If the 2009 meeting of these two sides is anything to go by, Saturday’s crowd will be treated to a spectacular show in the All-Ireland senior doubles final, as Kilkenny and Meath renew rivalries. Royal County pairing Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan bid to reclaim the title they won in 2008, while Kilkenny duo Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh and Michael Clifford go in search of their first title as a partnership.
Walsh, of course, has already amassed an incredible 10 senior doubles titles, and will be honoured on Saturday as the jubilee winner of the senior singles title in 1985, his first. “I can honestly say if someone told me I’d be playing handball in 25 years when I won my first, I would have laughed,” said Walsh.
“It’s lovely to be getting the jubilee award, but my concentration will be firmly fixed on the game at hand.”
He will collect his latest honour before the intermediate singles game and then don the colours of Kilkenny once again, where he will bid for his 39th All-Ireland senior handball medal.
“It’s an amazing feat and testament to the service of Ducksy Walsh to Irish handball,” said Saturday’s opponent, Tom Sheridan. “He’s given his life to handball and to be playing at the top level for that long is incredible.”
Sheridan is also a veteran of the big alley court, having won his first senior doubles crown in 1992. Since then, he has collected nine titles, but the wounds of last year’s defeat have not yet healed, and the Kells man in anxious to make amends.
“We were very disappointed last year, but we’re back in a final, and that’s where we wanted to be,” said Sheridan.
This year’s championship saw four top pairings contest the penultimate stage, with any one of the combinations in the running for honours.
“I definitely think this year’s championship was the most open in a number of years, and certainly, any one of the semi-finalists could have won the final,” said Sheridan.
In last weekend’s semi-final, Walsh and Clifford overcame reigning champions, Dublin's Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jensen, who were bidding for a fourth title success in five years. The Kilkenny duo were in top form, and after an exciting two games won out on a 21-17, 21-17 scoreline to confirm their final place.
“I think it’s going to be a cracker of a final; last year, we came very close to the two lads and we’re hoping to really push them this year,” said Walsh.
“I have the height of respect for Tom and Brian, they’re a great pairing and it will be a close affair.”
Meath duo Sheridan and Carroll were forced to pull out all of the stops in their semi-final victory over Model County pairing Colin Keeling and Barry Goff. Goff and Keeling held the led all through the opening game and lead 19-17, but Sheridan and Carroll found the decisive shots to win 21-19. The second game followed an almost identical pattern as Goff and Keeling held a 20-18 advantage but lost the decisive ace as Meath sealed their final win with a 21-20 win
Incidentally, Sheridan and Walsh played together on international duty already this year, where they won the US Nationals Open Doubles title in Austin, Texas. Both players have become great friends in recent years, but friendship will be left at the door on Saturday.
“It will be strange playing against Tom having played with him a number of times this year,” said Walsh.
“It’s a very difficult game to call and there won’t be a lot in it.” The senior doubles final will take place tomorrow, September 18 at 4.30pm in Thurles.
