Cork double champs once more as Cavan and Dublin to face off in Mens decider
The Ladies 40x20 Senior Doubles title is going back to Leeside once more as Cork’s Catriona Casey and Ashling O’Keefe captured their third Ladies Senior Doubles title in O’Loughlins HC, Kilkenny on Saturday. They had to overcome a determined challenge from plucky Limerick duo Martina McMahona and Katie McCarthy to eventually prevail in a third game in one of the best Ladies Doubles finals in recent years.
For those who thought the young Limerick duo were just there to make up the numbers they were in no doubt following the first game that the Treaty women had the title very much in their sights. Casey and O’Keefe were never given a chance to get into the game as McMahon dominated the court and her partner McCarthy at only 16 years of age showed great maturity in dealing with whatever came her way on the right hand side. Despite a brief Cork comeback Limerick took the first 21-19 sending a statement of intent that they were here for the title.
The second game started off a tighter affair with neither side establishing a considerable lead. However Casey began to take control and with the experience of O’Keefe coming to the fore the Cork girls looked the likelier to prevail and force a third game. Credit to Limerick though who responded brilliantly and with McMahon once more in fine form the game looked finely balanced as we approached the latter stages. It was the experience of the Cork girls that finally told as they secured the final few points to squeeze home 21-16 and force a third game much to their relief.
In the third game it was Limerick who started the brighter again with McMahon producing a series of fantastic killshots to open up a 4-0 lead. However Cork have been here before and in particular Casey who only a couple of weeks ago won the Ladies Singles title in a third game and they drew on this experience as they gained a grip on the game with Casey’s serve in particular reaping reward. O’Keefe began to dominate on the right and the duo from Ballydesmond were soon at match point and duly obliged to capture their third title in a row in 40x20 Senior Doubles.
In what was one of the closes finals in recent years both sets of players deserve great credit. Limerick’s McMahon has been probably the most improved player in Ladies Handball in recent years and she proved on Saturday that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the Ladies game. Her partner McCarthy although only 16 displayed a maturity beyond her years and this looks like a rivalry that will produce many more classic encounters. As for Cork they have now won the last three 40x20 and 60x30 doubles titles as they continue to be the most dominant partnership in Ladies Handball. Saturday also saw Catriona Casey achieve a phenomenal feat of holding every Ladies Senior title in Irish Handball in a period of 12 months as she is now current 40x20 Singles/Doubles champion, 60x30 Singles/Doubles Champion and One Wall Ladies Singles Champion. It is a phenomenal feat and one that she could not have achieved without her partner O’Keefe who forms the other half of this rock solid partnership.
Afterwards a delighted O’Keefe said “it’s an amazing feeling winning three in a row. We have put in so much training and we just had to keep pushing hard to win today.”
In the day’s other games Cavan’s ten time All Ireland winners Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan are on course for an 11th title as they overcame a determined challenge from Kerry’s Dominick Lynch and Jack O’Shea. The Kerry duo went into the game as underdogs but came out with a lot of credit as they pushed the Cavan duo all the way. In the end it was the Breffni duo on the right side of the 21-16, 21-16 scoreline.
They now go on to play Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne who defeated Mayo’s Joe McCann and Vinnie Moran in a third game in the other semi final. Mayo took the first 21-16 despite a fightback from Dublin from 20-5 down. They forced a third game as they took the second game 21-14 and they were in control in the third as their superior fitness levels came to the fore as they secured a 21-5 victory to advance to the Final in 2 weeks time.
GAA Handball O' Neill's All-Ireland (40X20) Championships:
At: O' Loughlin Gaels, Kilkenny City:
Ladies Senior Doubles (Final):
C. Casey & A. O' Keeffe (Cork) bt M. McMahon & K. McCarthy (Limerick) 19-21, 21-16, 21-8.
Men's Open Senior Doubles (Semi-Finals):
P. Brady & M. Finnegan (Cavan) bt D. Lynch & J. O' Shea (Kerry) 21-16, 21-16.
E. Kennedy & C. Browne (Dublin) bt J. McCann & V. Moran (Mayo) 16-21, 21-14, 21-5.