The day after the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall the Crossakiel handball club opened its doors to the sound of cracking handballs against its historic walls, writes Michael McGee
After a lapse of 7 years the Crossakiel Handball Club is back in business. Over 30 people from Crossakiel including past players and officials attended the historic meeting on Tuesday November 10th last. Chairing the meeting was Niamh Egan National Promotions & Media Officer Irish Handball Council in Croke Park.
Crossakiel has its own open 60 x 30 court built in 1951
The club has a rich and long history in the national sport of handball. The first record of handball in Crossakiel can be traced back to 1920 when the court was built of stone. The Club’s first success came in the early 1920’s when Francis Lynch & Willie McDonnell won the Junior Doubles championship. Local Guards were very much involved around 1932. Garda O’Hare and Garda Lynch, Crossakiel, were beaten in the Garda finals. In 1951 the three wall open court was demolished and built again. Garda Bill Molloy was one of the driving forces behind the project. Other Officers included Frank Reilly, George Baugh, Seamus Reilly, Tom McDonnell, Michael McGee Snr, Matt Corcoran, Paddy Reilly and Tom McGovern. The following is all who assisted in the rebuilding of the Alley and attended meetings. Sergeant Quinn, Seamus Reilly, Frank Reilly, Mick Reilly, John Reilly, Larry Carolan, Jim Brooks, Jim Corrigan, Pat Sutton, W Molloy, Jim Gorman, Jack Cororcan, Benny Reilly, Michael McGee Snr, Matty Corcoran, Jack McClory, Garda Walsh, Paddy McDonnell, George Baugh, Garda McGuire, Jim Ryan, J. Ryan, Nicholas Farrelly, Jack Weldon, Matty Reilly, Tom Farrell, Tommy McDonnell, Jack Mulvany, Mick Mulvany, Leo Reilly, Ned Quinn, Ed Corcoran, Peter Reilly, Tom Ryan, Tom Keogh, Fr. Carey, Mick Kelly, T. Gaughran and Peter Tanham. The Alley was officially opened in 1953 and Master Feely tossed the first ball to Frank Lynch & Paddy McDonnell. In a tournament game that followed the semi finals seen Paddy O’Shaughnessy & Frank Walsh of Delvin defeat local pairing of Tom McDonnell & Jim Ryan. The other semi-final has become part of handball folklore in Crossakiel. Crossakiel’s Michael McGee Snr & George Baugh were due to face the legendary Joey Maher & Paddy Reilly from Louth. However, Maher left Ireland to join the Canadian Mounties Police and the game was never played. Frank Reilly still has the medals on his mantelpiece. Such was the interest in handball at the time, that even on Christmas mornings members would go to the open alley, sweep the snow of the open court floor and play handball for a number of hours.
Many tournaments were organised each Sunday during the summer months for one shilling and locals included Kevin Nulty, Tom Nulty, S. Farrelly, Seamus Reilly, Jack McGee, Paddy McGee, Jim Corrigan, Jack McGlory, John Tully, Michael Tully, Frank Reilly & Tom Farrell. Sadly interest waned in the late 1950’s and early sixties.
Kevin Reilly & Ollie Gaughran win club’s first county title
In 1980 the club reformed again and officers elected at the meeting included Chairman Padraig Gaughran, Vice-Chairman James Reilly, Secretary Hugh Reilly and Treasurer Gerard Farrell. The club affiliated to the Meath County Handball Board but had little success in County competitions. In the local tournaments for Juvenile & Adult there was outstanding players in the form of George Baugh, Paddy Reilly, Ollie Gaughran, Padraig Gaughran, Brendan Smith, Mattie Corcoran,Hugh Tully, Matt Reilly, Kevin Reilly, Pat McCabe & Phil Mattews. In 1984 the Club took part in the Tony Hughes Tournament and George Baugh from Crossakiel teamed up with Tom O Connor as they defeated Tom Sheridan & Kevin Reilly. Crossakiel held a 3-day festival also in 1984 and the doubles tournament was won by Rathmore’s Johnny Murtagh & Peter McGarry, as they beat Kells Jimmy Reilly and Crossakiel’s Kevin Reilly. Due to the inclement weather the Tony Hughes tournament of 1985 originally fixed for Crossakiel was transferred to Kells. Still the club had a winner with Crossakiel’s Pat McCabe and Kells man Anthony McConnell securing the Tony Hughes Trophy. Later in the same year club registered its first County title in the 60 x 30 code. Kevin Reilly & Ollie Gaughran defeated Dunshaughlin opposition in the Novice Doubles final. The victory was all the more remarkable as the club still hadn’t an indoor court of its own. The Juveniles have always done the club proud. Cormac Garvey won a Leinster League medal for Meath in 1983. In Centenary year of 1984 Seamus Byrne won the U-11 doubles.
Crossakiel Handball Court officially opens
In November of 1985 the work to box in the open court was started. The hard working committee of George Baugh, Hugh Reilly, Phil Mattews, Kevin Reilly, Peter Byrne, Martin Farrell set about a huge fundraising drive to box in the alley. Other committee members included Matt Corcoran, Padraig Gaughran, Ollie Gaughran, Pat McCabe, Kevin Gaughran, Kevin Farrell, John Reilly, Kevin Reilly, Noel O Driscoll and Michael Reilly. Their efforts was rewarded when the Club’s new 60 x 30 indoor court was officially opened by Irish Handball President the late Tommy O’Brien in 1986. Since then a number of important successes both National and International came to the small but vibrant club. In the years after 1986 club players won County titles and they included Phil Mattews, Hugh Reilly, George Baugh, Kevin Reilly, Ollie Gaughran, Kevin & Paddy Reilly brothers of Hughie, David Reilly, Pat McCabe & Michael McGee. Hugh Reilly and George Baugh created their own piece of club history by becoming the first players to win 3 different grades in successive years.
“The Mighty Quinn”
It took the club 6 years to record its first All-Ireland winner when Steven Quinn from the village stormed to glory in the Boys U-14 40 x 20 singles final. What a year it was for the mighty Quinn. The “Mighty Quinn” also completed the double when winning the Boys U-14 60 x 30 singles All-Ireland title for good measure. Inspired by those achievements Hugh Reilly & Phil Mattews put in a solid Juvenile structure and further success followed. In 1998 proved an excellent year for Juvenile Handball in Crossakiel when the Club’s young members swept the boards in the County Championships in Kells. Barry Farrell & Shane Gaynor won the Boys U-13 doubles. Michael Gaynor & John Farrell had an outstanding year winning the County u-15 doubles title. The duo reached the semi-final of the Leinster Juvenile A championships at U-15 level but were narrowly defeated by Kilkenny players who went on subsequently to win the All-Ireland title. Gaynor & Farrell did become Leinster champions when winning the Leinster U-15B doubles final in Ballymore Eustace. An historic evening for Crossakiel the first players to record a Leinster title at Juvenile level in doubles. Christopher Farrell & Eugene O’Reilly completed an excellent treble of County titles duly winning the U-17 doubles title in Kells also. Crossakiel’s Michael McGee was elected to the position of Meath Handball Secretary/P.R.O. a position he held for 6 years (1995-2001) helping to give Meath a higher handball profile in G.A.A. circles at County and National level. McGee also held the post of Dublin Handball P.R.O. from 2006-08 and Secretary of Sligo Handball Board from 2008-2014. Also in 1998 Crossakiel hosted games in the National One-Wall Championships in an event televised by Navan Community Television. Liam O’Rourke the present Sports Journalist with the Meath Weekender recorded some games in Crossakiel and interviewed the Co. Secretary which was later shown on TG4.
International handball titles for McGee & O’Reilly
The Club’s players were beginning to leave their mark on the international stage. Michael McGee travelled to Wales in August 1998 and along with Kells man John “Boy”Molloy the duo returned home with the Welsh doubles 1-wall championship. McGee attended the 2002 Canadian Nationals in Vancouver British Columbia. History was made when McGee came away with both singles & doubles Canadian titles. Eugene O’Reilly has made outstanding progress at International level. In 2008 he won the U.S. C singles title in Los Angeles while the following year he won the Men’s C National One-Wall singles title in Sligo. In May this year Reilly won the Boston Open singles title for good measure. Last October Reilly travelled to Portland Oregan for the World Handball Championships and reached the quarter finals of the C doubles with Kells man Peter Flanagan. The duo were narrowly defeated by the eventual champions.
As history has shown in the past interest in handball slipped somewhat and for the past 7 years little handball was played in Crossakiel. It was disappointing to pass the impressive court in the village and see it closed. Thankfully a number of past players got together and awoken the interest in the perfect game of handball.
Plans for the future include having a strong Juvenile club, a club website, improvements to the 60 x 30 court, an outdoor 1-wall court and an indoor 40 x 20 court.
The founding members and the dedicated Committee of 1985 should never be forgotten. Their tenacity and steadfastness has ensured that future generations will be thankful to these handball visionaries. I have no doubt that the present committee will honour these great men of yesteryear with the same spirit and passion. And continue to be inspired by the lasting legacy left behind by the men of 1951.
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