The remarkable success of Robert McCarthy Jnr on the national and international stages provided the highlight of another eventful year for Westmeath handball. Further evidence of why Robert McCarthy Jnr is regarded as the brightest prospect in Irish handball was provided when he won a string of titles over the past 12 months, and was the recipient of two major sporting awards. The gifted youngster from Lynn Heights in Mullingar literally swept all before him as he continued his seemingly unstoppable march towards the top of his sport. His achievements in 2005 and over the preceding five or six years would suggest that he is destined for handball stardom, although he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. "It was another good year, but I'm not getting carried away," the 18-year-old plasterer says. "I've started playing senior and intermediate handball in the past year or two and I've found it to be a big step-up. I've only one year left as an underage player and I've got to be ready for senior handball in 2007. That will be a big challenge for me, but I know that if I can continue to work hard, I can be successful." McCarthy makes no secret of his ambition to turn professional and would happily move to the US to ensure that his long-held dream becomes a reality. "Playing handball professionally would be a dream come true for me, and I've been gearing everything towards that. I'm down in the alley practicing most nights now. It's a far cry from a few years ago when I used to practice maybe one or two nights a week. "I played pro-handball in Houston last year and found it to be another step-up from senior. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but if the opportunity comes along, I would have no problem moving to the States." McCarthy, who is also a noted underage footballer with Mullingar Shamrocks, couldn't have asked for a better start to 2005 when he returned home from Des Moines, Iowa as USHA under 17 singles and under 19 doubles champion. He defeated American Aaron Garner 21-8, 21-20 to win the under 17 singles title for the second year running and then teamed up with Meath's Brian Carroll to triumph in the doubles event. The Irish pair got nothing easy from the Garner brothers, Aaron and Allan, in the doubles final, winning 21-18 in the first game and 21-19 in the second. Further success followed for McCarthy in April when he retained his All-Ireland 40x20 minor and doubles titles at Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. His victory in the doubles final, where he partnered fellow Mullingar man Ciaran Curley, was the perfect send-off to the USHA Nationals in Houston where he achieved further honours. In September, McCarthy successfully defended his All-Ireland 60x30 minor title when brushing aside the challenge of Waterford's David Hickey 21-7, 21-0 at Croke Park. This was his eighth win at All-Ireland minor level - a record that is unlikely to be equalled or surpassed by anyone. Over the Christmas period, Robbie travelled to Tempe, Arizona to take part in the USHA junior handball championships. Hopes were high for the Mullingar youngster and he didn't disappoint, winning both the under 19 singles and doubles titles. Despite battling against both illness and injury, he proved to be a class apart in the under 19 singles and defeated top-ranked US handballer Jonathan Iglesias in the final on a 21-4, 21-13 scoreline. McCarthy received a bye in the first round before accounting for Ontario's Ryan Bowler in his opening game. He beat Blaza Selestwo of Milwaukee in the quarter-final and Braulio Ruiz of California in the semi-final, and made light work of Iglesias' challenge in the decider. Ominously for his rivals, McCarthy will return to the US to defend his under 19 singles crown later this year. Robbie then teamed up with Wicklow's Darragh Daly to retain the under 19 doubles title. They were made to battle all the way in the final, however, before overcoming the American pair, Bryan Bidegain and Braulio Ruiz 21-20, 21-15. "Robbie did very well to win the singles and it was a great achievement for him to retain the under 19 doubles as well," recalls Robbie McCarthy Snr, who is clearly very proud of his young protégé. "It's never easy to win out in the States, but Robbie was well prepared and he produced the goods. He's going back next December with the intention of retaining his under 19 singles title and winning the under 19 doubles for the third year in-a-row. This will be his last year at underage level and he's determined to sign off on a winning note." McCarthy's dominance of the Irish underage handball scene earned him two prestigious awards in 2005 - Young Handballer of the Year and Irish Examiner Young Sports Star of the Year. "The awards were nice to win and make all the nights in the alley seem worthwhile," he says. Robbie's sights are now firmly set on the World Handball Championships which will be held in Edmonton, Canada next August. Having previously annexed the under 13, 15 and 17 titles, he will be strongly fancied to complete the grand slam by adding the under 19 crown. "The Worlds is the next big event on the agenda. I'm going to do everything I can to win the under 19 title, especially as it's my last year as an underage player. I'll be competing at intermediate and senior level this year and hopefully this will stand me in good stead." Robbie will be accompanied to Canada by his father Robbie Snr and younger sister and brother Aoife and Ricky, who will also be competing. Also flying the flag for Westmeath will be Leona Archibald (Mullingar), John O'Shaughnessy (Delvin) and David Mullaniffe (Multyfarnham). Leona won four Leinster titles (two minor and two under 16) in 2005, while Aoife was crowned Leinster under 13 singles champion. Robbie McCarthy Snr, meanwhile, won the One-Wall Over 40s National title in Sligo for the fifth year-in-a-row. "We'll have a big group going out to Canada, and hopefully things will go well for us. It would be great if we could bring a few World Championships back to Westmeath," Robbie Snr adds. With 18 All-Ireland titles, four World titles and a record five USHA singles successes already to his credit, Robbie McCarthy Jnr is arguably Westmeath's most successful sports star and looks set to become the first man from the Lake County to win senior handball titles at national and international level in the years ahead. Tweet

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