by Paul Fitzpatrick.
The final places on Team Ireland for next month's World Handball Championships in Calgary, Canada have been decided after Tyrone's Conor McElduff and Cork's Catriona Casey came through in style at the Irish One Wall Nationals in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
McElduff (21) won the title for the first time last year but was forced to overcome illness and injury this time round - and a run-in with a pesky pooch.
A fall while jogging in a final training session saw the Brackey clubman break a finger on his right hand and sustain a badly grazed arm - however, he showed few ill-effects in ousting Limerick's Paudi Quish in the semi-final before coming through 9-15, 15-11, 11-3 against Galway star Martin Mulkerrins in the final.
'I had been training hard but I had to pull out of the local league because I got gastritis,' revealed McElduff.
The fall then was a bit of an embarrassing story! I was going for a jog and I tipped over a dog, he came in from behind me and took the feet from under me.
That was the Friday before the tournament. I went through the wars so I'm just relieved to get through and make the official team for the Worlds.
Cork sensation Casey, meanwhile, will also be part of the official Irish squad after she beat three-time winner Lorraine Havern of Down 15-14, 15-9 in a close-fought final.
The smooth Rebel lass was in brilliant form throughout the weekend and continued her fine run of recent form.
