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Brief History

• The handball alley (60 x 30) was built in the early 1920's by voluntary labour, mainly from the mining community. It was one of the first alleys to have a roof. Most other alleys up to around 1960 were open to the weather. The club was formed in 1923. The alley is built on the site of the old National School.
• Since the foundation of the Club, players have brought numerous County, Provincial, National, and International honours to the village. All the great players of the past played in All Ireland Finals in the alley.
• The first All Ireland played in Clogh was the senior singles of 1925 between Bill Aldrige from Athy, Co. Kildare representing Clogh and Kilkenny, and J.J. Bouls of Limerick. The final consisted of the best of 13 games. 6 were played in Limerick and the remainder in Clogh. Aldrige won 7-1. It would be 23 years before Clogh registered it's next All Ireland Title.
• In 1948 the club won two all Ireland titles - Martin O'Keeffe and Garda Sean O'Connell won the junior softball title, beating Mayo by three games to two in the final played in the Garda Depot in the Phoenix Park. This was the first All Ireland title won by a Clogh man. O'Connell was a Cork man stationed in the Garda barracks in Massford.
• On the same day and at the same venue, further history was made when local teenagers Paddy Somers and Joe O'Keeffe collected the minor doubles hardball title. They were the first Kilkenny winners of a minor title. Playing Maxwell and Doogue of Dublin in their home alley, they won 2-1.
• Another great minor to come to the fore was  Mick Sullivan, who contested 5 All Ireland minor finals between 1954 and 1956 and winning 4 of them. James Brennan won the 1961 minor hardball singles crown, beating Sheamus Cornally (Galway). Tom Morrissey won the same title in 1963. In 1969 Billy McCarthy won the club's first juvenile title, the All Ireland under 14 doubles, partenered by John Barron   (Talbots Inch).
• In 1970, Peadar Hughes picked up the first of 12 titles, winning the under 14 singles title. In 1972 he won the Under 16 softball title and partenered by John Barron won the minor hardball doubles. In 1973 he won the minor hardball singles and with John Barron retained the doubles title. In 1994 Peadar won 3 of the 4 minor titles on offer - minor hardball singles, and the doubles with club man Eddie Mahon. He also won the minor softball doubles with Eddie Mahon as his partner. In 1975, Peadar won the junior hardball singles and doubles titles. His partner in the doubles was Billy Kennedy. Billy was Peadar's tutor throughout his playing career. In 1981 Peadar Hughes won the senior softball doubles partnered by Anthony Green of Talbots Inch.
• Unfortunately, the powers that be have failed to provide the area with any All Ireland Final in recent years.

FEILE CHAMPIONS 2008

Ciara Mahon, Ashling Maher, Katy Kennedy, Eleanor Murphy, Mary Buggy, Lindsey Wilson and Mary Phelan after their great win in the Feile Girls 'A' Final in Monavea.

 

Eoghan Hennessyhad a great win in the U15 Munster Open when he beat his great rival Pauric Carroll (Limerick) by 2 straight games in a thrilling final.havingbeaten Keith Kavanagh (Wicklow)in the semi final.

Tadgh and Mark Purcell

 

The Clogh Boys and Girls teams who competed in Feile na nGael

Paidraic Maher and Eoghan Hennessy representing Comer Community School won the junior Colleges All IreDoubles Final in Roscommon. They beat Munster Champions, Sam Edbrook and Colm Halpin (St.Joseph's, Tulla, Co.Clare) 15-21,21-12 and 11-1 in the tie break.

In under 15 Nationals,  Eoghan Hennessy travelled to O’Rahallaigh’s in Co Louth and  had 2 good victories over Martin Mc Geough, Antrim and Michael O’ Hare, Down.  Pauric Walsh travelled to Conna, Co. Cork and beat Eoin Douglas and Tadhg O’Caoimh from Co Cork. Pauric Maher and Branaoin Buggy travelled to Monavea Co. Laois but lost to Wicklow and Kilkenny opposition. In under 13 girls, played in Horse & Jockey, Co. Tipperary, Ciara Mahon  and Mary Phelan had great wins over  County Clare twins,  Shaunagh and Alana O’Brien. In ladies junior singles Claire Love travelled to Garryhill to play Miriam Ryan of the local club Claire registered a good 21-8 21-11 win.  Michael Maher lost out to Paul Moran, Leixlip 2-1 in junior singles. In junior colleges Eoghan Hennessy and Pauric Maher play in the All Ireland semi final next weekend. Clogh Handball Club hold their A.G.M in the Cloneen Club Rooms tomorrow, Thursday 22nd February at 9 pm.

 

Sean Maher with his Junior All Ireland medal (left) October 2006 and Pat Maher & Duxie Walsh, Masters Champion (right).

A Group of Young Handballers with Duxie Walsh in the Cloneen Club and below, Charlie presents the Florrie McCarthy Trophy to Marie Therese. Also in picture Pauric Walsh and Paul Buggy.

Mary Phelan - Leinster Schools Champion 2007

CLARE LOVE AND MARIE THERESE WIN A WORLD TITLE !

Having been beaten in the final of the Girls 19 and Under, the two Clogh girls competed in the adult womens 'C' event and went all the way beating Keegan/McCarthy in the final 9-21, 21-16, 11-4. This match was played at 10 o'clock, our time, last night. As well as the two winners trophies, seven runners up Waterford Glass trophies will be winging back to Clogh on Tuesday.

A group of nine members of Clogh Handball Club are in Edmonton, Alberta to take part in the World Championships which are being hosted in the North West Canadian City at present. Before they departed, Billy Love (Club Chairman) said that they were hopeful of bringing back a title to the parish to emulate Marie Therese O’Neill won an under 15 title in 2003.  The competition began on Friday with the one wall championships and Ciara Mahon was the first Clogh compeditor to reach the finals on Sunday. She was the only girl who entered and had to compete with all male opponents in the 11 and under one wall competition. She was beaten in the final  by Patrick MCrory from Tyrone in a closely contested game. she had already beaten her brother Brian Mahon in the last leg of a round robin qualifier. Both players were on level games entering the game it was a great game with Ciara eventually getting the upper hand to reach the final.

Claire Love reached the Girls 17U singles final. She gave a great display but was beaten by tournament favourite Sara Au from USA.  Again Claire had to play her fellow club mate Marie Terese O Neill  in the last round of a round robin system before reaching the final.

Claire again took centre stage when she played with Marie T O Neill in the girls 19U doubles and went all the way to the final in which the Clogh girls won the first game, but were beaten in the second by a very strong partnership of Archibold (Westmeath) and Lawlor (Kerry). The tie breaker was a tense affair with the opposition just edging victory.

Padraig Maher and Eoghan Hennessy won the early rounds of 15U singles but had to play against each othe in the 3rd round. Padraig was the eventual winner of a titanic struggle. but his exersions caught up with him and unfortunately was beaten in the quarterfinal .

Billy Love and Ned Mahon Clogh  reached the semi final of the mens golden doubles and were beaten by 2 Australians. who went on to win the  title.

Patrick McRory (Winner) and Ciara Mahon receive their trophies - Marie Therese and Claire receiving their runner up trophies(right).

Marie Therese and Claire with their winners trophies

 

Clogh Handball group in Canada for the World Finals

Back Row : Billy Love, Clare Love, Eoin Hennessy, Marie Therese O'Neill, Pauric Maher
Front : Ciara Mahon, Edward Mahon and Brian Mahon.

COMMITTEE 2007

HONORARY LIFE PRESIDENTS: Paddy Love, Eddie Somers, and Andy Hosey. PRESIDENTS: Fr. Denis Purcell and Fr. Dan Bollard

CHAIRMAN: Billy Love, VICE CHAIRMAN: Carmel Hennessy

SECRETARY: Edward Mahon: TREASURER: Sheila Hosey

JUVENILE SEC: Sheila Lawler: JUVENILE OFFICER: Gerard Egan

P.R.O: Charlie McCarthy

COMMITTEE: Donal Brennan, Mary Hosey, Alan Hosey, Theresa Ryan, John Paul O'Neill, Claire Love, Fiona Ryan, Marie Therese O'Neill, Tom Comerford, Pat Langton, John Doyle, John Doyle, Gerard Egan, Andy Hosey, Mary Hosey, Tim Wilson, Nicola Kieran, Tommy Wilson, Geraldine Wilson, Dominic Kennedy, Breda Kennedy, Timmy Mahon, Chris Kieran, James Hennessy, Breda Murphy, Noreen Phelan.

 

1953 in Tramore
Jim Power, Jim Buggy, Florrie McCarthy (Secretary), Dick Close (Chairman), Joe O'Keeffe, Paddy Love.

ALL IRELAND TITLES

Club players have won 2 Senior Titles. 3 Junior Titles. 2 Under 21 Titles. 13 Minor titles. Juvenile Players have won 25 All Ireland titles.

Club Teams have won All Irelands titles in Feile Na Gael (1), Community Games Under 13 (1), and Community Games under 15 (2). Team of 4 under 12/13 (4). Team of 4 under 14/15 (5).

Club players were beaten in (22) All Ireland finals. (3) Feile Na Gael Finals. (7) Community games finals and in (3) Team of 12/13 and 14/15.

Clogh Players hold in excess of 100 Leinster Titles from Senior down to under 12.

Numerous county medals have also been won at all grades from Senior down to under 10. Students from the club have won Leinster and All Ireland Titles with Presentation Convent Castlecomer, and the Community School in Castlecomer.

Since 1991 Club players have contested all Ireland finals in each year up to 2003 inclusive, with a fantastic rate of success. In recent years, the girls section has begun to gain success. During 2003, Clair Love won the U16 doubles partnered by Ann Marie Hawe (Windgap), and Marie Therese O'Neill hit the the extreme highlight when she won the U15 World one wall title. Also in 2003, the Clogh club won the All Ireland Junior ‘B' 60 x 30 club title, beating St.Coleman's (Roscommon). Michael Maher and Colm Love also won the Junior 'B' All ireland 60 x 30 title.

The Clogh Club caters for males and females of all ages and encourages the participation of juvenile's from 7 year olds up. In Recent years the Handball club have been working with Cloneen Hurling Club to provide the area with a new pitch, clubhouse a new 40x20 Handball Alley and in October last, the magnificent new facility hosted 58 games in the World Championships and received rave reviews from the visitors.

 

Email : handball@clogh.com