Paul Fitzpatrick
Cavan, Ulster
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Articles by Paul Fitzpatrick
Gowna crush Kingscourt to reclaim Cavan crown in ruthless fashion
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Cavan SFC Final: Gowna deliver dynamic display
Cavan SFC Final Gowna 4-17 Kingscourt Stars 0-14 By Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni Gowna returned to the winners’ enclosure in emphatic fashion with a 15-point win over holders Kingscourt Stars at Kingspan Breffni. The Stars had beaten Gowna in the 2025 final by nine points and Vinny Corey’s men gained their revenge in highly impressive style, opening a 3-9 to 0-7 interval lead and managing the game thereafter.
Cavan SFC: Classy Gowna turn on style to reclaim county crown
Gowna 4-17 Kingscourt Stars 0-14 Gowna returned to the winners' enclosure in emphatic fashion with a 15-point win over holders Kingscourt Stars at Kingspan Breffni. The Stars had beaten Gowna in the 2025 final by nine points and Vinny Corey’s men gained their revenge in highly impressive style, opening a 3-09 to 0-07 interval lead and managing the game thereafter.
West Belfast handballer Nina returns from New York with two world titles
WEST Belfast schoolgirl Nina McBride underlined her status as one of the brightest young talents in Irish sport when the St Gall’s teenager returned from the World Wallball Championships in New York with two world titles. Representing Team Ireland in the Girls 15 and Under grade, the St Gall's and Antrim handballer completed a superb week by winning both the Big Ball and Small Ball Singles championships.
Round-up: World Handball Championships action
By Paul Fitzpatrick Team Ireland’s younger players take centre stage at the World Wallball Championships in New York, with three Irish players already through to Big Ball Singles finals and two more bidding to join them. The action is split between St John’s Recreation Centre and Coney Island, with Nina McBride, Kevin McGrath and Cian Dunning all guaranteed shots at world titles.
Longford athlete prepares for competition week in New York
Handball player Thomas Finn with Team Ireland in New York | GAA Abbeylara handballer Thomas Finn is representing Ireland at the World Wallball Championships in New York this week. Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Ireland Live within your account. Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting...
Breakthrough Irish Nationals win for Kerr
By Paul Fitzpatrick Tyrone’s Sean Kerr picked up the biggest win of his career when he claimed his first Irish Wallball Nationals Men’s Singles title in Claregalway, Co Galway. A former finalist, Kerr defeated 20-year-old Cork sensation Cian Dunning 18-11 in a nervy decider at one of handball’s biggest events. Kerr had earlier produced a major upset when he defeated seven-time champion Conor McElduff in the semi-final.
Handball to be included in USGAA finals for first time
Participants in the Celtic Cowboys Texas pilot handball programme, 2025. Photo by Eilish Owens. By Paul Fitzpatrick Handball will break new ground in the United States this weekend when the sport is included at the USGAA Finals in Boston for the first time.
Kilkenny end a 29-year wait to win All-Ireland senior softball doubles handball final in Croke Park
A sell-out crowd packed the National Handball Centre at Croke Park on Saturday for a memorable day of All-Ireland senior softball doubles finals, with Limerick retaining the ladies' crown before Kilkenny ended a 29-year wait for the men's title in one of the greatest finals the game has witnessed. The occasion served as the perfect curtain-raiser to Sunday's finals programme, when Mayo would go on to make history by capturing their first-ever All-Ireland senior softball titles.
Leinster rivalry renewed for Saturday's handball final
A full house is expected at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park on Saturday as traditional handball superpowers Kilkenny and Wexford contest the Men's Senior Softball Doubles final on Saturday (first game, 2pm), while Limerick and Roscommon clash in the ladies decider. Kilkenny's Kyle Jordan and Jack Holden arrive after surviving a dramatic semi-final against Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy Jnr and Colm Jordan.
Preview: GAA Handball Senior Softball Doubles finals
Kilkenny handballer, Kyle Jordan. By Paul Fitzpatrick History will be on the line when Kilkenny and Wexford contest the Men's Senior Softball Doubles final on Saturday (first game, 2pm), with two of the sport's traditional powerhouses going head to head. Kilkenny's Kyle Jordan and Jack Holden arrive after surviving a dramatic semi-final against Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy Jnr and Colm Jordan.
Oneills.com World Games brings it all together for one magical week
Athletes from Asia participate in the parade during the opening ceremony of the GAA World Games 2023 in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile. By Paul Fitzpatrick For months, the old advertising slogan has been fitting – tá síad ag teacht. They are coming, or they were at least. Now they’re here. The players, the teams, the officials. The colour, the noise. The World Games, in many ways, are bringing it all back home, even for those who have never visited these shores before.
Berlin’s global crew ready for World Games stage
By Paul Fitzpatrick If you grew up in Ireland, you might not remember your first interaction with the GAA. It was probably always just there. For many of the players taking part at the World Games, the first introduction tends to be a lot more memorable. Frenchwoman Clem Grousset was barely a week into her studies as an Erasmus student in Dublin back in 2016 when she was in Molloy's pub in Tallaght, finding her way in the city that would be her home for the next few months.
Softball Championships come to boil with two fascinating finals
The 2026 All-Ireland Senior 60x30 Softball Singles Championships reach their conclusion at the National Handball Centre in Croke Park on Saturday (11am) with two intriguing senior finals down for decision. The ladies' decider pits reigning champion Martina McMahon against rising star Mollie Dagg before Robbie McCarthy and Cormac Finn clash in a fascinating men's final that brings together one of the greatest players the game has ever produced and one of its brightest young talents.
Preview: All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles semi-finals
By Paul Fitzpatrick The stage is set for the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles championships in the men’s and ladies grades, which are down for decision tomorrow (Saturday) at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park. With the reigning champion and three former finalists still standing in the ladies' grade and a mouth-watering men's line-up, high-quality fare is guaranteed from 10am.
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Credit: Destina/Adobe Stock Life insurance and annuity issuers have become major allocators to private credit over the past decade, which means the assets backing your clients' annuities and long-duration products look meaningfully different than they did before. Most advisors aren't tracking this closely enough, and most clients lack full visibility into it at all. While that's not necessarily a problem, it still means there are questions worth asking that aren't being asked.
All-Ireland SFC: Dublin defeat Cavan
All-Ireland SFC Round 2B Dublin 1-24 Cavan 0-16 By Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni Dublin weren't exactly convincing for most of this clash, but finished strongly to put Cavan away with plenty to spare and advance to the next round. The hosts' brave effort faded badly in the final quarter as Dublin finished with 1-3 without reply to run out 11-point winners at Kingspan Breffni.
Dublin pull away in second half to eliminate Cavan
Updated / Sunday, 14 Jun 2026 15:59 Colm Basquel won a penalty for Dublin Dublin returned to form with what proved a comfortable All-Ireland SFC Round 2B victory over Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park. Con O'Callaghan's penalty put the seal on a 1-24 to 0-16 success. There was just one point between the teams at the break but the Dubs outscored the home side 1-11 to 0-05 in the following 35 minutes.
Preview: All-Ireland Men's Senior Softball Singles quarter-finals
By Paul Fitzpatrick The race for the 2026 All-Ireland Men's Senior Softball Singles title moves into the quarter-final stage this weekend with four intriguing contests down for decision. Leading the way is defending champion Gary McConnell, who produced another statement performance in the opening round when dispatching former Tipperary hurling All-Ireland winner Jerome Cahill on a 21-2, 21-8 scoreline.
Preview: Round of 16 action in Men's Senior Singles
The road to 60x30 softball glory begins in earnest this weekend as the Men's Senior Singles Championship gets underway with a highly competitive round of 16 spread across four venues in Offaly, Roscommon and Tipperary. The headline attraction sees defending champion Gary McConnell begin his title defence against Tipperary's Jerome Cahill in Fahy, Offaly.
Busy Handball weekend beckons at four venues
By Paul Fitzpatrick The road to 60x30 softball glory begins in earnest this weekend as the Men's Senior Singles Championship gets underway with a highly competitive round of 16 spread across four venues in Offaly, Roscommon and Tipperary. The headline attraction sees defending champion Gary McConnell begin his title defence against Tipperary's Jerome Cahill in Fahy, Offaly.
Preview: GAA Handball Irish 60x30 Softball Nationals
Reigning Men's National 60x30 Softball champion, Gary McConnell. By Paul Fitzpatrick The Irish 60x30 Softball Nationals, which has become synonymous with the softball hotbed that is Wexford, serves off this weekend. With 100 players in the draw, it has all the makings of a fascinating tournament, with defending champions Gary McConnell and Martina McMahon heading the Men’s and Ladies Open fields.
Cork reclaim All-Ireland senior doubles title
By Paul Fitzpatrick Cork’s Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan reclaimed the All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Doubles title in impressive fashion at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park. The Liscarroll clubmen gained revenge on Kilkenny brothers Peter and Patrick Funchion, who beat them in the 2025 decider, with a straight games win, 21-16, 21-14.
Kilkenny and Cork renew rivalries in Senior Doubles handball final
Kilkenny handballer, Peter Funchion. By Paul Fitzpatrick The dust had barely settled at the National Handball Centre on March 15, 2025 when newly-crowned All-Ireland Senior Doubles champion Paddy Funchion, the cup nestled at his feet, was asked for his thoughts.
Preview: oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Doubles semi-finals
Cork handballer, Daniel Relihan. By Paul Fitzpatrick The oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Doubles semi-finals are down for decision on Saturday at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park, with a couple of compelling contests in store. In the men’s draw, holders Peter and Patrick Funchion bid to move a step closer to retaining the title they captured last year, a landmark success which marked the first Kilkenny victory in the grade in 27 years.
Tully and McCarthy crowned 4-wall Senior Singles champions
Roscommon’s Fiona Tully celebrates after winning the oneills.com All-Ireland Ladies 4-Wall Senior Singles title for the first time By Paul Fitzpatrick History was made at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park on Saturday as Roscommon’s Fiona Tully claimed the oneills.com All-Ireland Ladies 4-Wall Senior Singles title for the first time while Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy claimed his eighth title.
Preview: oneills.com All-Ireland Senior Singles handball semi-finals
Roscommon handballer, Fiona Tully. By Paul Fitzpatrick The oneills.com All-Ireland Senior Singles Championships are coming to the boil with the semi-finals in the Men’s and Ladies grades down for decision tomorrow at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park (4pm). First up is the meeting of Galway colleagues, and doubles partners, Ciana Ní Churraoin and Niamh Heffernan.
oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Men's and Ladies Senior Singles action continues
By Paul Fitzpatrick The semi-final line-ups are set in the oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Men's and Ladies Senior Singles following the last-eight ties at Croke Park. Cork's Michel Hedigan almost pulled off a seismic upset as he took the first game against Diarmaid Nash (21-15) but the Clareman recovered to win 21-11, 1-1. He will now meet Kilkenny's Peter Funchion, who beat Daniel Relihan of Cork (21-17, 21-16).
Louth continue to impress with hammering of Cavan
Louth backed up their impressive home win over Tyrone with a trouncing of a very poor Cavan before a crowd of 3,894 in their Allianz Football League Division 2 clash at Kingspan Breffni. The Wee County were better in all aspects – having lost to Cavan in the last two years, they were full of determination from the offset and that, allied to some slick attacking play, saw them rack up an 18-point lead before Cavan narrowed the gap in the final quarter.
Preview: oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Singles quarter-finals
Westmeath handballer, Robbie McCarthy. By Paul Fitzpatrick The destination of the oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Singles titles will be a lot clearer by tomorrow evening (Saturday), with the quarter-finals of the Men’s and Ladies championships down for decision at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park.
‘We battled all through and grinded out the result which is terrific’- Dermot McCabe hails Cavan’s fight in first win
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Cavan battle past Kildare to boost survival push
Battling Cavan came from three points down early in the second half to pick up their first win of the season in this crucial National League round-four clash at Kingspan Breffni. The sides were deadlocked at 0-05 apiece at the end of a first half played in very difficult conditions. Kildare moved three clear early in the second half but Cavan, inspired by sub Gearoid McKiernan, dug deep and ran out deserving winners.
Nash sets his sights on oneills.com All-Ireland Senior Singles
Clare handballer, Diarmaid Nash. Photo by Stephen Marken. By Paul Fitzpatrick Fifteen years, give or take, at the elite end of any sport will take its toll but the thrill of the chase is hard to relinquish. In 2022, Diarmaid Nash scaled the mountain, winning that long-awaited All-Ireland Senior Singles crown to add to his many ranking tournaments and his All-Ireland Senior Doubles titles. Four years later, the Clare left-hander is still going, still seeking that second title.
oneills.com All-Ireland Men's Senior Singles commences
By Paul Fitzpatrick The opening round of the oneills.com All-Ireland Men's Senior Singles takes centre stage this evening, Friday, with ties scheduled at venues around the country. One of the headline clashes sees Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne face Meath’s Gary McConnell in Ballymore Eustace. McConnell has long been associated with doubles success but signalled his arrival as a singles force last year when he claimed the Senior Softball Singles crown for the first time last year.
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Round 1 pairings in All-Ireland Senior Singles 4-wall
The opening round of the oneills.com All-Ireland Senior Singles 4-wall is down for decision on Friday next, 13 February, with matches across the country. One of the stand-out ties on paper sees Kilkenny's Shane Dunne take on Meath’s Gary McConnell in Ballymore Eustace. McConnell is best known as a doubles specialist but made a major breakthrough last year when he captured the senior softball singles title for the first time, a result that underlined his growing confidence as a solo operator.
Less is more for Eilise McCrory
By Paul Fitzpatrick Handball followers are accustomed to seeing Tyrone’s Eilise McCrory doing her thing on the court but on stage is a different story. Prior to Christmas, the 27-year-old swapped her gloves for a guitar and played a couple of gigs in a Belfast bar. That she did it after losing a bet says plenty about the Breacach star and her sense of fun and daring. “I actually lost a bet and it was a forfeit,” she laughs.
Meath strike late to deny Cavan in Breffni humdinger
A memorable two-pointer from Jack Flynn and a single from the outstanding Jordan Morris, all in the final minute, saw Meath plunder a win after an enthralling match before a crowd of 6,883 at Kingspan Breffni. The visitors seemed in big trouble before Flynn curled over a monster score from the right and Morris, Cavan's tormentor-in-chief, tacked on the insurance point with the final play.
Kyle Jordan announces himself as rising star of handball
Kyle Jordan made light of his seeding to win the Southern Classic. Photo by Stephen Marken. By Paul Fitzpatrick Two major handball tournaments were down for decision last weekend and both produced plenty of drama, with a familiar winner in Galway and, in Cork, a genuine sensation. One of the most eye-catching upsets on the Irish ranking circuit in recent memory unfolded in the Rebel County at the weekend as 21-year-old Kilkenny prospect Kyle Jordan captured the Southern Classic title.
Walsh feeling no pressure ahead of home-town event
By Paul Fitzpatrick Home-town favourite David Walsh has his sights set further down the road but, for now, the focus is on this weekend’s Southern Classic, which is being hosted by his own club Mallow and neighbours Liscarroll.
Open titles go west at prestigious Mick Kerr Memorial
By Paul Fitzpatrick The first Major elite tournament of the year, the Mick Kerr Memorial, was down for decision in Co Tyrone last weekend and saw the Men's and Ladies Open Singles titles went west, one to Galway and the other to Boston.
Peter Funchion and Fiona Tully triumph in Kilkenny
By Paul Fitzpatrick There were two first-time champions at the Irish 4-Wall Nationals in Kilkenny, the first Major of the handball season, with Peter Funchion and Fiona Tully taking top honours. In the absence of veterans Paul Brady and Robbie McCarthy – both of whom have indicated they have retired from elite-level singles play – this tournament was viewed as a chance for the young gunslingers to take centre stage.
Youth gets its head at first handball major of season
The first 'Major' of the handball season serves off this evening with the 2025 Irish Adult 4-Wall Nationals down for decision at Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois venues. A total of 194 players will take their chance, with the finals slated for O’Loughlin’s in Kilkenny City on Sunday. In the Men's Open, the sense of a shifting landscape is unmistakable.
Archive, 1978: England win Ashes Test in Perth – match report
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Archive, 1978: England win Ashes Test in Perth - match report
If Australia were to have any hope of winning the second Test in Perth yesterday it was essential that the two overnight batsmen, Wood and Hughes, remain in harness for as long as possible. As it proved they stayed together for only 40 minutes and that was not long enough. At lunch the innings was in a serious state of decay and at tea the contest was over with England winning by 166 runs and taking a lead of 2-0 in the six-match series.
Nash and McMahon take Golden Gloves crowns
Diarmaid Nash won the Fonacab Golden Gloves Men's Open. By Paul Fitzpatrick A new season but familiar champions crowned in Belfast at the weekend as the 37th annual Fonacab Golden Gloves titles went to elite stars Diarmaid Nash and Martina McMahon. The ‘Gloves’, inaugurated in the mid 1980s, is regarded as one of the sport’s most iconic weekend tournaments.
Erne Gaels have that bit extra in Ulster thriller
Kingscourt Stars 1-16 Erne Gaels 3-15 (AET) Erne Gaels will play Kilcoo in the Ulster Club SFC semi-final after the Fermanagh champions came through extra-time against Kingscourt Stars at Kingspan Breffni. The Belleek side, managed by recently-appointed Fermanagh boss boss Declan Bonner, were in total control in the first half, leading by 13 points at one stage, and still led by nine points approaching the final ten minutes.
Cavan SFC Final: Kingscourt Stars impress
Cavan SFC Final Kingscourt Stars 2-16 Gowna 0-13 By Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni Kingscourt Stars produced a sensational upset as they dismantled a fancied Gowna side to get their hands on the Oliver Plunkett Cup for the first time in 10 years. Two goals in first-half injury time saw underdogs Kingscourt sensationally go in at the interval five points up, 2-7 to 0-8.
Stars shine to shock Gowna in Cavan decider
Gowna 0-13 Kingscourt Stars 2-16 Kingscourt Stars produced a sensational upset as they dismantled a fancied Gowna side to get their hands on the Oliver Plunkett Cup for the first time in 10 years. Two goals in first-half injury time saw the underdogs Kingscourt sensationally go in at the interval five points up, 2-07 to 0-8.
Imperious McElduff uses home comforts to good effect
The Irish Wallball Nationals found a new home in Co Tyrone but in the Men's Open grade it was very much business as usual as Conor McElduff once again proved untouchable. The Breacach clubman (31), playing on his home patch, won the annual event for a seventh time with a series of commanding performances that underlined his dominance of the code.
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