Aoife Brophy of Cullohill Handball Club was crowned the Ladies All-Ireland 60×30 Junior Handball champion after a scintillating victory over a skilled opponent in Aishling Shanahan of Limerick.
En route to the All-Ireland Final, Aoife had defeated her own sister Úna in a thrilling Leinster Final that required a tiebreaker to decide the eventual winner.
In that final, played in Talbots Inch, both players enjoy periods of supremacy with Aoife dominating the first game and Úna turning the tables to gain the upper hand in the second.
In the tiebreaker, fortune was to favour Aoife on this occasion, and she ran out a worthy winner on a scoreline of 21-2, 13-21, 11-4.
The All-Ireland Final was scheduled for Crinkle Handball Club in Offaly, and the Laois support that travelled were hopeful that Aoife could once again replicate the excellent form shown in previous games.
The Limerick handballer also came into this final off the back of some highly impressive performances so a hugely competitive and high-quality encounter was expected.
It was Aishling Shanahan who made the better start to the final, oozing both confidence and determination.
She played some superb handball in the opening game and her ability to control the centre of the court saw her deservedly take the game on a 21-11 scoreline.
In the second game, Aoife Brophy showcased her remarkable resilience and handballing talents to stage a remarkable comeback.
A combination of high quality serving, retrievals and well-placed shots saw the Cullohill handballer take the next game on a dominant 21-4 scoreline.
A mixture of excitement, nervousness and anticipation was palpable amongst the supporters for the tiebreaker to come.
As in the Leinster Final, the Cullohill handballer duly delivered a performance of skill and panache to ground out a deserved 15-8 victory in the tiebreaker.
Credit must go to Aishling Shanahan who never threw in the towel and pushed Aoife all the way in a high-quality game. This success proves rich reward for the sacrifice and dedication Aoife has given to develop her game and to compete at the highest level.
Having narrowly missed out on success in the Leinster 40×20 Junior championships and again at the 73rd USHA National Four Wall Championships in California earlier in the year, this victory will feel extra satisfying for the Cullohill and Laois handballing star.
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