The recently played 2025 Leinster Wallball Championships delivered some notable successes for Laois handball with titles won in both the juvenile and adult grades.
Aoife Kelly (Cullohill) claimed the first championship success for Laois in the Girls’ U-16 competition.
Having defeated the talented Kacey Coleman of Wexford on route to the final, she found herself pitted against fellow Cullohill club player Ellie Lafferty in an all-Laois Leinster Final.
The final was played in Clough-Ballacolla with both players performing superbly on the day.
Despite Ellie Lafferty’s best efforts, Aoife Kelly claimed a deserved victory with a tremendous performance of skill and determination.
This victory progressed Aoife Kelly to the Girls U-16 All-Ireland Semi-Final against Grace Murphy of Cork which was scheduled for Kilglass, Roscommon.
Unfortunately, for the Cork handballer, she had to concede the semi-final resulting in Aoife Kelly progressing straight through to the All-Ireland Final against a formidable opponent in the wall-ball specialist Cliona McGinley of Antrim.
The Laois handballer once again showed great heart and determination in the final but she ultimately could not match skill levels of the Antrim handballer who deservedly took the title 2 games to nil.
Despite the loss, it was a fantastic achievement by Aoife Kelly to claim a Leinster title at this grade and to reach an All-Ireland Final from which she would have gained huge experience to carry forward into the future.
In the adult grades, Kevin Brennan (Clough-Ballacolla) once again showcased why he must be considered one of the stand-out handballers in the country in 2025 with a brilliant performance in the Men’s 50+ Final to defeat a very strong opponent in Stuart Heslin of Louth.
Kevin played superb handball in both games to record a hugely impressive 15-8, 15-12 victory.
With this Leinster success, Kevin has now won Leinster titles in all three codes (40×20, 60×30, Wallball) in 2025. This is a remarkable achievement by the Laois handballer who will be determined to add the Men’s 50+ All-Ireland Wallball title to his collection in a couple of weeks’ time.
The highlight of these championships from a Laois perspective was the highly anticipated Ladies Leinster Junior Final between sisters Úna and Aoife Brophy of Cullohill.
Family bragging rights on this occasion went the way of Úna Brophy with a narrow 15-12, 15-14 victory after a hugely competitive final.
As always, both sisters produced an exciting and high-quality game of wallball to the delight of those in attendance. On the day, the better luck sided with Úna and she deservedly took the title and booked her place in the All-Ireland series where she will be a formidable opponent for whoever she faces.
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