Cork's Catriona Casey and Aishling O'Keeffe won the Ladies Senior Doubles for the seventh year in succession with a 21-12, 21-7 win over Ciara Mahon and Aoife Holden of Kilkenny in last Saturday's MyClubShop.ie All-Ireland Ladies Senior Softball Doubles final.
The Ballydesmond duo survived something of a scare midway through game one before showing their experience and class as they upped the ante and eventually ran out comfortable winners.
Cork began on the front foot, reeling off five quick points to settle any nerves. A flat kill from Casey and a super serve from O'Keeffe saw them stretch their advantage to 7-0 before a major turnaround.
Kilkenny returned to the service box and Mahon began to utilise a very tricky drive serve into the right glass side wall which the Cork duo found extremely difficult to deal with.
They went all the way to 11 and when Mahon flattened a brilliant kill from deep on the right to make it 12-7, it seemed as if the upset was on.
The Rebels, though, have been here many times before. Playing in their eighth final in succession and gunning for a seventh straight win, they refused to panic.
Casey, showing her mastery of all aspects of the game, took charge of the match at this stage. Her play was error-free and in a flawless run to the finish line in game one, she produced some pinpoint shots, a perfect lob at 16-12 one of the highlights, as Cork ran out 21-12 winners.
Cork went 3-0 in the second game but the Leinster pair dug deep and came back to lead 4-3. However, Casey and O'Keeffe again found a higher gear and pushed on to run out 21-7 winners.
Meanwhile, Westmeath will meet Meath in a novel MyClubShop.ie All-Ireland Senior Softball Doubles final next Saturday in what will be the last ever day of action in the handball centre at Croke Park.
Champions Gary McConnell and Brian Carroll from Meath had no problems against Wexford's Gavin Buggy and Mikey Berry, running out comfortable winners in straight games, 21-11, 21-8.
Wexford competed well in general play but the difference between the teams was probably the Royals' ruthlessness when attacking, with some exceptional killing from McConnell and right-side star Carroll the highlight.
In the second semi, Robbie McCarthy and new partner Colm Jordan, who formerly represneted Cork, lost game one 21-7 against veterans Tommy Hynes and Barry Goff from Wexford but bounced back to win 21-19, 21-12 and make their first final.
In the opening set of what was the game of the day, the hard-hitting Hynes was majestic, combining flat, powerful kills off the left with deft dumps in a brilliant exhibition of attacking play.
In the second, the towering Jordan – who, interestingly, moved over to the left to serve – began to grow into the game and after a tight start, Westmeath pulled clear at 12-4.
Hynes and Buggy rallied and would cut the gap before actually leading at 19-18.
However, a magnificent kill from McCarthy saw Westmeath reach game-ball and they closed it out when a return from Hynes caught the rafters.
That success could have marked a huge swing in momentum but Wexford were the better side early in the third, leading 5-2 and 11-8. However, the Mullingar pair found their range again and, playing with confidence, advanced to their first Senior Doubles decider.
Result:
- Cork (Catriona Casey/Aishling O’Keeffe) dft Kilkenny (Ciara Mahon/Aoife Holden) 21-12, 21-7
