Player of the Year nominee, Mayo's Dessie Keegan, has been one of the top senior handballers over the past few years and this year joined forces with Joe McCann to dethrone reigning champions, Cavan's Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan in the Senior 40x20 Doubles Final.

"It was a very exceptional year for me winning the Senior Doubles with Joe, but I suppose it was how we won the final, and who we defeated that made it really special," said Keegan.

"Michael (Finnegan) and Paul (Brady) are two world class players, and only a handful of people have ever Brady, so it was an unbelievable win for us."

Connacht handball had a very successful 2009 and hosted one of the most memorable events of the year, the One-Wall Nationals, in Breaffy House, Castlebar.

"It was a superb event and I think it showed everyone what can happen when new ideas are brought to the table," said Keegan. "

Connacht has the potential to be a very strong province in handball and there is plenty of untapped talent here; the Roadshow earlier in the year proved that."

Awarding talent will be top of the agenda on December 5th, and all five Connacht counties will be represented on the night. Following her All-Ireland Junior success, Leitrim's Mary Shanley is the province's Female Player of the Year. Her club, Fenagh, is also nominated for the Club of the Year Award, following a very successful 12 months for them.

Mayo have Stephen Cooney and Pauline Gallagher as the Young Player of the Year nominees in the male and female categories and both players had outstanding success in 2009. Master's Player of the Year Award in Connacht went to Pat Hopkins (Mayo) who collected his first All-Ireland title earlier in the year.

Galway's Martin Mulkerrins, who brought home two World Championship titles from Portland, is the Youth Player of the Year nominee, while fellow double world champion, Roscommon's Lauren O' Riordan is the Female Youth Player of Year nominee.

The National Awards Banquet will be a very special occasion, honouring many of the stars and many dedicated individuals within the sport from every province and the Connacht Official of the Year Award went to Galway's Tony Audley, from the Moycullen club. Clubperson of the Year went to the well-deserving, Tadhg Ó Churraidhín from Galway, who has worked tirelessly in his club, Cumann Michael Breathnach.

Coach of the Year went to Newport's Liam Burke, who has been a stalwart of handball in Mayo for many years, while Sligo's Paddy Walsh is the Special Achievement Nominee. Hall of Fame winner in Connacht is Galway's Mike Keady, and the Connacht Team of the Year went to the Ballymoe Junior Interclub Team, following their All-Ireland success in 2009.