Belfast legend Silcock to enter GAA handball Hall of Fame

Legendary Antrim handballer Billy Silcock's remarkable career is to be recognised on February 3 when he is inducted into the GAA Handball Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Croke Park.

Silcock's greatest day in the handball court came in 1988 when he became the first Ulster man to win the coveted All-Ireland 40x20 Junior Singles which, back in the pre-intermediate days, was the gateway to the Promised Land of senior ranks.

That was an extraordinary achievement given that the power base for the sport at the time was in Leinster and Munster. However, a thriving Antrim scene had begun to spring up in the 1970s and Silcock was among the leaders of that resurgence in Belfast.

A brilliant performance saw Billy (pictured above, right, with a young Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh) defeat John Rossiter of Carlow to claim that Junior Singles title on a famous day for Antrim and Ulster handball.

Most amazingly of all, Billy only took up the game of handball at the age of 21 but he quickly climbed through the ranks.

"I wish I had the opportunity to play when I was a juvenile because I think I would have been a lot better," the modest Silcock smiled.

He won a number of All-Ireland club titles with the McDermotts club and numerous Ulsters in various grades. At a time when there were few players from the northern province competing strongly at the elite end of the game, Billy - a proud Belfast man who also excelled in football and hurling in his youth - flew the flag.

In 1994, he won the Over 35 Singles at the World Handball Championships in Co Clare, seeing off Roscommon's Mickey Walsh in the decider.

The popular and likeable Silcock is a permanent fixture on the handball scene in Belfast, where he often volunteers his time as a referee and mentor to young players.

Article by We are Ulster