Brady has his hands full

Handball: A hectic couple of weeks for Paul Brady reached a pleasant equilibrium in Dublin's Westin Hotel yesterday when he received the Vodaphone Handballer of the Year award.

It's just a fortnight since he vindicated his standing as world champion, earned in Dublin last autumn, by beating the top American Dave Chapman.

The win over the stratospherically-rated Chapman brought a prize of $50,000 (about €40,350) as well as recognition in a tournament designed to showcase handball as a television sport.

Then on Sunday came a breakthrough in Brady's parallel sporting career as Cavan footballers won their first National League points with a big win over Armagh, which resurrected a season that had been heading for the Division One chute.

He has combined the sports for half of his 24 years and believes, in terms of fitness, handball is more demanding than football. "Definitely. I'd say there are a number of handballers who are as fit as the fittest footballers and hurlers. I know what players do and I know how hard I've trained and also what different fitness tests over the years have showed."

The twin career makes heavy demands and it's small wonder he has decided to eliminate all distractions despite having qualified from DIT with a marketing degree.

"At the moment I'm not working," he says. "Especially with the two sports it would be difficult and to get the best out of myself . . . I've been struggling for the past two years until now but since the new organisation (the Professional Handball Association in the US) is trying to get bigger money together, there's maybe a chance of making a living at handball."

Central to the PHA strategy was last month's tournament, televised by Fox. If it works out, there is a chance sponsors and prize-money will come on line and allow Brady to slot more comfortably into the role of full-time athlete. He travels to the US about once a month but only now is there a prospect of the travel paying its way.

In the meantime he is happy with the turnaround in footballing fortunes. New manager Eamonn Coleman has been dealt a bad hand for the opening weeks of the season. Brady is optimistic but realistic.

"We've been trying different players because of injuries. Hopefully we can peak at the right time. After the disappointment of last year we're not thinking of anything hectic like winning All-Irelands. Obviously we'll aim for the Ulster championship. He's (Coleman) definitely looking at his options. I'm playing corner back, which is the only line on a team I've never played. It's not going too bad but my favourite position is wing back."

With decisive stages of the league in the pipeline and the national handball championships next month, there's no time for nerves.