These are heady days for the handballers of Cavan, as exemplified by  the standard on show at the county 40x20 championships in Kingscourt  last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, an event which drew a record-breaking entry and some truly magnificent contests.
 It was a weekend which threw up its fair share of surprises, too but  while there was a changing of the guard in the majority of the grades, the same old faces came through in others.
 The showpiece result was as expected – senior champion Paul Brady did  what he does best,winning Sunday's final in style. But he was made to  fight all the way by a fired-up and in-form Michael Finnegan who, roared on by a passionate local crowd, gave an astonishing exhibition of attacking handball to force the world number one to a tiebreaker.
 Highlights of the weekend were many and varied. Those who made their  mark but just fell short included Junior B runner-up Shane Briody, who had squeaked home in a marathon semi-final against the ageless Joe  Dillon Sr (himself conqueror of the battling Declan Smith in an 11-8  tiebreaker) and Patrick Clerkin, who took third in Senior Singles with an impressive win over Raymond Cunningham.
 Enda Fitzpatrick also showed well, forcing Ryan Brennan to an 11-8 breaker on Friday evening, while Ben Conaty – who misses out on the  Under 14 grade by just two weeks – showed   his potential with an impressive run to the Under 16 final, where he went down 21-6, 19-21,10-11 to arguably the most impressive performer of the weekend, Cian McManus.
 Gutsy Ballyconnell boy McManus came through six matches over the  weekend and emerged as Under 14 and Under 16 champion, a remarkable achievement for the 13-year-old who only took up the sport 18 months ago.
 Having defeated promising 12-year-old Stephen Smith in the Under 14 final (15-7, 15-8), McManus went straight back into the court to take  on clubmate Ben Conaty in the Under 16 final. Despite losing the opening game, he upped the ante and his power and consistency saw him through a superb final against an excellent opponent.
The Under 12 Singles title went to the host club and talented 10-year old Conrad Martin.  The skilful right-hander came through a strong field which included the likes of Cian Sheckleton, Odhran and Eoin Cunningham, Jamie and Eoin Reilly and plate winner Shane Galligan. Conrad is one of a very promising batch of young Kingscourt players and with the right  dedication to training, he could be the next star to emerge from the famous east Cavan club.
There was controversy in the Junior A semi-final, as Joe Dillon Jr was beaten 11-10 by Padraig Cahill in a tense tiebreaker. Cahill, who  played Friday evening before taking his place on the Cavan senior football panel on Saturday evening and returning to play twice on Sunday, let the first game slip when leading 17-year-old Dillon 20-16. The Killygarry man stormed back to take the second comfortably before rallying from 10-7 down to scrape through by the minimum, after a  debatable call at 10-10 after a typically furious rally. The 26-year-old dual player left no-one in any doubt as to the merits  of his championship win in the final however, as he turned in a superb  display against Ryan McCormack. Kingscourt footballer McCormack had enjoyed two sensational wins over Eddie Halligan and Jimmy McKeon but he couldn't cope with Cahill's  movement and speed in front court. Killing the ball well, Cahill ran out a 21-7, 21-8 victor to ensure his elevation to the senior ranks for 2012. 
The Junior B grade was the toughest of the weekend, with 16 entries, and featured some of the closest matches of the championships. In the end, 18-year-old left-hander Marcus Sheridan proved to be the classiest player in the grade, defeating number one seed Cormac McMahon in straight games in the semi-final and Shane Briody – possibly the quickest player in the county – in the final to seal his elevation to the Junior A grade.
The championships were relaunched in 2007 and this year attracted 75 players in total, with grades from Under 12 up, and the inclusion of a  senior grade drew the crowds. Next year, it is hoped to break 100. Coincidentally, that was the number of spectators who attended
 Sunday's finals, which concluded with the senior decider. Brady started as favourite, despite Finnegan's ominous form in the early  rounds, and his agility and pinpoint passing shots unsettled the Kingscourt man in the first game, which Brady won 21-10.
 To his credit, Finnegan came out shooting in game two. Aware of the futility of rallying with Brady, he opted to shoot the ball, early and  often, and after slipping 5-2 down, he found his range and, serving well, ran off a string of spectacular kills to take the second on a 21-11 scoreline. 
The break before the tiebreaker broke Finnegan's momentum and his  doubles partner emerged composed and in control once again.
Serving better, Brady took an early lead, his ability to retrieve virtually any shot drawing gasps from the packed gallery.
Finnegan had his chances in the 'breaker but “skipped” on a handful of  kills. Brady, who has just returned to training following a six-month  break, finished the stronger and deservedly took the match, and the title, on an 11-2 scoreline. “I'd like to thank all of the organisers and everyone who turned up,”  stated the Mullahoran man in his acceptance speech. “I'm delighted to take part – there is no better way to get back into  the swing of things than playing competitive handball.”
 The curtain-raiser to the senior final was the minor decider, where  Joe Dillon Jr – an exceptional prospect – had too much firepower for  the game Cathal Sheridan. All-rounder Dillon, like Stephen Smith, Caolan Smith, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Pierce Smith and a handful of  others, is a player of great potential who has made great strides on the court. Hopes are high that the good times will continue for Cavan handball for some time to come.