It's all or nothing now as the GAA Handball Team Ireland Senior Doubles Trials reaches it's climax on Sunday with the Mens & Ladies Finals taking place in Kingscourt from 1pm. Four spots on Team Ireland are up for grabs and two brilliant encounters are expected considering the finals line up we are left with.
In the Mens Final we have ten time All-Ireland Champions Paul Brady & Michael Finnegan against Irish Singles #1 & #2 Robbie McCarthy & Diarmaid Nash as both teams looked the clear standout performers during Saturdays play. The Ladies Final sees reigning two time All-Ireland Champions Catriona Casey & Aishling O'Keeffe face first time pairing Aisling Reilly & Martina McMahon in an intriguing encounter.
Saturday Review:
Men's QF:
Much was made about Brady's fitness coming into the weekend, but the experienced duo looked in good shape despite a scare in their QF against Dominic Lynch & Gavin Buggy. Having taken the first game 21-7, the Cavan men were pushed to 21-17 in the second as Lynch & Buggy gave the second game real go before falling just short. Joe McCann & CJ Fitzpatrick looked most impressive with a comprehensive 21-7, 21-9 win over Eoin Kennedy & Dessie Keegan, with their play around the front court proving too much for their opponents.
McCarthy & Nash got off to a flyer, with McCarthy's serving and power particularly eye-catching as they quickly dispatched Charly Shanks & Owen McKenna 21-7, 21-8 to set up a SF with Brian Carroll & Ger Coonan, who was a late replacement for the injured Tom Sheridan. Carroll looked in flying form as the duo defeated Martin Mulkerrins & Niall O'Connor 21-16, 21-3.
Men's SF:
The SF's never lived up to expectation with both ending in relatively comfortable two straight games. McCann & Fitzpatrick were expected to put up a good account of themselves against Brady & Finnegan but looked a pale shadow of themselves as they failed to replicate their earlier form and fell to a 21-8, 21-4 loss in what was a ruthless performance from Brady & Finnegan. Despite Carroll in particular showed his sheer class in the doubles court, Nash & McCarthy had just too much firepower for him and Coonan and ran out 21-9, 21-15 winners, despite Carroll/Coonan holding an 11-4 lead at one stage in the second game.
Ladies SF's:
Last weekends 19&U Junior Nationals finalists Ciana Ni Churraoin & Maeve McElduff teamed up to play Catriona Casey & Aishling O'Keeffe having earlier ousted Lorraine Havern & Pauline Gallagher 21-16, 21-20. A powerful start saw a tense opening period, with the lead tied at 8-8. But the experience and doubles know how soon started to show as Casey & O'Keeffe upped the tempo and ran out comfortable winners 21-9, 21-3 in a quick and efficient showing. Aisling Reilly & Martina McMahon on paper look a strong team, and despite being predominantly known as excellent singles players, their power play proved too much for long time doubles pairing Maria Daly & Ashley Prendiville who never fully got a foothold in the game. Despite a better showing in the second, the Kerry girls fell 21-8, 21-14.
Team Ireland World Open Handball Doubles Trials 2015 - Results
Saturday 25th April 2015 in Kingscourt
Ladies
Quarter Finals
1. Ciana Ni Churraoin/Meave McElduff dft Pauline Gallagher/Lorraine Havern 21-16, 21-20.
Ladies Semi Finals
2. Ladies Semi Final: Catriona Casey & Aishling O Keefe dft Ciana Ní Churraoin & Maeve McElduff 21-9, 21-3
3. Ladies Semi Final: Aisling Reilly & Martina McMahon dft Maria Daly & Ashley Prendiville 21-8, 21-14
Men’s Quarter Finals
3. Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan dft Gavin Buggy/Dominic Lynch 21-7, 21-18.
4. Joe McCann/CJ Fitzpatrick dft Eoin Kennedy/Dessie Keegan 21-7, 21-9
5. Brian Carroll/Ger Coonan dft Niall O’Connor/Martin Mulkerrins 21-16, 21-3
6. Robbie McCarthy/Diarmaid Nash dft Charly Shanks/Owen McKenna 21-7, 21-8
Men’s Semi Finals
7. Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan dft Joe McCann/CJ Fitzpatrick 21-8, 21-4
8. Robbie McCarthy/Diarmaid Nash dft Brian Carroll/Ger Coonan 21-9, 21-15