The remnants of Storm Amy may still have been swirling across County Roscommon on Saturday morning as Leitrim’s juvenile handballers arrived at the Kilglass Gaels complex near Rooskey to contest the 2025 Connacht Juvenile Wallball Championships. However, by the end of the opening day of this two-day event, all attention had shifted to another force of nature — “Storm Abbie”.
Like a whirlwind, Fenagh’s young Abbie Kane swept aside all opposition to capture the U12 Girls Singles Connacht title for Leitrim. While this marked Abbie’s first major success, she was, in fact, retaining the Connacht crown for the Kane household, as her older sister Sophie had held the title for the previous two years.

It was far from a straightforward path to victory for Abbie, who was required to overcome three strong Galway and Roscommon opponents, each with the advantage of greater age and experience. Whether leading from the outset or fighting back from behind, Abbie displayed composure and determination beyond her years, ultimately defeating Aoibh Johnston (Roscommon) 15–12 in a thrilling final.
Not to be outdone by her younger sibling, Sophie Kane delivered a commanding performance on Sunday to secure the U14 Girls Singles title. She overcame three Roscommon players en-route to the final, where she defeated the highly regarded Niamh Hall (Roscommon) in her home alley on an impressive 15–7, 15–4 scoreline.

Both Sophie and Abbie now advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals on October 18th, which will once again be hosted at Kilglass.
Well done also to Katie Kane (Fenagh), who contested the Girls Minor Final against Ella Sweeney (Galway). Despite struggling with a recent injury, Katie began strongly and showed admirable resilience, though the Galway player ultimately prevailed 21–15, 21–4.
While special congratulations are extended to Sophie and Abbie on their outstanding achievements in bringing Connacht titles back to Leitrim, sincere commendation is also due to all of the county’s young athletes who represented Leitrim with distinction throughout the weekend.

This year marked a record-breaking 20 entries from Leitrim, an exceptional milestone for the county. Although several players were forced to withdraw due to injury, adverse weather conditions, and football fixture clashes, 13 determined competitors took to the courts and gave their utmost against the strongest opposition in Connacht. Each player who wore the Leitrim colours demonstrated exemplary commitment, passion, and sportspersonship.

Also representing Leitrim were:

Girls U14 Singles: Emma Curry and Sadhbh Smith (Manorhamilton)

Boys U14 Singles: Adam Neary (Annaduff), Dashiell Wilson (Manorhamilton), Maxim Gilmartin (Annaduff), Morgan Chandler (Manorhamilton), and Flynn Chandler (Manorhamilton)

Boys U16 Singles: Gary Cox (Annaduff), Daniel Kane (Fenagh), and Tadhg Kirwin (Manorhamilton), all of whom produced spirited performances against experienced opposition.

Win or lose, each of Leitrim’s young players proved a credit to their families, clubs, and county — true ambassadors for Leitrim handball.
Comhghairdeas libh go léir!

Finally, the Leitrim Handball Committee extends its gratitude to the Connacht Handball Board and Kilglass GAA Handball Club for the excellent organization and smooth running of this year’s championship. Sincere thanks are also conveyed to all referees, officials, and volunteers whose efforts contributed to the success of the event.

Leitrim Handball enjoyed a hugely successful weekend at the Irish Wallball Nationals, held across venues in County Tyrone from Friday to Sunday evening last. The county returned home with three national titles and a host of impressive performances across a range of age categories.

Congratulations to Adam Neary (Annaduff), who was crowned Boys 13 & Under Plate Champion on Saturday afternoon — a fantastic achievement and fitting reward for his dedication and continually improving skills. Later in the day, Adam was joined on the winners’ podium by the Kane sisters from Fenagh. Sophie Kane claimed the Girls 13 & Under Plate title, overcoming tough opposition, including her younger sister Abbie, whom she faced in a memorable semi-final. Not to be outdone, Katie Kane completed the Leitrim medal haul by capturing the Girls 17 & Under Plate title, a win that highlights the impressive depth of underage talent in Fenagh.

Silverware for Leitrim – Katie Kane (Girls 17 and under plate), Adam Neary ( Boys 13 and under plate), Sophie Kane ( Girls 13 and under plate).

Leitrim’s involvement continued into Sunday, with Maxim Gilmartin (Annaduff) reaching the semi-finals of the Boys 13 & Under Cup, narrowly losing out to eventual champion Ciaran Corr (Tyrone). His top-four national finish speaks to the growing strength of Leitrim’s emerging talent.

In the Boys 17 & Under category, Gary Cox (Annaduff) battled through to the Plate semi-finals, delivering a strong showing in one of the most competitive divisions. His performance reflected the progress and determination he’s shown all season. Cormac Scarff (Manorhamilton) impressed with a confident opening win in the Cup competition, before facing one of the top-seeded players in the next round. Despite the defeat, Cormac delivered some excellent rallies and gained valuable experience. Fellow Manorhamilton player Tadhg Kirwin, also competing in the Boys 17 & Under category, was narrowly defeated in his main Cup match. He then progressed into the Plate competition, where he put in another strong performance, narrowly losing a close match that demonstrated his grit and growing ability.

Both Daniel and Abbie Kane (Fenagh) faced challenging draws in their respective competitions. Daniel started strongly in the Boys 15 & Under Cup, but bowed out before the quarter-finals when he met a tough opponent from Galway. Abbie, meanwhile, met a strong Dublin player in her Cup opener before her semi-final clash with sister Sophie in the Plate competition. It was an excellent learning experience for the young competitor, who is sure to make her mark in the years ahead.

All Leitrim players represented their county, clubs, and families with immense pride and commitment over the weekend, continuing to elevate the profile of Leitrim Handball on the national stage.
Focus for this talented bunch now shifts to the Connacht GAA Handball Wallball Championships, taking place next weekend in Kilglass Co. Roscommon, where Leitrim’s young athletes will look to build on this weekend’s momentum.