Sheridan's evergreen handball excellence

There are sporting careers that fade gently into memory and then there are figures like Dominic Sheridan, whose excellence seems almost untouched by time itself.

Now competing in the over 70 grade, Dominic continues to produce handball of such quality that he remains capable of defeating opponents literally 50 years younger than him. That fact alone says everything about the enduring brilliance of one of the best handballers ever produced in Cavan.

For decades, Dominic Sheridan has been synonymous with style, craft and relentless competitiveness inside the alley. Opponents knew exactly what was coming - the trademark spin serve dragging them awkwardly across the court, the disguised passes and, most famously of all, the deadly kill shots that became his signature. Yet even when players knew what was coming, stopping it was another matter entirely.

Long before his exploits in Masters handball, Dominic had already established himself as an excellent player. He won an U21 All-Ireland with Maurice Brady and alongside his brother Greg, himself regarded as a brilliant player, Dominic enjoyed great success, most notably winning All-Ireland junior doubles titles. The Sheridan brothers became one of the most respected pairings in the country, combining power, intelligence and natural understanding inside the court.

Dominic also enjoyed success on the football field with Cavan Gaels, playing senior football at a strong level during a highly competitive era. That background undoubtedly helped shape the athleticism, footwork and competitive instincts that became such a feature of his handball career.

What makes Dominic’s recent achievements so extraordinary is not merely longevity. Plenty of former players remain involved in veterans competition. Very few continue to compete with genuine distinction.

In late 2024, he travelled to the World Championships and once again proved he belonged among the elite in his age category. Competing in both singles and doubles in the over 70 grade, he reached the finals of both competitions and ultimately returned home with two silver medals, having gone close in both finals.

Far from slowing down afterwards, Dominic continued to compete in 2025. Alongside Peter McCabe of Munterconnaught, he produced one of the stand-out results of the season for Cavan by defeating Cork opposition in the All-Ireland over 60 semi-final, securing a place in the national decider, which was a tremendous achievement.

In many ways, Dominic Sheridan represents the very best of handball tradition in Cavan - skill, durability, competitiveness and love for the game. Few players have sustained excellence across such a span of time and fewer still have done so with such style.