GAA Handball All Ireland Finals
Paul Lambert made it four All Ireland titles on the bounce in the small alley as he completed the Junior double for 2011 by winning the singles final last weekend in a titanic tussle with Cathal Hannon from County Clare.
Last year Paul was crowned Junior B singles champion after a few years of missing out in the Leinster championship, winning has since become a habit for the St Joseph’s club man who has gone two full seasons in the small alley unbeaten in his own grades now.
Last weekend Paul Lambert was made to battle all the way in an absorbing final, where both players showed all the credentials of top class players. Lambert took the opening set on a 21-13 score line and was nearly home in the second set However, Cathal Hannon fought back to take the second set on a 21-19 score line.
With both players tiring and the tension levels raising, it took superb handball from Paul Lambert to see him over the finish line on a 21-14 score line. Paul’s success has been mostly of his own doing over the past two seasons. He has trained hard with some big names and taken some big beatings off some senior players but his fitness and winning mentality has developed brilliantly and who knows where the summit is for ‘Curley’ as he now steps into the Intermediate ranks.
For the moment he will be looking at winning the Men’s B nationals after he progressed through the opening round on a 21-8, 21-9 score line against James Gregan last weekend, in the long term Paul Lambert is well capable of stepping up to the Intermediate ranks and a crack at a World Championship title next year will also be on the cards for the St Joseph’s man.
One of Paul’s man supporters and training partners is Ned Buggy and he was also on the winner’s podium last weekend as he partnered Gareth Somers from Horeswood to collect the Diamond Masters ‘A’ Doubles All Ireland title. The challenge was laid on from Sligo men Simon Duffy and Pat O’Sullivan. To be fair it was a challenge that was snuffed out in impressive fashion as the model county men were in rampant form and the romped home on a 21-5, 21-4 score line.
