UCD GAA Handball

A great week at the 72nd USHA Collegiate Nationals at the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon 🇺🇸.

Conor Horan took home a gold medal in the Mens A1 after defeating UL’s John Hayes in the final 🥇.

Sean Barron made it to the Mens Open 9th place playoff final where he was defeated by UL’s Sean Coughlan 🥈.

Robert McMahon was knocked out in the quarterfinal of the Mens A2 by tough opposition.

Thanks to the USHA for organising the tournament and to the ICHA for helping organise the trip 🙌.

Great weekend at the ICHA 40x20 doubles in Croke Park. Thanks to the ICHA for organising the tournament and congrats to all involved 👏

All Ireland U21 60x30 Doubles Champions ! 🏆

Congratulations to Seán Barron and his partner Jack Doyle who won the All Ireland U21 Doubles title for Kilkenny today. This is only the third 60x30 U21 Doubles title for Kilkenny having won it previously in 2010 and 2012.

Today the beat Cork (Eoghan Daly / Evan Enright). It took several minutes for either pair to score the first point of the game, it wasn't until 9-7 to Kilkenny until there were was more than 1 point between the sides. Kilkenny held the lead for the remainder of the game and won the first 21-16. Cork started strong in game 2, leading 3-0, the Kilkenny men dug in deep and tied the game 5-5. Brilliant serving and kill shots saw the game out for the Kilkenny pair who won 21-5.

Congratulations again Seán and Jack 👏

Hard luck to Diarmuid Mulkerrins and his brother Martin, a UCD graduate, who had to settle for silver in the All Ireland Senior Doubles 60x30 Final in the new national Handball stadium in Croke Park on Saturday.

The Galway brother's played the strong Meath pairing of Brian Carroll and Gary McConnell in the final. Having won two of the previous three championship's, Meath were favourites going into the match. That said, there was no doubt it was going to be a tightly contested battle. The match lived up to its expectations and the crowd were treated to a hugely entertaining final. The Mulkerrins' left everything in the court but unfortunately lost out by the narrowest of margins, 21-20, 21-19.

Mí-ádh Diarmuid and Martin but congratulations on reaching the All Ireland Senior Doubles Final, a super achievement and we're sure ye will be back again 👏

Congratulations to UCD graduate Martin Mulkerrins on winning the Men's Open World Singles and Doubles 40x20 Handball titles in Minneapolis recently. Martin is UCD's first handballer to achieve this feat and only the third Irish player to claim Handball's ultimate prize.

While at UCD, Martin was an Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship athlete. He won 5 consecutive Irish Intervarsities as well as three in a row US Collegiates Men's Open Singles titles. In 2013 he was the recipient of the Dr. Tony O'Neill UCD Sport's Person of the Year award.

Martin faced America's Sean Lenning in the singles final. Lenning, fast out of the blocks took a 4-0 lead, however, Martin found his range and tied the game at 7-7. From here on Mulkerrins played exceptional handball and won the first game 21-11.

Martin continued his fine form into game 2 and with a mix of brilliant serves and kills led 13-8. The momentum changed in favour of the American when Lenning shot a flat kill to score point 9. Lots of fantastic kill shots followed and Lenning took the second game 21-14, forcing a tiebreaker to 11 points.

Martin was quick off the marks scoring the first point of the tiebreaker. Lenning answered with not one but two ace serves within 10 seconds of another. But Martin pushed on from there to take a 6-2 lead. With very little between the two, both scored 2 points a piece to make it 8-4. A Lenning surge outscored Martin 3 points to 1, narrowing the gap to 9-7 in Mulkerrins' favour. A knife-edge moment as Lenning served for point number 8, a huge rally followed, Martin however finished the rally with a precisely executed right corner kill to regain the serve. Mulkerrins didn't look back and finished the game in similar fashion with another right corner kill to be crowned the Men's Open World Handball Singles Champion.

Martin Mulkerrins slammed the event by winning the Men's Open Doubles title with partner Killian Carroll, adding to his earlier Singles victory. The pair defeated their American opposition on a 21-8, 17-21, 11-5 score line. Comhghairdeas Martin 👏

Last years 40x20 Intervarsities Doubles Finalist Diarmuid Mulkerrins will be eyeing to go one step further at this weekends competition in his home court of Moycullen. With new UCD partner this time around in Tiarnan O Rourke, the duo will be hoping to bring the cup back to Dublin 🏆

Can they go all the way?

Follow updates all weekend across ICHA Social Media Platforms 📱

GAA Handball Moycullen Handball Oifigiúil CLG Liathróid Láimhe na Gaillimhe UCD GAA Handball

Our deepest condolences to the Coleman family on the passing of Gerry Coleman. A true gentleman and advocate of the sport we all love so much. Gerry often made the trek up from his home in Curry, Sligo to attend our annual One Wall Competition here in UCD and be it playing on or off the court he always had a warm and welcoming smile. You will be deeply missed around the courts Gerry. May he rest in peace.

The Sligo handball community are shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden and untimely passing of our friend Gerry Coleman. Gerry had given so much of his time to handball in County Sligo. He was to the fore of organising and promoting handball in the county and province, regularly organising tournaments for both adults and juveniles. He always had an encouraging word or comment and was always willing to help anyone. He will continue to bring a smile to all Handball players and sports people when he is thought of or his name crops up in conversation.

We would like to express sincere sympathy to Linda, his daughters Sara and Ellen and his Sons Gearóid and Aaron. The handball community in Ireland has lost a friend and great ambassador for the sport. Gerry’s remains will be reposing at St. Therese's Funeral Home, Curry Village, Curry, Co. Sligo F91 NY30 on Thursday, 10th March 2022 from 5pm-8pm. Funeral Mass on Friday, March 11th 2022, at 1pm in The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Curry, followed by burial in Bunnacrannagh Cemetery

We will be forming a Guard of Honour before his funeral and we invite all of Gerry’s handball family to join us and wear their handball colours whatever they may be.

Men's Open final tiebreaker!

2022 USHA National Collegiate Championships - Men’s Open Finals

UPDATE FROM US COLLEGIATES!

Diarmuid Mulkerrins has reached the Men's Open final !!
Diarmuid played some incredible handball to defeat Ray Ure (MNSU) in a tie breaker in the semi final. Diarmuid plays David Walsh (MTU) at 3pm GMT in the final.

Keep an eye on the ICHA page for streaming link.

Best of luck in the final!

Diarmuid and Sean Barron were unlucky in their doubles semi final, losing out in a narrow tiebreaker to the strong MNSU pairing of Michael Gaulton and Ray Ure. Massive achievement to get that far in the competition.

UPDATE from Missouri State University!!

Our UCD handballers Diarmuid Mulkerrins and Sean Barron have both progressed through their first round in the singles with Sean receiving a walkover and Diarmuid successfully winning his in Mankato University, Minnesota. Sean is due to play in his second round today in Lake Forest College, Chicago.

If these two men weren't already impressive enough by competing oversees and constantly delivering in the singles, they have also paired up to ruffle some American feathers to compete in the mens doubles, of which they are due to play their first round today at 5pm (American Time).

Be sure to tune in and watch all games live over on the ICHA 3rd Level Handball page!

Best of luck to all competitors, in particular those representing UCD Handball Club.

Best of luck to Sean Barron and Diarmuid Mulkerrins representing UCD! Bring it home lads 🙌🏻

Best of luck to our Irish Players competing in the USHA Collegiates in Missouri State University this week! 🇺🇸

Irish representatives:

MTU Cork GAA Handball - Conor Walsh, David Walsh, Adam Walsh,

MTU Kerry GAA Handball- Shane Dunne

NUIG GAA Handball Club Peter Donohue, Fiona Tully, Ashling Mullin

DCU GAA Handball Club Aoife Holden, Katie Barrett

UCD GAA Handball Diarmuid Mulkerrins, Seán Barron

Ulster University Mairead Fox

Itcarlow Gaa Holly Hynes

WIT Vikings GAA Anthony Fitzgerald