This weekend see's the semi finals of the Senior Hardball Singles All Ireland Championship down for decision at Mullingar, Westmeath and Cullen, Cork on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
First into action on Saturday afternoon in Mullingar you have reigning and eight time Hardball Senior Singles champion Eoin Kennedy, Dublin who takes on Mayo’s Vinny Moran at 5pm. In the quarter finals Vinny had a very tight three game victory over Kilkenny’s Ciaran Neary 9-21, 21-11, 21-18. While Eoin who is looking to capture his ninth and third title in a row is only entering this year’s competition at this the semi-final stage.
There is a cracking encounter expected on Sunday in Cullen, Co. Cork at 1.30pm in the second semi-final between the 2013 finalist Limerick’s CJ Fitzpatrick and the 2014 finalist Dominic Lynch of Kerry. Both CJ and Dominic received byes from their opponents in the quarter finals. A large crowed is expected at this Cork venue in support of these two hardballers.
In the Minor Singles, the first semi-final between Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne and Cork’s David Walsh was played last night (Thursday) in Hospital with the Kilkenny young gun coming out on top on a score-line of 21-9, 21-13. The second semi-final takes place this Saturday in Crinkle at 1.30pm with last year’s Minor Doubles Winner Patrick Murphy of Mayo up against Limerick’s Evan Murphy. This game is hard to call and it has the potential to go down to the last ace in a tie-break?
The Intermediate Singles first semi-final was also played in Hospital last night with Cork’s Daniel Relihan overcoming Tipperary’s Ger Coonan in two straight games 21-14, 21-11. The second semi-final between Kilkenny’s Brendan Burke and Tipperary’s David Moloney takes place on Saturday at 2pm in Talbot’s Inch.
The Junior Singles semi-finals are also down for decision in various venues over the next number of days, see full fixtures below.
2016 GAA Handball Hardball Championships Fixtures
Saturday 21st May
At Crinkle, Offaly (OIC Conor O’Brien 086 0758646) At 1.30pm
- MS 9. Mayo (Patrick Murphy) v Limerick (Evan Murphy)
At Talbots Inch, Kilkenny (OIC Martin Lawlor 086 8184598) At 2pm
- IS. 5. Kilkenny (Brendan Burke) v Tipperary (David Moloney)
At Na Fianna, Dublin (OIC Frank Daly 087 2247379) At 4pm
- JS 9. Carlow (Martin Mullins) v Meath (Peter Reilly)
At Mullingar, Westmeath (OIC Robbie McCarthy 087 6998085) At 5pm
- JS 8. Wicklow (Jerome Willoughby) v Tyrone (Barry Devlin)
- SS 4. Dublin (Eoin Kennedy) v Mayo (Vinny Moran)
Sunday 22nd May
At Cullen, Cork (OIC Rory O’Sullivan 086 0585704) At 1.30pm
- SS 5. Limerick (CJ Fitzpatrick) v Kerry (Dominic Lynch)