Belfast, Northern Ireland, WPH Press, 11/19/23
GAA Handball held its first ranking event of the 2023/24 season at the 35th St. Paul’s FonaCab Golden Gloves in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 215 players entered the various grades, with 21 players entering the Men’s Senior (Open) Singles and 10 ladies entering the Ladies Senior (Open) Singles.
Men’s Singles
Twenty-four of Ireland’s best entered the 2023 Golden Gloves Men’s Open singles, with Robbie McCarthy earning the top seed, followed by former GAA #1 Diarmaid Nash. McCarthy and Nash were joined by perennial contenders Peter Funchion, Daniel Relihan, Shane Dunne, David Walsh and a number of others.
McCarthy continued his dominance in the upper bracket en route to the final, sweeping all three of his challengers, with Peter Funchion providing McCarthy with his most substantial test on his march to the final. Funchion served for the first game but could not capitalize, as McCarthy ended the first game with an off-balance, deep court left-handed kill.
Diarmaid Nash was pushed in all three of his matches en route to the final in the bottom bracket, defeating Jerome Willoughby 15-13 in the first game in the round of 16, Shane Dunne 15-12 in the first game of the quarterfinal and Daniel Relihan 15-14 in the first game of the semifinal. “Diarmaid doesn’t give you much to work with,” stated Ireland’s rising star Relihan.
The final was a repeat of many of the GAA’s biggest finals of the last decade, with McCarthy aiming to defend his Gloves title. McCarthy cruised in game one but was pushed to 14-14 in the second before ultimately seizing the title.
“Robbie was made to work for it though with Nash pushing him to 15-14 in the second game,” stated WPH correspondent and Race 4 Eight top 15 pro David Walsh. “Robbie showed good composure throughout and extended his winning streak prior to the Irish Nationals this weekend in Co. Clare.”
Semifinals
McCarthy def Pet. Funchion 15-14, 15-6
Nash def Relihan 15-14, 15-11
Final: McCarthy def Nash 15-5, 15-14
View the Men’s Open Singles draw HERE
Ladies Singles
Ciana Ni Churraoin entered the Women’s Golden Gloves as the top seed in one of the strongest women’s draws in history that featured twenty-six time WR48 champion Catriona Casey as the fifth seed, top four WR48 stars Elise McCrory and Fiona Tully and the much anticipated return of 2018 World Champion Martina McMahon.
Catriona Casey faced perhaps her most challenging road to a title in her illustrious career as the fifth seed. Casey faced longtime rival Martina McMahon in the quarterfinals in McMahon’s first tournament start in more than a year after back surgery. Casey dispatched McMahon in two lopsided games and set her sights on Ciana, who had defeated Casey last season. Catriona sent a message in the first game, holding CNC to just one point. Ciana regrouped in the second, taking control of rallies and eventually serving for the game. Catriona fought off game point and advanced to the final of the upper bracket.
Three-time WR48 finalist and former WR48 #2 Fiona Tully played some of the best handball of her career in the bottom bracket, outscoring her two opponents 60-23 en route to the final, including a straightforward two-game sweep against current WR48 #2 Eilise McCrory.
Tully continued to play stellar ball in the final, racing to huge leads in the first game against Catriona. Having never scored ten points in one game against Catriona in any of their WR48 matches, Fiona shattered the barrier to lead 14-5 in the first.
“The Ladies Final was an exciting one,” stated Walsh. “As Catriona said in her speech it was a deep field with loads of top players competing. Fiona was very aggressive in the first game, running to a 14-5 lead but Catriona clawed her way back and took it 15-14.”
After outscoring Fiona 10-0 to end the first, Casey carried her momentum in the second to take the title.
“Catriona upped it in the second and took off,” stated Eilise McCrory.
Semifinals
Casey def Ni Churraoin 15-1, 15-14
Tully def McCrory 15-12, 15-6
Final: Casey def Tully 15-14, 15-6
View the Ladies Open Singles draw HERE
For more on the 2023 GAA Golden Gloves and GAA Handball, visit GAA Handball HERE
To watch the 2023 Golden Gloves Men’s and Ladies semifinals and finals, visit the GAA Handball Facebook page HERE
Photos courtesy of GAA Handball
Thank you to David Walsh and Eilise McCrory for updates and reports from the 2023 Golden Gloves. Thank you to Seamus O Tuama, Sean McShane, Tony Caddell, Joe Boyle, Paul Graham, Charly Shanks and all of the tournament organizers and volunteers for making the 2023 Golden Gloves a huge success.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer