The future of Irish handball received a massive boost this week with the announcement of a joint sponsorship deal for the 2008 National Championships and All-Star Awards.
Meath-based building services company, Envirogreen, and Resource, a leading supplier of soft services, have combined to sponsor both events which take place in Kilkenny on 15 and 16 March.
‘Envirogreen are delighted to be associated with Irish handball at a time when the future of the game looks so promising,’ said former All-Ireland and World Handball Champion, Walter O’Connor, Managing Director of Envirogreen.
O’Connor is one of only three handballers in history to have captured the Big Alley Grand Slam during his career.
In 1998, the Kells player dominated the 60x30 championships, taking the senior softball and hardball titles in both singles and doubles, and when paired with fellow Meath clubman, Tom Sheridan, the duo were unstoppable.
Now the highly successful Meath businessman is putting something back into a game he remains very passionate about. Last year the company were also involved with the highly successful Ulster Open.
Almost 350 handballers will compete in this year’s Envirogreen/Resource Irish Nationals, with qualifiers taking place around the country this weekend.
This year’s event sees the largest ever female entry in both the Ladies’ Open and Ladies’ B sections.
In the Men’s Open section, Cork’s Tony Healy and Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy will look to take advantage of the absence of reigning National and World Champion, Paul Brady. Cavan’s Brady is taking a few months out of handball following a hectic season as a dual star in 2007.
