The next series of All-Ireland finals gets under way at a number of venues this weekend. Amy Corrigan teams up with Newport’s Leona Ryder as they bid for the ladies’ minor doubles title when they take on Cork duo Catriona Casey and Lisa Aisling as the third match at Thurles this Saturday. The opening match is the Connacht v Leinster girls inter provincial team of 10 tie which has an 11.30am start. Much of the defending champions Connacht team is made of up Roscommon and Galway youngsters with Mayo’s Jennifer Fahy playing an important part in the province’s bid to retain the trophy. The winners meet a strong Munster side in the final the same afternoon at Thurles.
Another Ballaghaderreen star, Stephanie Coleman, bids for an All-Ireland glory as she lines out against Wexford’s Martin Walsh in the ladies’ junior singles final at Mullingar also on Saturday, the same afternoon as the second of a three match card which also includes Westmeath and Limerick in the ladies’ junior B doubles final at 1pm and Galway and Tipperary in the emerald masters B singles decider.
Saturday is also an important day for popular Ballinrobe based handballer Frank Macken as he lines out in the golden masters B final against Pat Donnellan from Clare at Williamstown at 2pm. A good Mayo support is guaranteed at the county Galway venue as Macken has come close in recent years to a first ever All-Ireland title and hopes are high that he can finally deliver against the Clare man.
