The action got under way last night in the 31st Golden Gloves handball tournament, organised by St Paul's GAC in Belfast, where almost 100 competitors will battle it out for honours this weekend.
Looking for success for the first time in the Golden Gloves Women's Open grade will be current Irish and US Number One Catriona Casey.
She will travel from Cork this morning, aiming to reach Belfast in time to face either Avril McNamee (Donegal) or Clodagh Nash (Clare) in the quarter-finals, this afternoon.
“I prefer to sleep in my own bed the night before tournaments and my dad will be driving, so I feel that we should reach St Paul's in time for my game at 3.15,” explains Catriona.
“I have played twice before at the Golden Gloves weekend – once in an underage grade and once at adult level.
“I am really looking forward to competing in this ranking tournament.
“It would be very nice if I could add the Golden Gloves title to the other ones I have won this year but the opposition will be very tough,” added the multi-titled Leesider.
World champion Aisling Reilly returns to action, after her shoulder surgery this year, while Martina McMahon, seeded Number Two behind Casey, will provide stern opposition to both Casey and Reilly.
Making a return to the Men's Open contest, after a long absence, is Cork's Tony Healy, a joint record five-times winner of the event.
The Ballydesmond player has come out of big-, time retirement to grace the scene again but must play in the Round of 32 this evening, clashing with Tipperary's Ger Coonan who is playing regularly in the States now and, last week, won an R48 qualifier in Pittsburgh.
Lurgan man Charly Shanks makes the first defence of his title tomorrow against either Tadge O'Neill (Cork) or Ryan Mullan (Tyrone). Shanks, of course, is the Irish Senior 40x20 champion and also the holder of the Irish Nationals crown.
He beat Robbie McCarthy in the championship final and, no doubt, the Midlander will be gunning for victory, this weekend, and so will Martin Mulkerrins (Galway), the loser in the Nationals' final.
Add in the likes of Diarmuid Nash (Clare), Cooney, Colin Crehan (Clare), CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick) and Belfast's Owen McKenna and Shanks has a battle on his hands to retain the Gloves.
Games will be played at Rossa, Gort na Mona and Coláiste Feirste, as well as at St Paul's where Sunday's finals will be staged.
Missing this time will be the junior competitions as there is a clash with the re-arranged All-Ireland 60x30 championships which were blown off last weekend.
“We are disappointed that the juniors will not be involved as they were always a big part of the weekend.
“Sean McEntee's idea, as he built the Golden Gloves into the weekend that it became, was always to have the juveniles involved in their own tournaments and then they would be there to watch the top players from around the country in action and that that would inspire them to attempt to emulate those players.
“However, we understand why the competitions had to be postponed and we have been heartened by the response of coaches and parents regarding our re-fixture for December. We will also add an under-13 competition to the list,” reveals Seamus Ó Tuma.
FonACab Men's Open (in association with Albert E Sharp Investment Management Services)
Today – Rd of 16: (1) C Shanks (Armagh) v (a); (2) (b) v (c); (3) CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick) v (d); (4) O McKenna (Antrim) v (e); (5) R McCarthy (Westmeath) v (f); (6) Patrick Funchion (Kilkenny) v (g); (7) C Crehan (Clare) v (h); (8) M Mulkerrins (Galway) v (I). Quarter-finals: (1) v (2); (3) v (4); (5) v (6); (7) v (8).
Sunday – Semi-finals & Final.
FonACab Women's Open (in association with CM Precision Components)
Tomorrow – Preliminary Rd: (a) A McNamee (Donegal) v C Nash (Clare); (b) M McCann (Armagh) v E Donnellan (Galway);
Quarter-finals: C Casey (Cork) v (a); E McCrory (Tyrone) v F Tully (Roscommon); A Reilly (Antrim) v P Gallagher (Donegal); M McMahon (Limerick) v (b).
Sunday – Semi-finals & Final.
