ILBF supported ‘Liathróid Láimhe’ to air on TG4
Date Posted: October 28, 2024
A Dearcán Media production for TG4 with the support of Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
In handball’s centenary year, we follow the progress of the leading male and female players to see who will be crowned the all-Ireland champion in April 2024, at the end of a long season.
The handball year starts in Belfast, with the Golden Gloves tournament, a firm favourite with the players, and an opportunity to warm up for the coming games and competitions. Rivalries and friendships are renewed as the players battle it out over a weekend of action, accumulating ranking points that will determine their seeding in the All-Ireland championship, the highlight of every player’s season.
The programme includes short profiles on Ciana Ní Churraoin, from Galway, the reigning all-Ireland champion. Ciana beat Catríona Casey from Cork in the 2023 final, for her first senior title, which was also the first time she had managed to beat Catríona competitively. Catríona herself is considered one of the all time greats of the game and has accumulated an astonishing amount of titles in Ireland and internationally. Catríona’s clear goal in 23-24 is to regain the title she lost to Ciana. The other key female players are Limerick’s Martina McMahon, a former Irish and world champion, returning from serious injury, and Fiona Tully from Roscommon, and outstanding underage player who is starting to make her mark in the senior game.
The programme will also follow Robbie McCarthy from Westmeath who has won 5 senior singles titles from 2014 onwards. He is the most consistent of the current crop of Irish players and starts the season as reigning champion, and as favourite to retain his title. The seond seed is Diarmuid Nash from Tuamgreaney in Clare. Diarmuid won the all-Ireland title in 2022, but has lost three finals, and several semi-finals. His aim is to peak for the all-Ireland in April 24, and add to his single win to date.
The series will follow the players as they work their way through tournaments in Belfast, Tyrone, Clare, Cork and Dublin before the all-Ireland series itself begins.
Watch as the action unfolds: will Catríona retain her singles title, or will Ciana manage to defeat her a second time?
Will Robbie McCarthy hold onto his title in the face of a challenge from Diarmuid Nash, or can Paul Brady roll back the years and topple the reigning champion?
The film’s producer, Deaglán Ó Mocháin commented that ‘it was a real privilege to follow the handball season in its centenary year, and to see at first hand the dedication and commitment of the clubs and officals, as well the amazing skill and athleticism of the players. There’s a sense that handball is undergoing a revival and we were delighted to be able to contribute to this is our own small way. We are very grateful to all those who helped us along the way, and hope that Liathróid Láimhe does justice to their commitment and love of the sport.
Watch on TG4 on Monday 28.10.24 at 1800.
‘Liathróid Láimhe’ le craoladh ar TG4 le tacaíocht ón Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge
Léiriúchán de chuid Dearcán Media do TG4 le tacaíocht ón Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann.
I mbliain chomórtha céad bliain an liathróid láimhe, leanann muid na himreoirí is fearr, idir fhir agus mhná, le fáil amach cé a bhainfidh amach an chraobh Uile-Éireann i mí Aibreáin 2024, ag deireadh séasúr fada.
Cuirtear tús leis an séasúr i mBéal Feirste, leis an chomórtas Golden Gloves, comórtas a thaitníonn go mór leis na himreoirí, mar dheis chun ullmhúchán a dhéanamh do na cluichí agus na comórtais atá le teacht. Bíonn athnuachan ar iomaíocht agus chairdeas agus na himreoirí ag tabhairt aghaidh ar an aicsean, ag bailiú pointí rangaithe i dtreo chraobh na hÉireann, buaicphointe shéasúr gach imreora.
Sa chlár, beidh próifílí gairid againn ar Ciana Ní Churraoin, as Gaillimh, ar curaidh na hÉireann í faoi láthair. Chuir Ciana an cluiche ar Catríona Casey as Corcaigh i gcluiche ceannais 2023, a chéad teideal sinsear riamh, agus an chéad uair ar éirigh léi Catríona a bhualadh go hiomaíoch riamh. Deirtear go bhfuil Catríona í féin ar dhuine de mhórimreoirí an chluiche agus tá líon iontach teideal bailithe aici in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Is é sprioc shoiléir Catríona in 23-24 ná an teideal a chaill sí do Ciana a athbhuachan. Is iad na príomh-imreoirí eile baineann ná Martina McMahon as Luimneach, iar-sheaimpín na hÉireann agus an domhain, atá ag pilleadh ó ghortú tromchúiseach, agus Fiona Tully as Ros Comáin, a bhí ina sár-imreoir faoi aois atá anois ag baint clú amach ag leibhéal sinsir.
Comh maith le sin, leanfaidh an clár Robbie McCarthy as an Iarmhí, imreoir a bhfuil 5 theideal singil buaite aige ó 2014 ar aghaidh. Tá sé mar dhuine de na h-imreoirí is fearr in Éirinn faoi láthair agus cuireann sé tús leis an séasúr mar sheaimpín, agus é ag iarraidh go mór a theideal a choinneáil. Is é an dara síol ná Diarmuid Nash as Tuaim Ghréine i gContae an Chláir. Bhuaigh Diarmuid an teideal uile-Éireann in 2022, ach tá trí chluiche ceannais, agus roinnt cluichí leathcheannais caillte aige ar bharr sin. Tá sé mar aidhm aige a bheith réidh don tsraith uile-Éireann i mí Aibreán 24, agus cur lena bhua aonair go dtí seo.
Leanfaidh an tsraith na himreoirí agus iad ag glacadh páirt i gcomórtaisí i mBéal Feirste, i dTír Eoghain, ar an Chlár, i gCorcaigh agus i mBaile Átha Cliath, sula gcuirfear tús leis an tsraith uile-Éireann féin.
An bhfaighfaidh Catríona teideal an singil arais, nó an éireoidh le Ciana í a ruaigeadh don dara huair?
An gcoinneoidh Robbie McCarthy a theideal in aghaidh dúshlán ó Dhiarmuid Nash, nó an féidir le Paul Brady dul siar in aois na hóige agus an curaidh reatha a buachan?
Dúirt léiritheoir an scannáin, Deaglán Ó Mocháin “gur mhór an phribhléid a bhí ann séasúr na liathróide láimhe a chomóradh ina céadú bliain, agus dúthracht agus tiomantas na gclubanna agus na n-oifigeach a fheiceáil go pearsanta, chomh maith le scil agus lúthchleasaíocht na n-imreoirí. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil an liathróid láimhe faoi athbheochan agus tá muid an-sásta go raibh muid in ann cur leis seo ar ár mbealach beag féin. Táimid fíor-bhuíoch dóibh siúd ar fad a chabhraigh linn ar an bhealach, agus tá súil againn go ndéanfaidh an Liathróid Láimhe cothrom na Féinne dá dtiomantas agus a ngrá don spórt.”
Caith súil air ar TG4 ar an 28.10.24 ar 1800.
