Paul ‘Gunner’ Brady retained his senior singles title a few weeks ago, has set his sights on the US Nationals, and also played in the Cavan championship team against Fermanagh on June 12.

Louise Glass talks to the greatest handball player of all time…
 

THE current Irish Nationals and US Open champion is ‘flattered’ to think that he is considered one of the ‘greatest’ exponents of the game he loves.

“But that is not where my focus lies,” explains the 30-year-old.

“All I concentrate on is tomorrow and the next training session, the next rep, the next serve, the next kick pass or whatever it is I am focusing on at any given moment.  I want to push myself as hard as I can for the duration of my career.”

That said, the Kingscourt club player, has ambitions to leave a lasting legacy.

“One of my goals from the start of my career has been to raise the standard of handball so high that it skips a generation.  I want to break some records, amass as many titles as I can and play at a level that the next generation of great players cannot match.  I feel that is a realistic goal but it remains to be seen if I can achieve it,” he said.
“Any talk of greatness is something for other people to reflect on, years from now when I am finished playing sport.  It is not something that is all that important to me. What’s important right now is staying focused and honest in my approach to the next training session.”
On his way to collecting his latest singles title, Paul created history equalling Pat Kirby’s long-standing record of six consecutive All-Ireland senior singles titles.
The victory also enabled him to equal Kilkenny legend Michael Walsh’s record of seven in total.
Less than 24 hours later, he made an appearance for the Cavan senior footballers in their league victory over neighbours Fermanagh.

Paul’s recent victory in the Irish singles was not unexpected but it came just six months after surgery to repair a torn quad muscle.

He sustained the injury training for the World Championships but somehow managed to battle his way through the early rounds, eventually defeating Texan star Alan Garner in the final.
And to think, he almost gave it all up in 1997 before he won his first major singles in Winnipeg?
“I’m definitely glad I didn’t give up all those years ago,” said the world number one. “It has been a rollercoaster ride since, with all the ups and downs but that’s what sport is all about. It’s the lows that make the elation so great after a big win.
“When I’m coaching kids that’s the one message I try to communicate to them – to never ever give up.
“I’d try to encourage them to take it up for fun initially.  Even if it doesn’t become their main sport, it’s a great way to complement their other hobbies whether it’s Gaelic football, camogie or hurling and they can play handball in the off-season.”
Handball’s popularity has increased in recent years, and Paul thinks it is down to the sport’s re-branding, and incorporation into Gaelic Games.
“Handball was mostly ignored by the GAA for long periods in the past, but in the last two years has become ‘GAA Handball’,” said Paul.
“The Irish Handball Council is working much more closely with the top brass of the GAA so I think the sport has benefited hugely from this recent re-association.
“I think this is the main reason why popularity of the sport is on the up, so the new leadership of handball and the GAA deserve great credit for that.”

Now back to full fitness, Brady is once again on the training treadmill, looking ahead to another busy summer.
“I am currently based in Castleknock, Dublin and do most of my training in DCU. During the season I usually travel to Belfast once a week to train also,” he said.
“I travel home to Cavan at weekends and once during the week for football.

“Away from sport I’m currently studying a Post Grad in Primary School Teaching which I hope to have completed by the end of the year.
“As long as I can stay healthy and I feel my performances are up to standard, I hope to continue to juggle both codes.
“What I foresee happening is, I’ll probably have to retire from inter county football in another year or two but I plan to continue playing handball after that untill my body gives up.

“I don’t know when that will happen but right now I’m really enjoying sport so I think I’ll know when the time is right to retire.  Obviously that could all change tomorrow if I got a bad injury so I just take each day and each training session as it comes.
“I’m just grateful to be healthy enough to play both codes at the highest level.”
 
FIVE MINUTES WITH PAUL BRADY
Date of Birth: 20/9/79
Where were you born: Cavan
Where do you live down: Castleknock, Dublin
Right or Left Handed: Right
Favorite Food: Chicken
Favorite Drink: Lucozade Sport
Favorite sportsperson: Lionel Messi
What are you currently listening to on your iPod/CD player: Kings Of 
Leon
Favourite Movie: The Sixth Sense
If you owned a racehorse, what would you call it: Gunning For Glory
Who would you like to portray you in a biopic: Tom Hanks
Scared of: Failure
Most memorable occasion (on & off the court): On the court-World Final 
2009.  Off the court – Trip to Oz 2005
Best way to relax: A long walk alone
How do you prepare before a game: I repeat my goals for the match continuously and try to stay as relaxed as possible