There will be a very familiar look to the 2016 All-Ireland Men's & Ladies Senior Singles Finals with two repeat deciders set up after yesterdays semi-final action.
Reigning Ladies champion Aisling Reilly was ruthlessly efficient is seeing off Galway teenager Ciana Ni Churraoin 21-1, 21-7 in in the first SF in Kingscourt, as the Belfast woman kept alive her 3 in a row bid. Ni Churraoin never got into her stride at all, but Reilly never lifted the foot off the gas, was moving well around the front court, and looks in good shape for the final.
Cork's Catriona Casey was made then to fight for every point in the second SF before prevailing on a 21-15, 21-12 scoreline, meaning the two top Ladies Handballers in the World will do battle in two weeks time for the prestigious All Ireland title. McMahon started brightest with her attacking play causing Casey trouble, but the ever consistent Casey rode the storm and once she took the lead at the latter stages of the opening game she was not to relinquish the momentum and saw out the match.
In the first Men's SF, reigning champion Robbie McCarthy also kept alive his 3 in a row bid by defeating CJ Fitzpatrick 21-16, 21-11. Limerick's Fitzpatrick started the brightest but was reigning in by the champ, who stole a march at the end of the first with some impressive serve and shoot tactics. This allowed him to relax and he was devastating in racing 9-0 ahead in the second. But CJ showed great fight and pulled the scores back to 14-10 with some silky touches around the front court. But McCarthy upped a gear again and make another burst of quick fire points to see out the match 21-11.
The best was left for last though as Martin Mulkerrins blitzed Charly Shanks 21-7 in the opener as a big shock was on the cards. Mulkerrins looked stronger, fitter and faster than previous years and really had Shanks on the ropes. But Shanks is a former three times finalist and his experience shone through in the second as he forced the tiebreak with a comfortable 21-12 second game win.
Mulkerrins stormed out of the blocks to go 11-0 up with a brilliant attacking display, but Shanks somehow responded to pull the scores back to 9-11. With scores then tied at 16-16, the match was on a knife edge, and it was last years finalist Shanks who closed it out 21-16 to move into his 4th All-Ireland Final, as he awaits his maiden victory.
Men's Semi-Final Results:
- SF1: Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy) dft Limerick (CJ Fitzpatrick) 21-16, 21-11
- SF2: Armagh (Charly Shanks) dft Galway (Martin Mulkerrins) 7-21, 21-12, 21-16
Ladies Semi-Final Results:
- SF1: Antrim (Aisling Reilly) dft Galway (Ciana Ni Churraoin) 21-1, 21-7
- SF2: Cork (Catriona Casey) dft Limerick (Martina McMahon) 21-15, 21-12