By the Graces of Gold
A Tipperary brother and sister were celebrating this week after winning World Handball Championships.
By Paddy Collins
Brother and sister Rory and Hannah Grace (above), members of Lahorna Handball Club, were gold medal winners in the World 4-Wall Championships hosted in Ireland last week.
In the Men’s ‘A’ Doubles, Rory Grace teamed up with Sean Coughlan from Clare to win the gold medal. The pair have been in fine form in recent months and this win adds to their World Wallball win back in August and their All Ireland Colleges win representing UL last month.
Hannah Grace teamed up with Jodie Keeling from Wexford to win the Ladies Under 19 Doubles title. Hannah, a US based college student, came home for the championships in fine form and along with Keeling, were impressive in taking the title.
The double successes highlighted a very successful World Championships for Tipperary players who also won a 2 Silver & 5 Bronze medals.
Cashel’s David Moloney teamed up with Paul Graham and were runners-up in the 50+ Doubles while Ballina’s Molly Joyce was runner-up in the Girls 13 & Under competition.
The bronze medal winners all came from Ballina Handball club, Erin Neville & Ava Joyce (Girls 13 ‘B’ Doubles), Karen Monaghan & Ann Marie Ryan (Ladies ‘C’ Doubles) & Paddy Collins with partner Chris Kilday (Alaska) 70+ Doubles.
Other Tipperary players who competed were: Lucia Neary, Emily Monaghan, Joshua Moroney, Ava Carey, Noel Moroney, Christy Carey, Ger Coonan & Martin McInerney (Ballina); Cian Bartosik, Harry O’Dwyer, Conor Nolan, Billy O’Dwyer, Alfie Finn, Sean Organ, Christy McGrath (Carrick-on-Suir); Martin Ryan, Paul Heinz, Niall Quinn, John Kennedy, James Timmons, Ben Platt (Silvermines); Ned Reilly, James Reilly, Bea Reilly, Anthony Crotty (Ballyporeen); Lucy Ann Cleary, Jennie Talbot, Ruadhri O’Brien, Karl Boland (Nenagh); Oran Crosse, Rory Crosse, Darragh Crosse (Cashel); Pat O’Flaherty, Aiden O’Flaherty (Youghalarra); Tadhg Malone (Newport).
It was a great experience playing against players from other countries and the juveniles learned so much throughout the week and made many friends.