It was not been the best of weekends for Connacht counties competing in all-Ireland finals with the tally of just one title won out of seven contested. That sole winner came to Mayo's Ciara and Clodagh McManamon who, as widely expected - claimed the All-Ireland Ladies Junior B doubles title at the expense of Kilkenny's Rachel Hogan and Maria Walsh on a 21-10, 21-10 scoreline at Crinkle on Saturday and a second title for Ciara McManamon who defeated Hogan in the singles final last weekend.
Mayo's many weekend casualties included Kevin Geraghty and Martin Cronin who lost out to Billy Mullins and Jim Guilfoyle of Offaly in two games at Roscommon, Sean Heaney and Tom Derrig who lost out to Antrim in the Ruby Masters final at Kingscourt and the double defeat to Kilkenny. Mayo lost two further masters doubles finals at Kells on Sunday last. The defeat suffered by Jason Judge and Pat Foy suffered was particularly heart-breaking as they lost by just three aces overall to Kilkenny duo David Clifford and Michael Reilly in the masters B doubles final on a 21-19, 21-20 scoreline. At the same Co. Meath venue, Sean Cunnane and Aidan Bell’s dream of a first all-Ireland 40x20 title was dashed by another Kilkenny pair, Joe Walsh and Liam Law in two games.
The top ladies match on Saturday last was the meeting of Mayo’s Pauline Gallagher and Wicklow’s Shauna Hilley in the intermediates singles final. It was as fine a match as was played all weekend with Gallagher giving as good as she got in the opening game only to lost it 21 aces to 15. She served out game ball in the second at 20 aces each but could not force the match to a third as she lost it by a single ace.
Mayo are still in the hunt for two more titles this Saturday at Kingscourt as Pat Hayes and Jim Sheridan take on Antrim in the emerald B doubles final while one would fancy Any Corrigan to add the junior singles title to the doubles title of last week when she takes on Aoife McCarthy in the second match at the Cavan venue.
