CBS Kilkenny surpassed expectations when they came from nowhere to take the bronze medal in the All-Ireland U14 Olympic Handball Championship in Tallaght last Friday.
The achievement is all the more remarkable as it is the first success for a Kilkenny school in a sport traditionally dominated by the secondary schools in Dublin and Meath.
National team player Brendan O’Regan, a Kilkenny native, introduced the sport to the school in January and the CBS team were keen to show that their training had been worthwhile and they were not going to be a pushover.
Finals day was a day of high drama with Tallaght CS the pre-tournament favourites after a string of victories in tournaments throughout the season. In all eight teams entered and were split into two groups of four.
With no previous participation to their name, CBS Kilkenny were seeded fourth in their group, but showing some real grit they threw the form book out the window with a number of shock results.
The opening game against Coláiste De Hide B was a nervy affair but goals from Kevin Kenney and Evans Wallace secured a 2-1 victory which did their confidence a world of victory. This was followed by an even more impressive 7-3 victory over favourites Tallaght CS, guaranteeing them a place in the semi-finals.
Nonetheless they completed the group with a 100 percent record defeating Drimnagh Castle 3-1 and setting up a semi-final clash with Ballinteer. Nerves got the better of them when they lost four goals in the first three minutes before fighting back gamely to lose out 7-4.
That meant a bronze medal match against previous conquests Tallaght CS, who lost to Coláiste De Hide in the other semi. Once again they got off to a bad start, going down 3-1 within five minutes, but another brave fightback and a late goal from Kenney sealed the win.
Next up is the U16 All-Irelands in Ballinteer as the same group of players hope to cause further upsets at a higher age level.
