Sport

It’s handball but not as we know it: world stars of wallball come to Limerick

Brooklyn model Nazir ‘Nasty Naz’ Marston and Limerick’s Martina McMahon take titles at the World Wallball Championship

Americans Tywan Cook, Shena Brown, Cesar Ayala and Nazir Marston during a warm-up at the World Wallball Championships and Irish Nationals at University of Limerick. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Americans Tywan Cook, Shena Brown, Cesar Ayala and Nazir Marston during a warm-up at the World Wallball Championships and Irish Nationals at University of Limerick. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Paul Fitzpatrick
Sat Aug 31 2024 - 06:00

Wallball, formerly known as One-Wall handball, is a form of the game whereby opponents play against a single wall, with no sidewalls, backwall or ceiling in play, as is the case in other handball codes.

The game has been wildly popular in parts of the US, particularly New York, since the Depression era and has experienced rapid growth in Europe – particularly Ireland, where there are some 200 handball clubs – in the past 15 years.

Saoirse Ni Riordan, right, and Abbie Flanagan. Photographs: Dara Mac Dónaill
Saoirse Ni Riordan, right, and Abbie Flanagan. Photographs: Dara Mac Dónaill
Nazir Marston and Tywan Cook
Nazir Marston and Tywan Cook
Shena Brown from the US playing Aoibhin Fallon and Cliona McKinley from Antrim
Shena Brown from the US playing Aoibhin Fallon and Cliona McKinley from Antrim
GAA handball president Conor McDonnell presents a trophy to Martina McMahon, Limerick winner of ladies' small ball final, watched by runner-up Myohwa Hwee, USA
GAA handball president Conor McDonnell presents a trophy to Martina McMahon, Limerick winner of ladies' small ball final, watched by runner-up Myohwa Hwee, USA
Signing in at the World Wallball Championships and Irish Nationals
Signing in at the World Wallball Championships and Irish Nationals
Any wall space will do for practice
Any wall space will do for practice
Supporters
Supporters
Arthur Sayed, USA, in action
Arthur Sayed, USA, in action
Arthur Sayed, USA, playing Shane Dunne, Clogh
Arthur Sayed, USA, playing Shane Dunne, Clogh
Tywan Cook, USA
Tywan Cook, USA
Spectators
Spectators
Mairead Roberts, Naomh Éanna, celebrates a score
Mairead Roberts, Naomh Éanna, celebrates a score

This year, it was decided to run a stand-alone World Wallball Championships at the University of Limerick on August 18th-23rd. Wallball had previously been included as an add-on to the traditional triennial Four-Wall World Championships).

Nazir “Nasty Naz” Marston, a 22-year-old model from Brooklyn, won the Men’s Open Singles title in impressive fashion, beating compatriot Timothy “Timbo” Gonzalez in the final.

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Nancy Dong, USA, versus Amber Nolan, Clare
Nancy Dong, USA, versus Amber Nolan, Clare
Sarah Goherty and Patrick Goherty, from Dublin, and Lur Ziarrusta 'Intxaurtza, Basque Country, relaxing in compression boots during a break
Sarah Goherty and Patrick Goherty, from Dublin, and Lur Ziarrusta 'Intxaurtza, Basque Country, relaxing in compression boots during a break
Patrick Roberts, from Glengormley, gives advice to Mairead Roberts and Kerrie McKague, Naomh Éanna
Patrick Roberts, from Glengormley, gives advice to Mairead Roberts and Kerrie McKague, Naomh Éanna
Spectators
Spectators
An umpire
An umpire
Young players practise outside
Young players practise outside
Gheorghe Becciv, Moldova, right, versus Michael Kelly, Abbeyknockmoy
Gheorghe Becciv, Moldova, right, versus Michael Kelly, Abbeyknockmoy
Timothy Gonzalez, USA
Timothy Gonzalez, USA
Score card
Score card
Donnacha Gallagher (10) from Belfast, versus Conor Mathews, Mullingar, in an under-13s plate match
Donnacha Gallagher (10) from Belfast, versus Conor Mathews, Mullingar, in an under-13s plate match
Stephanie Walsh, Moycullen, plays Bertie Donohue, watched by other young players
Stephanie Walsh, Moycullen, plays Bertie Donohue, watched by other young players

The Ladies Open Singles was won by Limerick’s own Martina McMahon, an alumnus of UL who has recovered from spinal fusion surgery in recent years. The event was attended by GAA president Jarlath Burns and director general Tom Ryan as well as Minister for Sport Thomas Byrne and Minister of State Niall Collins.

In all, players from 13 countries participated, including France, the Basque Country, Japan, England, Wales, Canada and the United Arab Emirates as well as Ireland and the US, the last two making up the bulk of the competitors. More than 1,000 matches were played at the UL Sports Arena across the six days of the event, with grades ranging from an 11-and-under fun doubles competition to over-60s singles and doubles.

Top honours in the adult grades went to the USA and Ireland.

WeekendLimerickUniversity of Limerick (UL)