Eoin Kennedy Wins All Ireland Handball Championship

Sports - Other Sports

Monday, 06 September 2010 16:01

Written by Stephen Davis

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Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy secured his seventh consecutive All-Ireland 60x30 Senior Singles title in Abbeylara, Longford on Saturday, when he defeated Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy in a thrilling final.

With a capacity crowd at the midlands venue, the opening game provided some of the best handball played in a senior final in years, with both players moving each other around the court at pace, and fighting for every ace.

McCarthy led half-way through the opener, but Kennedy levelled matters at 12-12 as excitement in the gallery began to build.

Both players pulled out some top-drawer finishes, with Robbie using the left corner dump-shot to great effect, as well as rolling two balls dead. Kennedy was also in firing form and when he went 20-19 up, it looked like he had the first game in his pocket. McCarthy then pulled out an awesome corner kill to gain service, much to the delight of the Westmeath supporters.

He drew level at 20-20 but was unable to make that vital ace and Kennedy made no mistake when the opportunity came, hitting a right corner-kill from over 25 foot back on the left side of the court. McCarthy was visibly frustrated leaving the court after the first game and never found the same form again, perhaps because of dwelling on what might have been in the first.

The second game was dominated by the Dubliner, but McCarthy kept in touch and when the players were level at 13 a-piece, a third game looked on the cards. Kennedy had other ideas however, as he stormed into top gear and with a 21-15 win sealed his place in seventh heaven.

“Winning close games are always a great feeling, but winning a final like that is something special,” said the 31-year-old.
“Robbie played exceptionally well, but thankfully I pulled out the aces when I needed them.”  

It’s been quite a few years since Kennedy received such a strong challenge in the All-Ireland Final, but the St Brigid’s clubman said it was exactly what he was expecting.

“I training harder than ever this year, because I knew that every game was going to be tough and it’s great to have those efforts rewarded,” he said.

In the Minor decider, Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins collected the county’s first All-Ireland Singles title since 2002 when he defeated Limerick’s Padraig O’Carroll 21-19, 21-14.

The Moycullen clubman had a nervous start and was 11-4 down in the early stages of the opening game. He hit a purple patch mid-way through the game and leveled matters at 16-16, notching of aces with great determination. Mulkerrins then went 19-18 up, but it was a short-lived lead with the Treaty County handballer leveling the game for a third time at 19-19.

The last two aces produced some of the most exciting handball of the day with both players leaving every onze of energy on the court, but it was Mulkerrins who hit two vital aces to seal the first game.

The second game started at a much more frantic pace, with the Galway man opening with intent. Mulkerrins, however, lifted his game and managed to hit home with a 21-14 victory, making no mistake in putting away the last two aces.

The Limerick man’s brother, Seamus, had better fortunes in the Intermediate Doubles Final, where he partnered Paul Hedderman to a 21-14, 21-14 win over Kilkenny’s Timmy and David Clifford to confirm senior status for both Limerick players in 2011. 
MINOR SINGLES FINAL:
Galway (Martin Mulkerrins) df Limerick (Padraig O'Carroll) 21-19, 21-14
INTERMEDIATE DOUBLES FINAL:
Limerick (Seamus O'Carroll/Paul Hedderman) df Kilkenny (Timmy Clifford/David Clifford) 21-14, 21-14
SENIOR SINGLES FINAL:
Dublin (Eoin Kennedy) df Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy) 21-20, 21-15