WORLD HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Monaghan handballers at World Championships. The Handball World Championships take place every three years. The last championships took place in 2012 in City West in Dublin and was a massive event with competitors from all over the world competing for world titles. This time round the championships move to Calgary Canada. Over a thousand of the worlds top handballers from 25 countries will meet in Calgary to do battle where only the best will come home with the gold. First round games start on 11th August and all finals will be wrapped up by the 21st. 10 players from Monaghan are competing, they are among the best in Ireland in their grades and are now going to find out how they stack up against the rest of the world.
Sean Callen from Harps Handball Club competes in the 11&under both singles and doubles.
Eoghan Mc Ginnity from Harps Handball Club is competing in 13&under both singles and doubles.
Louise Mc Ginnity from Harps Handball Club in the girls 13&under
Gavin Coyle from Bawn Handball Club is competing in 17&under
Darren Doherty from Emyvale Handball Club is competing in 19&under
Conor O Gorman from Carrick Handball Club competes in Men’s B.
Paul Cassidy from Tydavnet Handball Club is competing in the Golden Masters in both singles and doubles.
Conor Mc Donnell from Harps Handball club is also competing in the Golden Masters and partners Paul in the doubles.
Martin Mc Entee is playing in the Emerald Masters both singles and doubles.
Pete Larkin from Emyvale Handball Club also plays in the Emerald Masters also partnering Martin in the doubles.
All 10 have been training tirelessly over the last few months and are all in great shape for the gruelling 10 day tournament. We wish them all the very best of luck.
DARREN DOHERTY SET FOR HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
It is often said that sport does not build character; it reveals it. Emyvale’s Darren Doherty oozes charisma and, when faced with adversity, his true character has been revealed on many occasions over the length of his short, but highly successful, career.
Doherty has become one of the biggest stars in GAA Handball and the 19-year-old is now on a mission to collect a title at the World Handball Championships in Calgary, Canada next week.
“Playing in the Worlds wearing an Irish jersey isomething you dream about,” said the passionatehandballer.
“I’m really looking forward to Canada – hopefully I’ll be coming home with some silverware.”
Doherty earned his spot on Team Ireland with a nerve wrecking two point final win over Clare’s Fergal Coughlan at the Irish One-Wall Nationals in early July. The stylish Doherty fell agonizingly short in claiming his spot on Team Ireland two months previous when he fell to a tiebreak defeat to Colin Corbett in the 40×20 Junior Nationals, but he showed his mental resolve to bounce back from that disappointment to claim the One-Wall title, and with it his ticket to Calgary.
Now, the talented young handballer is looking forward to one of the biggest events of his career.
“I looking forward to the atmosphere, the experience, the people, the games, and most of all – that twelve-hour flight,” said Doherty.
“I’ve trained hard, mixing different kinds of fitness training with playing games and trying to stay mentally fresh.”
Being part of the Irish team is something that Doherty is really enjoying.
“The experience with the team has been excellent,” he said.
“They do all they can to make sure you are feeling your best; as for the team members, we’re all just a big family in handball so no trouble there.”
Doherty will not be short of motivation ahead of the World Championships. His bid to become the Irish representative four wall player ended in failure when he lost out to Corbett. Now, he has a point to prove.
“I was gutted; the goal at the start of the year was to make the four-wall team and I had been playing very well in the run up but I’m delighted to have eventually made the squad.”
After the 40×20 trials, Doherty turned his attention to the One-Wall Nationals trials and in defeatingCoughlan, booked his spot on the Irish squad.
“The reality is it’s not what I planned for at the beginning, but sometimes you have to adjust your plans, and I trained really hard for the One-Wall trials,” said Doherty.
“Now that I’m there, I’m going to give it everything I have.”
Darren Doherty competes at Handball World Championships
GAVIN COYLE SET FOR HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Best of luck to Gavin coyle and all the monaghan handballers taking part in the handball world championships in Canada, we would like to thank all those who sponsored Gavin on his journey, Corduff handball club, Drumgoon Gfc, O Rorke oil carrickmacross, Kingspan, Peter Smith and sons plant hire, Donna Connolly hairdressing, Una Marron catering, Martin clerkin building consultant, Caroline &Damien Clarke, Francis Treanor publican, John and Rosemary mc geough, Eamon and Carmel Mc Elroy, Brendan and Patricia Mc Ardle, Peter and Breege Duffy, Michael and Elaine Clerkin, Michael Duffy Sr, Paddy deigian, Brian and Anglea mc Entee, Elaine Clarke, Martin dempsey, Gavin Brown. Thanks again everyone.
