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GAA handball legends coming to County Down.
Friday 19th June 2015
The word legend is often bandied about far too easily in today’s world where celebrity is so often confused with genuine superstardom. When two Kilkenny gentlemen arrive in Hilltown next Saturday night, 27th June, to present awards to the Down handball fraternity, there will be no such confusion.
Duxie and D.J. Carey are recognised at home and abroad as Irish sporting legends of the very highest level. Competing Internationally at handball, the pair have won numerous All Ireland and World handball titles together and have represented Kilkenny and Ireland with huge distinction over the last three decades.
Duxie’s achievements in handball are legendary in Ireland where he holds 36 Senior All Ireland Medals. The great John Joe Gilmartin won 24 All Ireland titles, a record which stood for over 40 years until Duxie came along to shatter all previous records. Paddy Perry of Roscommon had won 8 Senior Softball Singles titles in a row, Duxie won 13 in a row before losing to Walter O'Connor of Meath in 1998.
At under-age level, D.J. Carey possessed the pedigree and natural raw talent equal to any player before or after and he scooped many All-Ireland handball gold medals. He represented Ireland at the USA Junior Nationals in New Mexico in 1989, in the 19 and under grade, and only for an injury picked up in the earlier rounds, Carey may well have gone on to take the prestigious junior gong. On that occasion he bowed out to one of the most gifted players to have played the US Pro circuit, Californian Tati Sylvera, in the semi-finals by 11-10 in the tie-break.
Speaking on his handball exploits, DJ commented, "I've played many times in the States and travelled there on a regular basis from about 14 to 26. I won a couple of world titles at under 23. In terms of achievements, I have had more success in handball than in hurling, but obviously hurling has the profile."
The Gowran genius is even more famous on the hurling field. A winner of five All Ireland Senior medals and nine All Stars, D.J. is often lauded when discussions turn to the best hurlers of all time.
Kilkenny’s D.J. Carey lifts hurling’s holy grail – the Liam McCarthy Cup at Croke Park after Kilkenny’s All Ireland triumph.
Doors open at 7.30 in the Clonduff Clubrooms and after a buffet dinner all Down medals will be presented to the winners in 2015.
Everyone is welcome to come along for a good night’s craic. Tickets costing £7 for adults and £3 for juveniles can be bought at the door on the night.
