There were two very familiar winners of the 2017 O'Neill's All-Ireland Senior Doubles title, as Cavan's Paul Brady & Michael Finnegan claimed a remarkable 11th crown, their first since 2014. Having narrowly lost out in the previous two finals, there was no stopping the pair this time round in front of a partisan home support at a packed Kingscourt HC.
Standing in their way was Clare's Diarmaid Nash & Colin Crehan, a newly formed partnership this year and first time finalists. The Banner men certainly played their part in this contest and pushed the more experienced duo hard in the opener before falling 21-16.
Clare raced to a 5-0 lead in the second, but Brady's sublime attacking play and Finnegan's front court craft proved he difference in the end as they prevailed 21-13.
In the Minor Final, Cork's Tadhg O'Neill & David Walsh retained their title with a hard fought 21-8, 21-12 win over Wexford's Adam Walsh & Adam Butler. Wexford also had to settle fr silver in the Ladies Minor Final as Clare's Bridin Dinane & Ella Donnellan proved a step too far for Cora Doyle & Emma Sweeney, winning 21-6, 21-8.
Full Results:
- Men Senior: Cavan (Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan) dft Clare (Diarmuid Nash/Colin Crehan)21-16, 21-13
- Boys Minor: Cork (Tadgh O Neill/David Walsh) dft Wexford (Adam Walsh/Anthony Butler)
- Intermediate: Tyrone (Shane O Neill/Sean Kerr) dft Kilkenny (Ciaran Neary/Brendan Burke) 219-21, 21-19, 21-5
- U21D Tyrone (Johnny Woods/Ryan Mullan) dft Kilkenny (Brian Mahon/Emmet Landy) 21-19, 21-13
- Junior: Meath (Joe Cummins/Peter Reilly) dft Limerick (Tómas Donegan/Paul Hedderman) 21-18, 21-8
- O35AD Kerry (Dominick Lynch/John Joe Quirke) dft Wexford (Gavin Buggy/Barry McWilliams) 21-3, 21-8
- O35BD Roscommon (Philip O’Connor/Paul Kelly) dft Cork (Jamie O Donnell/Patrick Buckley) 21-14, 12-21, 21-5
- MAD Tipperary (David Moloney/John Corbett) W/O Mayo (Joe Dowling/An Other) scr.
- GMAD Tipperary (John O’Donoghue/Eddie Corbett) dft Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy/Mike Naughton) 8-21, 21-4, 21-13
- RMD Dublin (Eugene Kennedy/Vinny Farrelly) dft Tipperary (Jim Ryan/Denis Gleeson) 21-5, 21-11
- LMD Clare (Bridin Dinan/Ella Donnellan) dft Wexford (Cora Doyle/Emma Sweeney) 21-6, 21-8
- LID Roscommon (Fiona Tully/Lauren O’Riordan) w/oClare (Clodagh Nash/Louise Hayes) scr.
- LJD Kildare (Hannah Dagg/Kate Dagg) dft Limerick (Katie McCarthy/Siobhan Lehane) 21-1, 21-10
- LJBD Roscommon (Siobhan Tully/Linda Connolly) dft Tyrone (Michelle Warren/Cloideach Donaghy) 21-4, 21-2