Down's Dan McCartan makes All-Ireland comeback this weekend Friday, April 23

Down's triple All-Ireland Senior Football medal winner, Dan McCartan, 64, is aiming to win another All-Ireland medal this weekend an incredible forty-four years after winning his first with Down in 1960.

Mullingar is the setting for Dan's All-Ireland comeback as he and playing partner, Des McNeill, from the Clonduff Club in Hilltown, Co. Down travel to take part in the All-Ireland 40 x 20 Handball Finals at the town's Shamrocks GAA Club at 2.00pm on Sunday afternoon. Playing in the Diamond Master B Doubles category, the Downmen defeated Cork's Michael Jordan and Roger Moloney in their semi-final 13-21, 21-9, 21-19 at Fermoy in March. They now meet Galway's Séamus Ó Fatharta and Peter Mulryan in the final.

Dan is the proud holder of three All-Ireland medals, eight Ulster Championship medals and three National League medals with Down and four Railway Cup medals with Ulster. His partner Des McNeill has also achieved his fair share of success during a football career which saw him win a McKenna Cup medal with Antrim in 1966 and reach the All-Ireland Club Championship Finals with Belfast Club St John's in 1977.

Taking up the sport again after their inter-county football careers ended, both men are looking forward to the weekend's fixtures. When asked how it feels to be appearing in an All-Ireland final again Dan said "It's tremendous to be competing in an All-Ireland again. Handball is a very enjoyable game and we're looking forward to the weekend."

Not content to rest on his laurels, Des recently restarted the Clonduff Club in Hilltown with the result that the area is now enjoying something of a handball resurgence. He now coaches 18 adults and over 30 juveniles on a weekly basis and says the club is still being approached by new members.

Anyone looking to follow in Dan and Des's footsteps and take up the sport which can be played competitively for many years, can contact the Handball Office at Croke Park on 00 353 1 836 4186 for more information on local clubs.