There was mixed fortunes for Laois handball in the 60×30 All-Ireland Championships over the last couple of weekends with Clough-Ballacolla’s Kevin Brennan and Cullohill sisters Orla and Úna Brophy all in action.
All three handballers entered these championships with realistic ambitions of challenging for Leinster and All-Ireland singles success.
In the Men’s Golden Masters B Leinster Championships, Kevin Brennan progressed to the Leinster Final following an excellent 21-11, 21-05 victory over Wexford’s Tomás O’Shea.
In the final, the Clough-Ballacolla handballer travelled to Garryhill to face Joe Daly of Kilkenny. It proved a highly competitive final with both players playing some top quality handball.
Despite Brennan’s best efforts, it was Kilkenny handballer who deservedly won the title in two straight games.
While disappointed not to claim another provincial title, 2025 has been a brilliant year for Brennan with the Laois handballer claiming All-Ireland titles in both the 40×20 and 60×30 alley.
Cullohill’s Orla Brophy was also in Leinster Final action having overcome Wexford’s Boo Murphy in the Ladies 60×30 Minor Championship semi-final.
The final was set for Talbots Inch, where Brophy’s opponent was Kilkenny’s Katie Jordan.
In a highly competitive game between two excellent handballers, it was the Kilkenny player who prevailed beating Brophy on a scoreline of 21-07, 21-12.
The final scoreline failed to reflect the closeness of the final. The second game proved a humdinger and was keenly fought with the scores level on several occasions.
Unfortunately, from a Laois perspective and with the scores level at 12-12, Katie Jordan won a number of crucial aces which was to prove telling in deciding the outcome of the final.
In the Ladies Junior 60×30 All-Ireland Championships, Úna Brophy qualified for the All-Ireland Semi-Final where she travelled to Kells, Meath to face Aoife Kelly of Tyrone.
It proved to be an excellent game between two highly-skilled handballers.
Brophy has gained huge experience over the last 24 months of playing in big games and this experience certainly stood to her as she maintained her skill and showed the greater composure throughout to take a thoroughly deserved victory on a scoreline of 21-09, 21-09.
The Cullohill handballer now progresses to the Ladies Junior 60×30 All-Ireland Final which is scheduled for Sunday August 17.
In the final, she will face another Tyrone opponent in the highly rated Clare Conway.
The Tyrone handballer showcased all of her ability to reach the final by defeating Roscommon’s Alanna Coggeran 21-13, 17-21, 11-04 in a dramatic three game thriller.
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: Wild celebrations and big Laois attendance as Premier Junior All-Ireland claimed
