It will be Cavan v Kerry, & Mayo v Dublin in the Men's All-Ireland Senior Doubles SF's after today's QF action.
Reigning champs Cavan received a bye after a late withdrawal from Wicklow, whilst Munster champions Dominic Lynch & Jack O'Shea recorded a fine two game win over Galway's Martin Mulkerrins & Seamas O'Conghaile in Moycullen following a late switch from St Comans. The Kerry duo looked impressive as they swept aside the challenge of the young Galway men and following a tight 21-18 win in the first the Glenbeigh pairing pulled away in the second to take a comfortable 21-10 win and secure a semi final spot. Awaiting the Kerry men is the daunting prospect of ten times champions Cavan's Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan who are the number one seeds and favourites for this year's title.
In the bottom half, 2009 champ Joe McCann, with new partner Vinnie Moran held off Tipperary's Ger Coonan & David Maloney over two games in Ballymore Eustace. McCann captured the All Ireland Doubles crown with previous partner Dessie Keegan in 2009 and despite a number of close semi final defeats has failed to capture another title. This year see's Vinnie Moran take the reins with McCann and the Ballaghaderreen men negotiated a tricky passage in Saturday's Quarter Final with a 21-13, 21-19 win that will give them plenty of confidence for the semi finals.
Dublin's Eoin Kennedy & Carl Browne defeated Kilkenny's Ciaran Neary and Brendan Burke in a repeat of this years Leinster final to secure the last semi final spot and the duo will be looking to add the 40x20 All Ireland Doubles title to the 60x30 title they currently hold following their win in last year's final. Kennedy and Browne took a relatively easy first game 21-9 but were made to work for the second as they crept over the line 21-18 and so will meet McCann and Moran in a bid to reach this year's final.
The semi finals take place next weekend in O'Loughlins Handball Club in Kilkenny with the Ladies Senior Doubles Final commencing the programme at 2pm between Cork's Catriona Casey and Ashling O'Keefe and Limerick's Martina McMahon and Katie McCarthy.
Saturday 9th April – Semi-Finals in O’Loughlin’s, Kilkenny
Adults: €10 Juveniles/OAPS: €5
- 2.00pm LSD Final: Cork (Catriona Casey/Ashling O'Keefe) v Limerick (Martina McMahon/Katie McCarthy)
- 3.00pm SF1: Cavan (Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan) v Kerry (Dominic Lynch/Jack O’Shea)
- 4.00pm SF2: Mayo (Joe McCann/Vinnie Moran) v Dublin (Eoin Kennedy/Carl Browne)
Results: St Comans & Ballymore Eustace
Saturday 2nd April – Last 12 - Provincial Runner Up v Backdoor Qualifiers
- Q1: Wicklow (Michael Gregan/Johnny Willoughby) W/O Tyrone (Johnny Woods/Patrick McCrory) inj
- Q2: Tipperary (Ger Coonan/David Moloney) W/O Antrim (Owen McKenna/Sean Devine) inj
- Q3: Kilkenny (Ciaran Neary/Brendan Burke) dft Limerick (CJ Fitzpatrick/Evan Murphy) 21-16, 21-14
Sunday 3rd April –Quarter Finals
- QF1: Cavan (Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan) W/O Wicklow (Michael Gregan/Johnny Willoughby)
- QF2: Kerry (Dominic Lynch/Jack O’Shea) v Galway (Martin Mulkerrins/Seamus O’Conghaile) 21-18, 21-10
- QF3: Mayo (Joe McCann/Vinnie Moran) beat Tipperary (Ger Coonan/David Moloney) 21-13 21-19
- QF4: Dublin (Eoin Kennedy/Carl Browne) beat Kilkenny (Ciaran Neary/Brendan Burke) 21-9 21-18