Cavan's Paul Brady returns from Austin, Texas tomorrow morning (Tuesday) following his emphatic victory in the Men's Open at the US Handball Nationals. No player managed to get double figures against the current world number one, who defeated long-time rival, Missouri's David Chapman in the final. It was smiles all-round for Brady over the weekend as news came through that his Cavan senior football team-mates had taken a one-point victory over Wicklow on Saturday evening.

"It was a fantastic weekend for me really - I was delighted that the lads won because it was hard missing that game, and also thrilled that I was able to take my sixth US Nationals title," said Brady.

"That has been my goal since the beginning of the season; I've worked hard for it, but I'll go back home now and give my full attention to football."
Brady was in devastating form in Austin and clinically dispatched of three top Americans, Andy Nett (Minnesota), David Fink (Pennsylvania) and Luis Moreno (Arizona) on route to the final. Despite coasting through his early rounds, Chapman was forced to pull out all the stops against Texan, Allan Garner in the semi-final and found the going even tougher against Brady at the ultimate stage of the competition. Brady controlled the final from start to finish to take a 21-8, 21-9 win and collect his sixth consecutive Men's Open crown.

In the Ladies Open event, Antrim's Aisling Reilly dominated proceedings and took both the Singles and Doubles titles, failing to concede double digits in any of her singles games. In the final, she easily accounted for Jennifer Schmitt of Texas, with a 21-2, 21-7 victory.

Her doubles win rounded of a superb competition for Irish handballers, with Kilkenny legend, Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh and Meath veteran, Tom Sheridan, also pulling off an amazing victory in the Men's Open Doubles Final, where they defeated number one seeds, Sean Lenning and Luis Moreno (USA).

Walsh also took the Master's Singles title, while fellow Kilkenny handballer, Ciaran Neary collecting the Men's B crown. The Boy's 13 and Under was an all-Irish affair where Meath clubmates, Robert Fox and Evan Sheridan went to battle; Fox won a thrilling final on a scoreline of 21-20, 21-17, with Kilkenny's Peter Funchion taking the Boy's 17 and Under crown. Tweet

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