The 2022 All-Ireland Senior 4-Wall Championship kicks off this weekend with the Rounds of 32 & 16 down for decision at Kingscourt HC, Cavan.
Men's Round of 32:
Patrick Funchion makes his first outing of the season against Galen Riordan, so it is difficult to assess his form. Galen impressed at the recent Irish Nationals, defeating Ryan Mullan in a tiebreak, before narrowly falling to Niall O'Connor in another tiebreak. A recent Wexford County title win further adds to his confidence, but Funchion has proven in the past to be a very tricky opponent with an unorthodox style.
Shane Dunne v Michael Hedigan should be a well balanced contest. Dunne will be just home from the US Collegiates where he reached the SF's, and the change of ball might not do him any favours. Cork's Hedigan proved what a handful he could be when taking Charly Shanks to a tiebreak in January's Nationals should may be expecting to progress given his form of late.
Gavin Buggy is still proving his worth on the Senior circuit and his style of play should trouble Tadgh Carroll. The Mallow man has not played much Handball his year but his physical conditioning will always prove to be a great asset when on court.
Brendan Fleming and Brian Carroll did not play any of the Senior events this year, but both make a welcome return to the Championship fold. Brendan lost out a recent Munster Masters final to Dominic Lynch, but is a former Senior semi-finalist so has shown the quality to advance previously. If Brian Carroll can recapture the class and battling qualities he has shown throughout his career he may possibly edge the odds in this encounter.
Daniel Relihan found form late on take 10th place at the Nationals. If he gets his serve and shoot game on point he can prove dangerous. Joe McCann is a wily and vastly experienced operator though, so this match up is hard to call.
Ger Coonan will start as slight favourite against Shane O'Neill despite this being his first outing of the year. O'Neill travels to Roscommon midweek for a tough 35+ SF against Joe McCann so that may still be feeling the affects come Saturday.
Men's Round of 16:
Martin Mulkerrins enters the fray as #1 seed and many peoples predicted All-Ireland Champion. The former champ plays the winner of Funchion / Riordan.
Sean Kerr and Dominic Lynch both got defeated in their opening matches of the Nationals, so will be keen to get back on the winning track. The younger Kerr will edge the odds here, but Lynch continues to show that he can hit purple patches on the court and get on a roll of kill shots that is hard to stop. Should be an intriguing match up.
Peter Funchion showed he can mix it with the big boys when defeating Martin Mulkerrins in the Nationals, and only falling to the eventual champion Colin Crehan in a SF tiebreak. Given this form he would be expected to progress when facing either Dunne / Hedigan.
Diarmaid Nash may have started the season off relatively slow, but with each tournament that progresses the astute Clare man is getting sharper and sharper. He only lost out to Crehan 11-6 at the Nationals, which could obviously very easily have went his way. He followed that up with a tiebreak loss in the Houston Pro-Stop to World Champion Killian Carroll, so make no mistake, Nash will be contending for this overall title having lost out in two previous Finals. Nash faces the winner of Buggy / Carroll.
Charly Shanks is #3 seed and will have his eyes on a 2nd All-Ireland after showing promising form all year. The Lurgan man has the attacking and power play to trouble anyone, and will rightly start as strong favourite against the winner of Fleming / Carroll.
Niall O'Connor has consistently shown he is a top 8 player all year, making QF's at the Golden Gloves, Mick Kerr Memorial and the Nationals. He will be keen to go one further in the final 4-Wall event of the season when he faces the winner of Relihan / McCann.
Robbie McCarthy makes a welcome return to the fold having missed the last three ranking events. As a result, the four time Champion dangerously slots in as #7 seed and will face Antrim's Owen McKenna. McKenna had a gripping tiebreak win over Sean Kerr at the Nationals, but will have to raise his game even further to get past the Mullingar man.
Colin Crehan, fresh from his Nationals win will be hoping now is his chance to further cement his standing as a player who can win all the majors honours he contests. The silky Clare shooter will rightly enter as favourite against Coonan / O'Neill, which could then set up a mouth watering QF with McCarthy next weekend.
Result updates can be followed across our social media and website platforms this weekend.
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By Darragh Daly, GAA Handball