Delight for former handballer Eamon Cleary as Ballyanne Sim takes Irish Greyhound Derby

Written by AOB

Former Ballyanne and Wexford handballer and All Star hurler Eamon Cleary enjoyed one of his greatest triumphs at Shelbourne Park last night when his dog Ballyanne Sim won the Irish Derby at odds of 12/1. The winning time of 29.28 was the quickest of all time and the first time in 13 years that a dog drawn in trap 1 was victorious.

Eamon who now resides in Kildare is a son of Kitty and the late Simmy and during his time in Ballyanne he enjoyed considerable success on the handball court including winning a 40×20 county senior doubles title with his brother Pat. In 1989 he was awarded an All Star for his hurling exploits with Wexford. Eamon is an uncle of current Templeudigan Handball Club Secretary Niamh Murphy.