Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy claimed his 8th All Ireland Senior Singles GAA Handball All Ireland Hardball Championship title when he defeated Mayo Joe McCann in today’s Senior Hardball Singles Final in St. Coman’s, Roscommon.
In the first game Kennedy went into a commanding 11-2 lead with some good serving and kill shots. But McCann got into his stride and with some good right corner kills pulled the score back to trail 7-11. Eoin got back into serve and extended his lead to 15-7, but once again the Mayo man fought back to trail 11-15, the game was nicely poised at this stage. But Kennedy then took control and extended his lead to 20 game ball 11. Mc Cann got back into serve and scored one more ace before Eoin closed out the first game 21-12.
The second game was much closer with both players playing excellent Hardball. The player’s were level on no fewer than four occasions by the time it reached 8 all. Kennedy upped his game at this point and won the next 4 aces in quick succession to lead 12-8. The experience Dubliner extended his lead and went on to clinch the match to win his 8th Senior Singles Hardball title on a score line of 21-12 and 21-8.
In the Minor Hardball Singles final, Mayo’s Niall Joyce the recently crowned Minor 40x20 Singles Winner was up against Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne. The Mayo player started well and was leading 14-8 before the Kilkenny lad pulled it back to trail 12-14. Joyce upped his game at this stage and with some great serving and passing shots took control and won 21-12. In the second game Joyce raced into an early 5-0 lead and quickly extended this to 12-1 and then 17-1. The Kilkenny player had a purple patch at this stage and brought the score back to trail 10-20 before Joyce closed out the match and won the second game 21-10.
In the other finals, Kilkenny had double reason for Joy in Cashel on Friday night as they took home both titles. In the Intermediate Final Ciaran Neary came back from losing the first game to Dominic Lynch Kerry to win the match 5-21, 21-19 & 21-17. In the Junior Final Brendan Burke defeated Wicklow’s Jerome Willoughby in two tight game 21-18, 21-12.
GAA Handball All Ireland Hardball Final Results
At St. Comans, Roscommon
Senior Singles
Dublin (Eoin Kennedy) dft Mayo (Joe McCann) 21-12, 21-8
Minor Singles
Mayo (Niall Joyce) dft Kilkenny (Shane Dunne) 21-12, 21-10
At Cashel, Tipperary
Junior Singles
Kilkenny (Brendan Burke) dft Wicklow (Jerome Willoughby) 21-18, 21-12
Intermediate Singles
Kilkenny (Ciaran Neary) dft Kerry (Dominic Lynch) 5-21, 21-19, 21-17