A well organized and very enjoyable day of both 40×20 and One Wall Handball took place last weekend at a challenge initiated between the handball clubs of Claregalway and Salthill.
The challenges took place in the recently refurbished court in Carnmore Community Centre located on the outskirts of Galway City. Both Salthill Handball and Claregalway Handball clubs attended having seen a recent increase in especially juvenile players who are the future of this great GAA sport. The 40×20 court was re-roofed, painted, new lights installed and can now compete with any court in the country. It has a spectator viewing platform at the back also.
The Claregalway Handball Club presently run ten hours of coaching weekly for aspiring young handballers aged nine upwards, both boys and girls. At present there are sixty players learning the skills. The game itself has seen a huge revival in the past three years nationwide and it is great to see local trainers willing to organise the club and bring it forward.
“Handball was one of the most popular sports locally all through to the 1980s. Unfortunately at the time a lack of trainers meant less juveniles players coming through. It is great to see the club revived and so strong” said Seamus O’Connell, who coached a strong Claregalway & Lackagh Community games handball team to All-Ireland silver in 1979.
The club will co-ordinate with local schools who wish to enter teams into the Cumann na mBunscoil competitions in February, enter Claregalway teams into the County champsionships in March and also seek other challenges and competitions to compete in. While training is aimed at the juvenile section at present, the club has no age limit and welcomes adult members. If you wish to join or learn more on the club please contact Joe O’Connell 087 9333181 or Mike Cullina 085 1395331.
Read an Article about the Claregalway v Salthill challenge on www.gaahandball.ie by Brendan McDonagh on www.gaahandball.ie.
