ONCE it was common practice for sportspeople to cycle to training and matches. Not any more. Darren Doherty, however, is an exception as he clocks up many miles on his bicycle to keep trim and to seek out quality opposition.
Doherty is the All-Ireland U21 40x20 and U19 one-wall handball champion. He’ll represent Ireland in the latter grade at the World Championships in Canada next month and is taking every opportunity to
keep himself in shape and sharp.
That’s why he cycles 25 miles from his home in Emyvale in Monaghan to Tyrone a couple of times per week to meet up with other players and compete in practice matches.
“There are a lot of good players around Beragh and Carrickmore, so I go there to play them in games," Doherty said.
"It is all part of my build-up to the Worlds and cycling helps to keep me fit. At the Worlds, we may have to play two or three matches in a day and that takes stamina.”
It will be Doherty’s third consecutive visit to the World Championships. In 2009, he won the 14&Under 40x20 title in Oregon and, three years later, at the championships in Dublin he was runner-up in the 17&Under grade.
Last weekend, he served notice that he was a player to be reckoned with as he reached the Men’s Open final of the Lough Showdown One-Wall at Loughmacrory and pushed the Irish champion Conor McElduff to the limits before losing 26-19.
Doherty’s last chance to getting his ticket to Calgary as part of the official Irish team was to win the Irish 19&Under One Wall title in Castlebar earlier this month and he made no mistake. In the final, he defeated Clare’s Fergal Coughlan 17-15.
“I was disappointed in losing out in the final of the four-wall so winning in Castlebar was a great relief. Getting expenses paid to Canada is big bonus as it is very expensive to compete in the World Championships,” he said.
“My record in finals is not too good as I have lost in about 10 finals in various competitions, including collegiate competitions.
“At the Worlds, I will be competing in the 19&Under One-Wall, the 19&Under Singles and Doubles so, hopefully, I will reach another few finals there and, maybe, get a medal or two.”
