Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne is the defending All-Ireland Senior Hardball Singles champion and prizes his medal, won in 2023, highly, writes Paul Fitzpatrick.
Dunne has won numerous prestigious titles, including Intermediate Softball Singles and USHA Collegiates Open Singles as well as representing Ireland in the World Championships in the 19&U grade, and he is fond of the traditional code of hardball.
While participation in hardball has declined over recent decades, Clogh clubman Dunne believes there is still a place for the code in the handball clár and that is an excellent game in its own right.
“Hardball is our traditional game, and it deserves respect from all handball players,” Dunne said.
“It's a fast-paced and skill-intensive game where serving and killing are crucial, but speed and quick reflexes are equally important. It’s thrilling to watch, especially when big leads can quickly disappear due to consecutive aces.”
A lover of the big alley game in general, the 25-year-old right-hander rates his win in the hardball championship in 2023 as one of his most cherished memories from his handball career to date.
“Winning the Senior Singles title is definitely one of the highlights of my career. Earning a senior medal in any code is an accomplishment, and it has only fuelled my desire to compete at the highest level and win more titles,” he said.
Dunne played in the Senior Doubles championship last weekend in Cashel, Co Tipperary, where he partnered with Ciaran Neary. The duo fell in the final to Cork’s Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan, who are the current reigning 4-wall Senior Doubles champions as well as the leading pair in the hardball game in recent years.
“I truly enjoy playing hardball, but last weekend felt a bit different. It didn’t seem like there was a senior All-Ireland title at stake,” the Kilkennyman admitted.
“The game could benefit from more publicity and structure, including a clear schedule and better introduction to younger players. It’s disheartening to see the decline in interest over the past seven or eight years, from playing in a packed minor final in Thurles to a sparsely attended senior doubles All-Ireland. Questions need to be asked.”
What can be done to further promote hardball is a debate for another day. Tomorrow’s action will be streamed live on the Sport TG4 YouTube channel and those who tune in are guaranteed some top-class action between the four players entered.
The Senior Singles will be contested by Dunne and Neary (Kilkenny), Evan Murphy (Limerick) and Daniel Relihan (Cork).
The Minor Singles sees Kilkenny’s John Hayes take on Travis Gibbons of Sligo.
Taking their chance in the Junior Singles are John ‘Bosco’ Hurley, Steven O’Neill, Aaron Surdival, Willie Quaile, Gearoid Healy and Matthew Gibbons.
In the Masters Singles are Denis Creaton, Michael Carrie, Pat Murphy, David Stanners, Dominic Lynch, Seamus Maughan, Sean Jennings and Billy Caddell.