HALL OF FAME HANDBALL AWARD FOR THE LATE SEAMUS MC CABE, CLONES
The GAA Handball Awards for 2016 were presented earlier this year in Tullamore. The Hall of Fame Award to Ulster was awarded posthumously to the late Seamus Mc Cabe, Clones. As members of Seamus’s family were not able to travel to the event, the Award was presented to Karl O Connell, his grand-nephew, by Conor Mc Donnell, President, Ulster GAA Handball. Karl is a member of Monaghan Senior Football panel.
The late Seamus Mc Cabe was 23 years when he made history in 1966 by becoming the first Ulsterman to win an All-Ireland Senior Handball title.
Seamus had win many Provincial titles, and in 1961 reached the All-Ireland Minor Final, but lost out to the more experienced Tom Ledwith, Westmeath. After this, the left handed player contested the Junior softball grade and won the Ulster Singles title, and then partnered Liam Hanley, Monaghan, to win the Ulster Doubles event in the same grade. In 1962, Seamus won the All-Ireland Junior softball title. He then stepped up to the Senior ranks, but it was three years before he began to make his mark at Senior level, by winning both Ulster Singles Finals in Hardball and Softball. He made history, becoming the first Ulsterman to reach an All-Ireland Hardball final, but lost out to Peadar Mc Gee, Mayo.
In 1966, Seamus rattled the history books again by becoming the first Ulsterman to reach both All-Ireland Finals, softball and hardball. He won the All-Ireland Softball title and in doing so, he became the first Monaghan man to win an All-Ireland Senior Singles title.
By Majella Boyd Fri 26th May
