GAA 125 Handball Showdown Benefit Tournament,- BY
AIDAN CROWLEY:
Ace Wexford handballer, Gavin Buggy (St. Mary's,
Wexford Town),
teamed-up with Wexford senior footballer, Anthony Masterson, to claim
the Men's Softball (60X30) title, defeating legendary Kilkenny
handballer, Michael "Ducksy"
Walsh (Talbot's Inch) and Kilkenny's
Hurler Of The Year, Tommy Walsh in a thrilling final, at the GAA 125
Handball Showdown Benefit Tournament, at The National Handball Centre,
Croke Park, yesterday (Saturday).
The Showdown, which was held to mark the close of the GAA 125
celebrations, involved pairing high-ranking handballers
with top GAA
stars from their county, representing the other GAA codes of football,
hurling, women's football, camogie and rounders, in a knock-out
tournament, with all proceeds going to The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The handballers played a ten-minute singles match,
while their novice
partners played a six-minute singles match, with the totals from each
match being added to give the final score. Despite being hot
favourites before the tournament, the Kilkenny duo were
just pipped by
the Wexford pairing, on a total scoreline of 19-18.
In the Men's (40X20) final, star Cork handballer,
Tony Healy
(Ballydesmond) and Cork senior footballer, Donnacha O' Connor, proved
too strong for Mayo kingpin, Joe McCann (Ballaghaderreen)
and Mayo
senior footballer, Andy Moran, as they edged to victory, on a total
scoreline of 17-16.
In the Women's (40X20) final, which was based on a straight-doubles
format, young Wicklow ace, Shauna Hilley (Coolboy) and Wexford camogie
player, Mags D'Arcy, representing Leinster,
defeated Kerry ace, Maria
Daly (Ballymacelligott) and Tipperary footballer, Mairead Morrissey,
representing Munster, on a total scoreline of 15-13.
HANDBALL - RESULTS:
GAA 125 Handball Showdown Benefit Tournament:
At: The National Handball Centre,
Men's Softball (60X30) (Final):
G. Buggy & A. Masterson (Wexford) bt M. Walsh
& T. Walsh (Kilkenny) 19-18.
Men's (40X20) (Final):
T. Healy & D. O' Connor (
Women's (40X20) (Final):
S. Hilley (Wicklow) & M. D'Arcy (Wexford) bt M. Daly (Kerry) & M.
Morrissey (
END