Search Results for 'Eoin Kennedy'

Moycullen handball club is on the crest of a wave. It is a little over a month since Martin Mulkerrins triumphantly returned home from Minneapolis as the World champion in the 40x20 court, the first Galway man and only the third Irish man to crowned World Number One.

Robbie McCarthy created his own bit of history by becoming the first Westmeath handballer to win the All-Ireland softball crown.

Mayo’s Amy Corrigan and Pauline Gallagher secured a hard-earned first ever senior ladies 60x30 all-Ireland title against hot favourites and reigning champions, Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville at Abbeylara on Saturday afternoon last. However Mayo’s Dessie Keegan failed in his bid to reach a first ever men’s senior singles at the same venue.

It was a busy and hugely successful week for both Mayo men’s and ladies’ senior doubles handballers. Last Friday evening at Mullingar Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann defeated Kilkenny duo Nicholas and Ger Anthony 21-14, 21-17. Two days later they made the trip to the same venue to take one the 2009 All-Ireland senior doubles champions and the duo that denied them a first title, Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jensen, in the quarter-finals. The Ballaghaderreen club men put in one of their finest performances to date to secure the semi-final spot in a somewhat one-sided contest. The Mayo duo won the opener 21 aces to 4, a scoreline few would have believed possible a year or two ago, and they led 9 aces to 1 in the second. Kennedy and Jensen did mount a spirited comeback but it was short lived as Keegan and a rejuvenated McCann closed out this game on a 21 aces to 14 scoreline. While the result was by no means a shock, beating the senior doubles champions of two years ago still ranks a fine scalp. However if that result surprised some it was nothing in comparison to the second quarter-final which saw reigning All-Ireland champions, Meath duo Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll, dumped out of the championship by the hugely impressive Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan of Cavan in a thrilling contest on a 21-14, 21-15 scoreline. Keegan and McCann now meet the Cavan men in the semi-final in three weeks’ time. Next up for Keegan is a singles quarter-final meeting with Ducksy Walsh at Abbeylara this Saturday at 2pm, and judging by his current form the Mayo man would be expected to progress.

Mayo was at the centre of the Irish handball world last weekend with not one but two major sporting events attracting large attendances and much to talk about. While the game’s top seniors did battle over two days at the second John Gaffney memorial tournament in Ballaghaderreen, girls of all ages had a weekend event all to themselves with the inaugural Go Handball Tournament at six Mayo venues on Saturday and Sunday.

Dessie Keegan and his Dublin partner Eoin Kennedy had a great run in the US Open of handball tournament at Fountain Valley California last weekend.

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.

Kilkenny handball legend Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh bowed out of the All-Ireland 60x30 Senior Singles championships when he lost to Westmeath young-gun, Robbie McCarthy 21-11, 21-19 following a weekend of exciting GAA handball action.

When Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy takes to the court against Kilkenny legend, Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh on Saturday next, any hero worshipping will be left outside the alley.

Handball