Handball National Rankings Announced

Following the recent Provincial Open Championships, GAA Handball Ireland have now released the National Official Open Senior Rankings list in both the mens and ladies codes, with the All Ireland series just around the corner.

In the Mens Senior rankings there is little surprise that Cavan’s Paul Brady remains in poll position, a full 20 points clear of his nearest rival, Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath. Brady broke another record twelve months ago when he captured a 7th successive All Ireland senior singles crown and later this year will be chasing an incredible 4th consecutive World Senior Championship title success, with that event to be staged in Dublin in October.

His main challenger is already looking to be McCarthy, who caused a stir by his best ever campaign in 2011 when he won All Ireland senior 60×30 and Irish 40×20 Nationals as well as US Open titles, moving ahead in the rankings of Armagh’s Charly Shanks. The Clann Eireann clubman has been in the USA competing in the Race4Eight events and will not be competing in the 2012 All Ireland Senior Championship, which is also the case for number 4 seed and former champion, Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy.

The most significant move in the Mens rankings has been made by Mayo’s Joe McCann who won the Golden Gloves and Connacht Open Championship to jump into 5th positions in the national rankings. Elsewhere, last year’s All Ireland minor champion, Cork’s Killian Carroll moves up to 11 after making the last two national ranking tournament finals, while Limerick’s Seamus O’Carroll is up to 15 following his Munster title win last weekend.

In the Ladies Official seedings, Kerry’s Maria Daly is top of the ladder as she prepares for a 3-in-a-row in the All Ireland Senior 40×20 Championship. The Ballymcelligot star is 8 points clear of Antrim’s Fiona Shannon who came back to win the Irish 40×20 Nationals, Golden Gloves and Ulster Open in her last 3 tournament challenges while Aisling Reilly and Marianna Rushe come next in the rankings.

The draws and fixtures for the GAA Handball All Ireland Open Championships, sponsored by O’Neills, will be launched this weekend to coincide with the new Cup for the Mens Open Singles Championship.

This will take place as part of the International Handball Conference in Croke Park which will see many of the key handball figures internationally finalise and launch a new strategy for the sport worldwide, under the new International Handball Federation – the WWBA.

GAA Handball Ireland Mens Senior Rankings

1. Cavan (Paul Brady) 58 pts

2. Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy) 38 pts

3. Armagh (Charly Shanks) 28 pts

4. Dublin (Eoin Kennedy) 27 pts

5. Mayo (Joe McCann) 26 pts

6. Antrim (Ricky McCann) 22 pts

7. Wexford (Gavin Buggy) 20 pts

8. Kerry (Dominick Lynch) 20 pts

GAA Handball Ireland Ladies Senior Rankings

1. Kerry (Maria Daly) 58 pts

2. Antrim (Fiona Shannon) 46 pts

3. Antrim (Aisling Reilly) 41 pts

4. Roscommon (Marianna Rushe) 29 pts

5. Kerry (Ashley Prendiville) 23 pts

6. Cork (Catriona Casey) 18 pts

7. Down (Lorraine Havern) 16 pts

8. Kildare (Anna Spence) 16 pts