Sweet sixth for Brady in Lone Star State
Mullahoran's Paul Brady returned from Austin, Texas yesterday 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 for the second successive season. With four Irish players making the long trip to take their places in the 32-man draw, this year's Nationals was one of the strongest for some time but the dual star - who plays his handball for the Kingscourt club - played some sensational handball from the off. It was smiles all-round for Brady over the weekend too 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 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. Brady has pioneered the "serve and shoot" style throughout his career. Utilising a game built around low, hard serves and electrifying kills which, strictly speaking is regarded as a low-percentage, risky strategy, he has become one of the most dominant figures in the history of the sport and, because of his attacking style, one of the most popular. Patrick Clerkin also participated in Austin but couldn't extend his winning run in the US to a fourth season, going down in the semi-finals of the A Singles to Iowa's Scott Moler. Next up for the Mullahoran man, who is currently the Irish, American and world senior singles champion, will be a return to football duties. He is included as number two seed in the Irish One Wall Nationals in Breaffy House, Castlebar next weekend while he may pair up with Michael Finnegan for a crack at the All Ireland 60x30 Senior Doubles later in the summer. The pair are entered in the Kells tournament in mid-July. In other handball news, a strong squad of nine players from Cavan will travel west for the One Wall Nationals this weekend. Brady will be joined in the Open Singles by Paul Fitzpatrick, while Eddie Halligan looks to have a strong chance in the C Singles and Marcus Sheridan and Shane Corrigan should go well in the Challenger grade. Cathal Sheridan, James Galligan, Daryl Dunne and Adrian Smith will all take part in the juvenile grades.