Written by A total of 330 players from throughout Ireland, in addition to players from England and Spain, converged on Loughmacrory over the course of the weekend from 1st-3rd September 2023 where an incredible 400 handball matches eventually decided the prestigious champions in the 8th annual event.
It was World Wallball Champion, Conor McElduff, securing his 5th Major Open title at the national ranking event and Mayo’s upcoming star, Cuillean Burke, with her first gong in the Ladies Open that took the key plaudits. Overall the huge crowds in attendance were treated to a level of talent, excitement and an atmosphere that has been unrivalled since pre-covid levels and the real winner on this occasion was the sport of Handball.
A colossal voluntary effort by the Loughmacrory GAA Handball Club committee, ably aided by neighbouring club Ceapach HC, in addition to the wider community network of amazing people who put their shoulder to the wheel, helped deliver the biggest GAA Handball Tournament in Ireland and Europe this year.
A full review of the tournament will follow and for now here are the results from the list of 2023 Lough Wallball Showdown Tournament Finals:
Lough Wallball Showdown 2023 FINALS Results…
Mens Open Singles Final: Conor Mcelduff (Breacach) dft Luke Thompson (England) 25-16
Ladies Open Singles Final: Cuillean Burke (Mayo) dft Caoliosa Ní Dhúill (Armagh) 25-16
Men’s A Singles Final: Cahir Munroe (Carrickmore) dft Paddy McCrory (Carrickmore) 21-16
Men’s B Singles Final: Steven O’Neill (Antrim) dft Jerry Keenan (Ceapach) 21-9
Men’s C Singles Final: Conor McAuley (Antrim) dft Shane Grimes (Loughmacrory) 21-8
Men’s Challenger Singles Final: Brian Devlin (Derry) dft Chris Duddy (Derry) 21-19
Masters 35+ A Singles Final: Shane Hazlett (Derry) dft Conor Keeling (Wexford) 21-20
Silver Masters 45+ A Singles Final: Ollie Cassidy (Mayo) dft David Stanners (Wexford) 21-9
Diamond Masters 55+ A Singles Final: Brian Havern (Down) dft Paul Cassidy (Monaghan) 21-15
Ladies A Singles Final: Clare Conway (Loughmacrory) dft Laura Duff (Loughmacrory) 21-11
Ladies B Singles Final: Carragh Kennedy (Roscommon) dft Alanna Coggeran (Roscommon) 21-5
Ladies C Singles Final: Rachael Havern (Saval, Down) dft Patricia McKenna (Antrim) 21-12
Ladies Challenger Singles Final: Michelle Kearney (Down) dft Carrie Berne (Antrim) 21-10
Ladies Contender Singles Final: Catherine Kelly (Loughmacrory) dft Mags Keeling (Wexford) 21-9
Men’s Contender Singles Final: Conor Fox (Loughmacrory) dft Martin Corr (Donegal) 21-16
Masters 35+ B Singles Final: Barry Niblock (Derry) dft Ciaran Carland (Ceapach) 21-15
Silver Masters 45+ B Singles Final: John Coggeran (Roscommon) dft Tommy Duddy (Derry) 21-6
Diamond Masters 55+ B Singles Final: Phil McGrath (Antrim) dft Gerry O’Neill (Antrim) 21-18
Lough Wallball Showdown YOUTH FINALS:
Boys Under 10 A Singles Final: Aodhan Conway (Loughmacrory) dft Charlie Duff (Loughmacrory) 21-17
Boys 11 & Under A Singles Final: James O’Brien (Wexford) dft Ciaran Corr (Donegal) 21-14
Boys 13 & Under A Singles Final: Bertie Donohue (Galway) dft Charlie Roche (Wexford) 21-16
Boys 15 & Under A Singles Final: Caleb Donnellan (Galway) dft Ciaran McCrystal (Loughmacrory) 21-6
Boys 17 & Under A Singles Final: Cian Dunning (Cork) dft Anthony Clifford (Kilkenny) 21-10
Girls Under 10 A Singles Final: Aoibhinn McCrystal (Loughmacrory) dft Orlaith Conway (Greencastle)
Girls 11 & under A Singles Final: Nina McBride (Antrim) dft Emma Fox (Greencastle) 21-16
Girls 13 & under A Singles Final: Emma Conway (Greencastle) dft Mollie Joyce (Ballina, Tipperary) 21-16
Girls 15 & under A Singles Final: Kitty Roche (Wexford) dft Emily McGinnity (Monaghan) 21-18
Girls 17 & Under A Singles Final: Laura Duff (Loughmacrory) dft Caisliean Treacy (Greencastle) 21-20
Boys Under 10 B Singles Final: Padraig Mullan (Loughmacrory) dft Shane McBride (Antrim) 21-12
Boys 11 & Under B Singles Final: Liam McElhone (Carrickmore) dft Shan McDonald (Loughmacrory) 21-19
Boys 13 & under B Singles Final: Damhan Meenagh (Loughmacrory) dft Daniel Curran (Breacach) 21-13
Boys 15 & under B Singles Final: Shea Bell (Antrim) dft Shane Morris (Greencastle) 21-10
Boys 17 & Under B Singles Final: Padraig Fox (Loughmacrory) dft Jamie Barnes (Wexford) 21-16
Girls Under 10 B Singles Final: Shannon Dobbs (Loughmacrory) dft Nia Kelly (Loughmacrory)
Girls 11 & under B Singles Final: Aoife Conway (Loughmacrory) dft Tara Hall (Greencastle) 21-16
Girls 13 & under B Singles Final: Niamh Hall (Greencastle) dft Maeve Donohue (Galway) 21-10
Girls 15 & under B Singles Final: Cliona McGinley (Antrim) dft Katie Kane (Leitrim) 21-18
Girls 17 & Under B Singles Final: Shona Kennedy (Roscommon) dft Sarah Havern (Down) 21-13