THERE won't be many, if any, competing in the Irish One-Wall Championships at Breaffy House, Castlebar who have as long a connection with the event as James Doyle.
Doyle has been a constant competitor since the first shots of the tournament were fired in 1999 and he is still chasing the Holy Grail.
“I can't claim to be a flounder member of the One-Wall Championship, but I was one of the first players to take part. There wasn't a very big entry then and I am still searching for an Irish One-Wall Championship title. I lost in four finals and to think of that breaks my heart,” said the Armagh-domiciled Wexford man.
“I'm throwing my hat in the ring once again next month, but with a ticket on the plane available to the World Championships in Canada during August, the Men's Open grade is stronger than ever this time. There are a lot of excellent one-wallers in Ireland just now, and whoever wins at Breaffy House will have earned their passage to Calgary.”
The official Irish team to compete in the World One-Wall Championship will be completed by the winner of the Irish Championship on July 5. All other Irish championship winners have now been determined and this is the last chance saloon for someone else to win their place on the team.
Players like Charly Shanks, defending Irish champion Conor McElduff, last year's beaten finalist Darragh Daly, Niall O'Connor, Martin Mulkerrins, Robbie McCarthy and Gabháin McCrystal, finalist in Mount Talbot last weekend, are among the various players who are listed in the 16-strong entry.
James Doyle is a former world champion, of course. He won the World One-Wall Men's Open in 2012 at Portland, Oregon.
“Getting the free trip to Calgary for the Worlds is, certainly, a big incentive and it gives this season's Irish One Wall Championship a big status. The title will be more difficult to win this year than ever before, but I'm throwing my hat into the ring anyhow and see how it goes. One way or the other, I will be going to Canada and taking part,” added Doyle (40).
Handball isn't the only thing on Doyle's mind, just now, of course, as he also trains the Armagh senior football and hurling teams. That can get in the way of his handball at times.
“I wasn't able to play in the Mount Talbot event, although my children were taking part on the Saturday. I had to return home on Saturday night as Armagh were playing Donegal next day in the Ulster Championship,” he said.
“That game wasn't what we expected and we are all very disappointed. Now, we are preparing to play Wicklow in the Qualifiers. The hurlers play Down in the Ulster Championship on Sunday too, so times are pretty busy just now.”
It will be a huge weekend in Castlebar next month, with the entry list reaching 337 and just short of 100 competitors in the men's competitions and 30 females in the adult grades. There will be 127 boys in singles action with 53 girls competing.
