Brady wins title number seven in LA

World handball champion Paul Brady's quest to regain his US Nationals title was fulfilled this evening (Saturday) after he comfortably came through his final against Armagh's Charly Shanks in Los Cabelleros, Los Angeles. The 32-year-old Mullahoran man was unbeaten in the Nationals - the most prestigious tournament in the sport - from 2005 to 2010 before missing the event last season due to injury. Seeded number one on his return to LA, Brady easily accounted for Chicago-based Korean Suhn Lee before disposing of Minnesota's Andy Nett, in a relatively-close match, at the last eight stage. Brady easily defeated surprise semi-finalist David Fink (Philadelphia) in the semi-final before beating Shanks, who had recorded two outstanding wins over fancied Sean Lenning and Luis Moreno, in the decider. The latter were viewed as the Irishman's main threats but Shanks fully deserved his place in the final. However, one there, he had no answer to Brady's incredible intensity. The Cavanman won the first 21-10 and raced to a 19-2 lead in game two. While Shanks rallied well, Brady's ability to consistently end rallies with inch-high kills with both hands was the difference. Many of the top players can match Brady's attacking arsenal; none, however - possibly in the history of the sport - can equal his consistency, conditioning and mental strength. He has now lost just one match of consequence since April 2004. Brady has now won the US Nationals, the Irish Senior Singles and the Canadian Nationals, in Montreal, this season and with the triennial World Championships set to be hosted in Dublin in October, he is on course for an unprecedented quadruple success.