The GAA 60x30 Handball Championship gets underway this weekend, with 15 clashes in the Senior ladies and men's first round games.
Reigning champion, Kerry's Ashley Prendeville opens her campaign when she takes on Wicklow young-gun, Shauna Hilley in Crinkle (Offaly) on Sunday, while Limerick's Bernie Hennessy, who was defeated in last year's final faces Kerry's Karen Lalor in Hospital, Limerick.
There is also the added excitement that the winner of the event will join the Official Irish Handball squad to travel to Portland for the World Championships in October 2009.
The same scenario occurs in the Men's competition but with Dublin's Eoin Kennedy having already secured his place on the squad, and providing he achieves his ambition of that sixth successive title win, then the runner-up in this year's series will join the official squad.
'It's going to an interested championship,' said Kennedy. 'There is a lot at stake this year, and players can't afford to be complacent in the early rounds – everyone is gunning to make that final.'
In the Round of 32 Men's games, Cavan's Michael Finnegan, who showed great form at the recent Danny O'Sullivan Memorial Tournament, takes on Dublin's Egin Jensen in his first round meeting.
The clash of Brian Manogue (Kilkenny) and Kerry's Dominick Lynch is certain to be an entertaining one, while 2008 Intermediate Singles Champion, Ger Coonan (Tipperary) takes on Mayo's Joe McCann in his debut as a senior player at Kells (Meath) on Saturday.
There are also 21 entries in the Men's Open Doubles championship, with reigning champions, Meath's Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll seeded in pole position, with the 2007 champions, Dublin duo Jensen and Kennedy ranked in two.
Meanwhile, the second annual Residential Handball Summer Camp takes place this weekend at Gormanston College, Meath, with young handballers from all over the country converging on the Royal County venue.
