Stiff and sore

Feeling very stiff and sore today after last night’s fun and games. Never mind the Champions’ League nonsense tonight, this Gael still rages against the dying of the sporting light and was playing handball in Armagh last night. It was the Division Four play-offs between my club, Clann Éireann in Lurgan and Armagh’s own Eugene Quinn. It was a mixed night for us. I won both my games against some hard-hitting, talented 20 something and was delighted that despite being 20 years older than him, I could still cut it with the young cubs. (As my team mates say of me: “You used to be good.”)

However, to cut a long story short, Eugene Quinn’s chinned us fair and square and took the Division Four league title. That said, we did win the divisional championship knock-out a couple of weeks ago. Honours shared then between the two Armagh clubs and, hopefully, if the authorities see fit, we will both be in action in Division Three next year.

Handball is the best game on the planet bar none. It is a game that, unfortunately, is not as well developed as it should be and there are signs that it is falling back in some places. Certainly, the traditional 60x30 game is dying on its feet and many GAA clubs do not think to provide an indoor 40x20 court when they are developing new sporting complexes. There are exceptions, of course, and in this regard, hats off to Tyrone for all the work they have done in building courts and coaching youth. They are the power-house in Ulster at the moment.

Regrettably, the same cannot be said of many other counties. There are only two 40x20 courts in Armagh in use and not a single 60x30. That said, Clann Éireann Handball Club are making great efforts to coach youngsters and our chairman, Conor McMahon and his many assistants, have many young boys and girls in training. Charly Shanks is the club’s most successful senior and a great credit to himself and the colours. Eugene Quinn also have many young players coming through and I must mention too Down’s Saville who have two wonderful courts and the most picturesque setting for a GAA club I have ever seen.

The wonderful thing about handball is that it is a game that you can continue to play for as long as you want. I may well be in the Master's age bracket now (40 plus) but I can still get plenty of games, a bit of company and a break from the computer. However, the game needs more courts if it is to develop. In all the talk about the Maze being developed as a site for soccer/rugby/Gaelic football and hurling, no one has talked about that other GAA sport – and its only international one – handball. If – and it seems to be a big if – the Maze is developed, could the relevant authorities also insist that a number of handball courts be included in the development? The game is played here, in the US and in Canada and there is no reason – with the proper facilities – that the world championships could not be played in Ulster.

Finally, if you don’t play, or used to play but gave up, get back to the court. Handball needs you! You really will feel the better for it. Honestly, the stiffness and soreness will pass.