David Walsh.
Mallow handball player David Walsh won the men’s title at the USHA Nationals last weekend at Los Cabelleros, Fountain Valley, California, continuing a run of success for Mallow players on the US handball scene. College student David is in Chicago this Summer as part of his J1 travels and he flew to California for the prestigious US Nationals, where he powered his way to the final before facing the highly-rated Ricardo Palma.
The first game was dominated by the American who won 21-12, but David hit back in the second, winning 21-19. With the match tied at one game apiece, it came down to a tie-breaker to 11 aces, and again the American powered ahead, going into a 9-0 lead, which gave David a mountain to climb, but his determination was relentless and he went on to serve 11 straight aces without reply to take the title.
David already enjoyed success in the US in the past year, winning the 19 and Under Nationals title in Portland before Christmas, and last February he represented CIT Handball, taking the Open Doubles Collegiate title in Minnesota. Well done to our Mallow handball ace!