Belfast, Northern Ireland, WPH Press, 11/18/25
GAA Handball held its first ranking event of the 2025/26 season at the 37th St. Paul’s FonaCab Golden Gloves in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the third weekend of November. 210 players entered the various grades, with sixteen players entering the Men’s Senior (Open) Singles and eleven ladies entering the Ladies Senior (Open) Singles.
Men’s Open Singles
Diarmaid Nash entered the 2025 Golden Gloves as the second seed but left with the framed Golden Gloves, defeating Michael Hedigan in two games in the semifinals and Daniel Relihan in two games in the final.
Semifinals
Relihan def Walsh
Nash def Hedigan
Final: Nash def Relihan 15-11, 15-10
See the Golden Gloves Men’s Open Singles draw HERE
Ladies Open Singles
Martina McMahon entered the 2025 Golden Gloves as the defending champion, aiming to defend her Gloves title against a stellar field that included Ciana Ni Churraoin, Niamh Heffernan, Fiona Tully, and Eilise McCrory.
McMahon overcame a first-game loss to Eilise McCrory in the semifinals to meet Fiona Tully in the final. Tully stunned current world champion Ciana Ni Churraoin to book her spot in the final.
McMahon rallied from a 2-10 first game deficit in the final, eventually taking control of the match and defending her title in two games.
Semifinals
McMahon def McCrory
Tully def Ni Churraoin
Final: McMahon def Tully
See the Golden Gloves Women’s Open Singles draw HERE
See the full recap from Paul Fitzpatrick on The GAA HERE
For more on the 2025 GAA Golden Gloves and GAA Handball, visit GAA Handball HERE
To watch the 2025 Golden Gloves Men’s and Ladies semifinals and finals, visit the GAA Handball TV HERE
Pictures courtesy of The GAA
Thank you to all of the tournament organizers and volunteers for making the 2025 Golden Gloves a huge success.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer