Junior Titles

Seamus concentrated on the Junior grade, in that same year and after some thrilling contests, captured the Ulster Junior Softball Singles Championship. In addition, along with Liam Hanley of Monaghan town, he captured the Ulster Junior Softball Doubles title of 1961 – in other words, two Junior titles in one year. Unfortunately, no All-Ireland titles were to come to Ulster that year.

In 1962, Seamus McCabe had his first real break-through, winning the All-Irealnd Junior Softball Singles Championship – the first Handball title ever to come to Monaghan. His victory was all the more sweet when we remember that this was the first Handball title to come to the North in thirteen years. In the semi-final, the opposition was provided by Paddy McGrath of Tipperary but the greater reputation of the Munster man in no way daunted McCabe and he played brilliantly to win his way into the Final. Michael Walsh (Mayo) was his opponent in the Decider and there was great jubilation throughout Monaghan but especially in Clones, when McCabe emerged victorious – a decisive and deserving winner.