Cork’s Handball star Tony Healy avenged last years
world handball championship final defeat at the hands of Cavan’s Paul Brady in
an outstanding contest in the All-Ireland Senior Singles Final played in the O’
Loughlin’s G.A.A. Kilkenny Centre on April 17th last.
First Minor Title for Robbie McCarthy
In the
Minor final, which preceded the big match Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy faced Ger
Coonan from Tipperary. McCarthy who had
a thrilling Leinster Final win over Brian Carroll of Meath went into the final
as favourite. McCarthy had the better
start going into to lead 7-1 early on.
Coonan then got an ace but McCarthy extended his lead to 10-3. Coonan came more into the game and with a
good cross court serve forced McCarthy into a weak return and the Ballina club
player put the ball away nicely into the right corner to be 10-4 behind. Two more kills from Coonan brought the
Munster champion to within touching distance of McCarthy’s lead. McCarthy from
the Mullingar club went further in front even with his relaxed style of play
forced Coonan into rushing his shots and extending his lead to 14-6. A low hard serve by Coonan to McCarthy’s
left yielded a point and he quickly added another score to be six points adrift
of McCarthy. McCarthy with his powerful
right hand took full advantage of his opportunities and won the rally after
Coonan shot into the roof. A passing shot from McCarthy passed Coonan as he was
on the floor and left the score at 16-8.
Ger took a time out to try to come to terms with McCarthy’s play. He got two more scores but could not add to
his tally as McCarthy gained the next five points to take the first game by
21-10. McCarthy went into a 3-0 lead
early in the second and opened up some daylight between himself and the Munster
Champion when leading by 8-2. Coonan
then put pressure on McCarthy and came back strongly. Ger retrieved brilliantly on two occasions to get into serve and
got a great cheer from the crowd for his efforts. McCarthy missed an easy opportunity in the right corner and the
scores were now level at 8-8. McCarthy
raised his game to keep ahead as Coonan took the wrong options at vital times
when in a good position to haul back McCarthy’s lead. McCarthy the young player of the year went further in front by
17-10. A great pick by McCarthy was
equalled by Coonan when he dived splendidly tapping the ball onto the front
wall. He then got an ace with the
scores at 17-12 to McCarthy. Coonan
registered three more points as McCarthy finished the stronger and took his
first minor championship title with a passing shot despite Coonan’s despairing
dive to win by 21-15.
HEALY HANGS
ON FOR VICTORY
Tony Healy from the Ballydesmond Club played scintillating
handball to defeat World Champion Paul Brady in an absorbing action packed
final played in front of a large and appreciative crowd. Healy was the better player throughout and
it would have been rough justice had he lost as he matched everything that
Brady could throw at him and his greater athleticism around the court
eventually reaped rewards. Con Moore
Former President of the Irish Handball Council introduced the players and young
Katie McCarthy sung the National Anthem in style. Healy looked in determined mood while Brady showed no facial
expressions at all before the start.
Brady had the brighter opening with a 7-0 lead. Healy got his first score with a kill in the
right corner. Brady won a great rally
with a passing shot down the right side for 9-3. Healy then got a bullet like kill to gain serve. Brady picked well but Healy directed a well-placed
shot into the left corner for 9-4 lead to Brady. Brady showed a clean pair of heels when he raced onto a Healy
return to place the ball in the right corner to lead by 13-5. Healy then took two timeouts together as
Brady surged clear. Brady showed great anticipation from Healy’s serve and
before it bounced, Brady was up at the short line to hit on the volley before
the Cork man had time to turn around. When Brady scored point number nineteen, he clenched his fist. Healy missed a shot on the left side, Brady
took game one after the ball came off the back wall, and Healy misjudged it
giving Brady the first game by 21-17.
Healy devastating in second game
Game two saw Healy taking command and Brady had simply no answer to Healy’s direct style of play. At 10-2 behind Brady took a time out he knew he was in a battle and no matter what shots Brady tried which looked like winners Healy was able to pick and retrieve brilliantly and his great fitness stood to him as he moved all over the court to counter act Brady’s best shots. Healy’s low hard drives with great accuracy were proving a handful for Brady throughout the second game and Healy’s greater hunger kept driving him on all the time. Healy had a number of precision kills, which the crowd thoroughly enjoyed. Healy’s play in game two was faultless while Brady looked shell shocked at the intensity of Healy’s all out attacking play. It finished 21-5 in Healy’s favour. Those of us who were lucky enough to have tickets for the final were treated to a third game to decide the winner. After scores were level at 2-2 Healy took a very commanding lead when getting ten points in a row to lead by 12-2. There didn’t seem any chance that Brady could respond but comeback he did in style when the chips were down he climbed mountain after mountain and showed why he is the World Champion in an amazing fight back, it was Healy’s turn to be on the back foot defending. Brady was reading Healy’s play a lot better, which enabled him to gain points, which up to this point he found very hard to get. The Mullahoran man fought back to draw level at 15-15 each and took the lead with a passing shot. Healy replied to level scores at 16 each. It looked all over for Brady when Healy rolled out for game ball. Healy missed the front wall agonizingly with the ball just dropping short. Still there was a lot to play for, Brady shot on the volley for seventeen and a sidewall point for eighteen. Healy took a time out as Brady’s All-Ireland title was now on the line. He reacted magnificently despite being overwhelmed. The scores were now level on twenty each as Healy’s return shot onto the roof. Brady could not get the final point for victory. Healy got Brady out and he in turn could not finish it. Brady yet again was not able to get the all-important winning point and Healy in for the fourth time dived and placed the ball into the left. What a game what a finish. Healy was overjoyed at the end and raised his hands in the air in triumph and Brady congratulated his victor. The contest lasted over two and a quarter hours and this time the Ultimate Irish Handball Challenge was won by Tony Healy. Irish Handball President Tony Hayes congratulated both players for giving their all and especially to Tony Healy who worked so hard for this win over his great rival and friend. Healy in his acceptance speech thanked his parents for all their encouragement and support year in year out and also mentioned Peter Dennehy, Liam Reilly and Eddie Corbett and thanked them for all their help. He thanked Paul Brady for a great game and said he had to work even harder to win it as Paul pushed the up the standard of play even more and he had to do the same to reach that level and in O’Loughlin’s G.A.A. Centre he did just that with a fully deserved victory. All handball Gaels cannot wait for the next exciting instalment from our two national sporting heroes