered a large number of topics with an enthusiastic voice.“He congratulated the Leinster Council on
another successful year and thanked the Officials for their work throughout the
year.He has seen efficiency’s in county’s and made reference to 4 new handball clubs in Westmeath and
the Crossakiel Club in Meath reforming and wished they would grow and thrive
into the future.” “It was a very successful year and the game I enjoyed most was the softball doubles All-Ireland
final an all Leinster affair.”He
mentioned Ireland’s37 World
Championsand they were invited to Aras an Uachtaran to meet President Mary
McAleese and were honoured by the G.A.A. “ It was great to see 500
people attending the World
Championships, 300 players that is a significant factor in itself and their
efforts made to travel.” The National Manager congratulated Laois/Offaly on the Feile na nGael.
Curran replied that we want a National Centre. The
G.A.A. are looking at the fact for the seating to host other
events.Handball is getting 9 million. We have stood behind Dublin handball and
it is the best we could possibly get.Dublin will be consulted on how the County
can get best use of the facility. McKenna congratulated Curran for all the work
he and the Irish Handball Council are doing in getting this New handball centre
come to fruition.
Promotions: On promotions Curran announced that each province
will be given 500 euro to the Provinces P.R.O.’s for press releases.It is hoped names will be in for congress
and afterwards the P.R.O.’s will be given a days training.
Website: Also it is hoped to have the 4 Provincials crests on the National
website and when someone clicks on the crest they will be able to get fixtures,
results and ultimately to keep it up to date.Also the Top Ace Magazine will be
ready for Congress it will be a high quality magazine.
At the end of his long and informative speech Curran
also received a warm round of applause.
Tom Rossiter gave his Chairman’s address and asked for
more parents to get involved
in coaching.He is in favour of the awards night and there was good feedback
from it.Rossiter would like to see more people attending meetings, we need all
on board.The Chairman was appreciative off all the clubs who invited him to
tournaments. He thanked his fellow Officials and all who attended and the
special guests present.
Shortly after that the Officers were elected as
follows:
Chairman: TomRossiter Wexford
V-Chairman: John Kelly Louth
Secretary: Liam Mahon Kilkenny
Treasurer: Joe Masterson Offaly
Player on Ard Comhairle: Michael Gregan Wicklow
Handball Rep to Leinster G.A.A. :
Liam Mahon
Development Officer on Leinster G.A.A.: Tom Walsh
Wicklow
Juvenile Chairman: In the only contest of the day
Paddy Kelly from Louth defeated Ricky Barton Wexfordto become the new
Juvenile Chairman.
Task Teams: Tom Walsh Wicklow
Coaching: Richard Willoughby Wicklow
Central Hearings Committee: John Molloy Dublin.
A number of motions were passed shortly afterwards and
after a long afternoon’s
discussion Tom Rossiter thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.
The 2011 Leinster Convention will take place in Laois.