Robbie wins Player of the Year award

Robbie McCarthy's exploits on the handball court in 2011 were recognised at the weekend when he was named the male player of the year at the All Stars function at the weekend.The Mullingar native has certainly had a season to remember winning the Irish 40x20 Open Nationals, All Ireland Senior Hardball Singles, All Ireland Senior 60x30 Softball Singles and the US Open Singles title last month in Los Cabaleros, Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, first time senior All Star winner Robbie said that he is "delighted" with how the season has gone."It's been very, very good. Everything kind of went right this year...At the start of the season I just wanted to win the 60x30 title and the other just came."Robbie became only the third Irish man to win the coveted US Open Singles title when he defeated Armagh's Charlie Shanks in the final in California last month and while his would love to compete in the US more regularly, the unemployed 24 year old says that a lack of sponsorship means that his trips across the Atlantic will be sporadic at best."I get a bit of sponsorship from the Clubhouse, but if I could get a full time sponsor I would be able to go over more. I am not working and have a young child and am paying for everything out of my own pocket."With the economy in turmoil Robbie says that it is "very unlikely" that he will get a sponsor. "I've been looking for a sponsor since I was 17 and now I'm 24," he said.Robbie wasn't the only member of the McCarthy family to receive an accolade at the weekend.His sister Aoife, who recently won the ladies junior all Ireland 60x30 crown, received an award from the Leinster council.