Fiona Tully was crowned Oneills.com All-Ireland Handball Singles champion in Croke Park this afternoon., defeating reigning world number one Ciana Ní Churraoin.
The Roscommon woman won her first All-Ireland singles title against the Galway champion, after already winning the Irish Nationals in 2025, and being runner-up in the singles back in 2024.
Speaking to TG4 after her phenomenal win, Tully said she didn’t expect the victory after a strange year leading up to the final.
“I didn’t think it was ever going to happen, but I’m delighted to finally get over the line in a final,” said Tully. “If you told me last October that I would win two of the big tournaments, then I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Tully struggled on the court six months ago, getting whitewashed in games, but with determination, she turned that season around, winning two national titles.
Tully’s serves were what defined her game today, smashing the ball continuously down the side panel and causing plenty of trouble for Ní Churraoin.
In the first game, Tully went 20-13 up, and it looked as if Ní Churraoin could steal the game when she picked up four points on the bounce, and Tully missed plenty of game points.
Tully ultimately won the first game 21-17, after a fantastic rally between the two players.
In the second game, Tully took an early 10-4 lead, giving her loads of breathing space against the Galway woman.
Three of Tully’s last four points came from ace serves, with the final score coming from a kill shot that landed the ball flat against the wall.
Tully beat Kildare’s Mollie Dagg in the semi-final last weekend to set her final up with Ní Churraoin, who beat Niamh Heffernan, her fellow Galway player, in her previous match.
Ní Churraoin previously won the singles in 2023, and has had a successful 2026 so far, winning the Mick Kerr Memorial in Tyrone and the She’s Ace Tournament in Galway.
Tully became the first woman from Roscommon to win the All-Ireland Singles, and only the second woman from Connacht after Ciana Ní Churraoin.
