Two GAA Sports - One proud Parish
Crossakiel Handball and Ballinlough GAA clubs have been intrinsically linked for well over 70 years, writes Michael McGee.
Crossakiel handball club members have proudly played with distinction on Ballinlough winning teams. Veterans such as Hugh Tully, Mattie Corcorcan, Tom McDonnell all pulled on the Ballinlough shirts. The trio showing a keen eye on the other small ball sport in the Parish while also winning County hurling titles with Kilskyre in the 1960’s. More recently handball club players such as Goalkeeper Tommy “dropsy” Smith was a safe pair of hands on the winning Ballinlough teams (Junior 1998 and Intermediate 1991). Other players of note who played both GAA codes were Seamus Byrne, Joey Byrne, Brendan Smith Ballinlough. Stalwarts such as Cathal Flynn former Chairman of the football Club and Padraig Gaughran served on handball committees. Michael Gaynor & John Farrell won Leinster U-17 doubles titles back in 1999 and also lined out with Ballinlough at underage level. Michael’s brother Shane also proving a versatile handball and football player. Mark Farrell the present Juvenile handball officer played in goals with Killough Gaels (Ballinlough/ Kilmainhamwood amalgamation) were narrowly beaten by Round Towers in the Meath Minor Football Championship decider in 1993. Another Crossakiel handball player who also played in goals with the reds was Basil Balfe.
Another handball/football/Cavan link is the one and only Paul Brady. The five time World handball champion and arguably the greatest handballer of all time came to Crossakiel on a cold Sunday evening last January to officially open the club’s new defibrillator kindly sponsored by An Post and Crossakiel handball club. Brady was first called into the Cavan senior panel by Meath Man Mattie Kerrigan in the winter of 2002. He played for Cavan for nine years, generally at wing-back but also in the half-forward line, and was regarded as one of the most consistent players in the county. He earned a call-up to the Ulster squad for the inter-provincial series and has two county U21 medals, three Cavan SFC medals (1998, 2006 and 2012) and one Senior League medal (2012) with Mullahoran Dreadnoughts. He was Man of the Match in the 2012 county final win over Kingscourt Stars. Brady's uncle was the great Phil 'The Gunner' Brady who played for Cavan for many years, winning three All-Ireland medals.
The Farrell family dynasty of Crossakiel also provided 3 more accomplished players to both handball and football with Christopher winning a Meath U-17 doubles title with Eugene O’Reilly in 1999, Barry a County handball champion also in 1999 and Robbie a member of the recent winning Ballinlough side that won the Mattie McDonnell Intermediate Cup in 2014 and reached the Leinster Intermediate Cup final later that year. Mark’s two sisters Jacquie and Susan are heavily involved on the Club Committees with Susan the present Ballinlough Juvenile club secretary and handball Club PRO. Johnny Reilly the clubs committee member was a selector for the Intermediate team.
In the club’s golden but short era in Juvenile handball gained unprecedented success between 2010-12. With the “conveyor belt” under the expert guidance of national and international handball star Eugene O’ Reilly reached stellar heights with the likes of Gary Reilly, Johnnie Reilly, James Baugh, Jack Tunney and the late Ricky McDermott R.I.P. all doing the Crossakiel handball club proud in Leinster handball championships. A number of players going on to win underage titles with Crossakiel & Ballinlough and breaking into the Ballinlough senior side subsequently. The aforementioned Eugene O’Reilly reached dizzying heights when winning the both the Men’s singles and doubles titles (with Kells man Peter Flanagan) Canadian championship in Burlington Ontario Canada in 2008. Reilly also won the Men’s C One Wall National title in Sligo the previous year and also scooped the U.S. Collegiates title and the Men’s C U.S. title in Los Angeles. The Patrickstown man also received the “National Handball Coach of the Award in 2010”. Eugene somehow found time to be an important member on Ballinlough teams.
Eight years previous came another Canadian double success story with Michael McGee also claiming both the singles and doubles Canadian Championship in Vancouver in May 2002. McGee also created history when teaming up with Kells man John “Boy” Molloy” as the first Irish handball doubles pairing to win a Welsh One Wall doubles title back in August 1999. He has also served on National & County handball committees in Meath, Dublin & Sligo as Secretary & PRO. Michael, brother of former Club Chairman Seamus also played with Ballinlough for many years at underage and Junior level. Michael also reported on many Sligo Senior GAA matches in Markievicz Park for the local press Sligo Champion & Sligo Weekender.
A Club article without the mention of one Hughie Reilly R.I.P. (August 2016) would not be an article at all. Our esteemed leader left a devoid that will never be fully filled in the Club. Hughie, larger than life was instrumental in getting the old 60 x 30 open court fully covered (officially opened in 1986) and where it is now recognised as one of the best 60 x 30 courts in the country having hosted National and All-Ireland championships matches. Hughie installed in us the love of handball and I can remember clearly he bringing his young handball stars to competitions in Kells, Rathmore etc in his yellow Hillman hunter car. Hughie, alongside Phil Mattews was immensely proud of one young Steven Quinn from the village (now the present Club Chairman). The mighty Quinn proved unstoppable when winning both All-Ireland 60 X 30 & 40 x 20 U-12 singles titles in 1991 an outstanding achievement. Hughie’s dedication to the club will never be forgotten. Already a Handball Cup competition in Hughie’s honour will be played for later in the later. And the club’s new playing shirt will bear the birthdate of our inspirational leader. Hughie’s brothers Kevin & Paddy also played handball with Crossakiel and football with Ballinlough.
The Crossakiel handball club congratulate Ballinlough GFC on its opening. The Club has come a long way since the pitch opening in September 1976. A huge amount of work has gone into the upgrade of facilities in the last decade and its members can be immensely proud of their achievements both on and off the field into turning the playing facility into one of the top GAA County grounds in Meath.
Comhghairdeas Baile an locha
Michael McGee
Runai
Crossakiel handball club
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