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21 Mar 2026

Limerick woman crowned All-Ireland Handball champion following dominant final display

Croagh-Kilfnny native Martina McMahon overcame Kilkenny's Amy Brennan in the decider

Limerick woman crowned All-Ireland Handball champion following dominant final display

GAA President Jarlath Burns and GAA Handball President Conor McDonnell with Ladies Senior Singles champion Martina McMahon of Limerick at Abbeylara, Longford I PICTURE: Stephen Marken

Reporter:

Paul Fitzpatrick

20 Aug 2025 1:00 PM

Email:

sport@limerickleader.ie

Croagh-Kilfinny native Martina McMahon once again underlined her dominance when she overcame Kilkenny’s Amy Brennan to win the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Softball Singles title in Abbeylara, Co Longford.

READ MORE: Limerick senior football championships begin to take shape 

Limerick’s McMahon has battled adversity in recent years – after a freak soccer injury, she required an L5 S1 spinal fusion on her back and she revealed after her win over Amy Brennan that she was playing with a broken finger.
"Handball, like anything in life, is kind of a mental game and I suppose if you believe you can do something, nine times out of 10 you’ll achieve it," she said.
"Not to take away from Amy’s performance today but I actually broke a finger on my right hand during the week. I just think when you’re inside these four walls and adrenaline is kicking in, you don’t feel anything.
You’ll feel it afterwards but I just think for as long as I can play and as long as I can give back to the game of handball, I’ll continue to do so."
McMahon produced another clinical performance in the decider, her powerful serves and relentless accuracy setting the tone as she raced into commanding leads in both games. Brennan (21), a member of the Kilkenny U23 camogie panel, showed her quality in spells but McMahon was always in control, winning 21-8, 21-11.
The victory extends McMahon’s unbeaten run, which stretches back to last August, during which time she has captured a string of major titles across handball’s three main codes.
 
“Softball is our traditional game and my favourite code. Big kudos to Amy Brennan, she put it up to me there today. I have no doubt she will be back again.”

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