Claire Reynolds and Cuileann Bourke

Young Sports Stars of the Year Award winners Nos. 26 & 27: Cuileann Bourke and Claire Reynolds

The sport of handball features next as we continue our look at the Merit Award winners in the Young Sports Stars of the Year Awards list.

Cuileann Bourke and Claire Reynolds have been playing handball together for many years for Belcarra Handball Club, winning two All-Ireland titles in 2018 and claiming their third only recently by winning gold at the All-Ireland Colleges championships in Kells.

These two young girls, who are students at Balla Secondary School, won the Under 17 60x30 All-Ireland Championship in October.

In February the girls went on the road to Kingscourt, Cavan, where they won the All-Ireland 40x20 second level colleges championship in the senior doubles category as they overcome two strong and very experienced sisters from Kilkenny in the semi-final and conquered Loretto, Cork, in the final. In March, meanwhile, Claire won the Under 17 singles All-Ireland 40x20 championship.

Together they are two wonderful ambassadors for a sport they have such a great passion for.