Tipperary were the big winners at the All-Ireland 60x30 adult and Masters Singles finals which took place around the country over the weekend, writes Paul Fitzpatrick.
The Premier County topped the weekend roll of honour with five titles, with Kilkenny and Cork landing three each. Limerick had two golds while there was one victory apiece for Kildare, Armagh, Laois, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Meath, Kerry and Mayo.
Pride of place in the Men’s grades went to Limerick’s Shane Murphy, who claimed the prestigious Intermediate Singles title. Murphy edged out Kilkenny’s Kyle Jordan 21-16, 18-21, 11-8 in the final, having seen off two-time finalist Ryan Mullan of Tyrone (18, 7) in the semi-final.
This year’s Intermediate Singles was very hotly-contested, with lots of talented players. Jordan beat Diarmuid Mulkerrins of Galway in the semi-final in another very close game (8-21, 21-18, 11-8).
The Men’s Minor Singles saw Armagh’s Fiachra Ó Dhúill add another success to his CV. The Whitecross man had previously claimed the Wallball and 4-Wall Minor Singles titles and he saw off Kilkenny’s Noah Manogue 21-18, 13-21, 11-6 in the final for another famous success and a first for the Orchard county.
The Men’s Junior Singles title went to Waterford for the first time since 1927 as Anthony Fitzgerald, runner-up last year, went one better.
Fitzgerald played brilliantly to beat Tyrone’s Paul Donnelly (3, 5) in the semi-final and Wexford left-hander Shane Birney (12, 2) to take the famous Dunlop Shield back to Munster.
The Junior B Singles is always a minefield and that was the case again this year, with a large entry eventually whittled down to four – Cathal McNamee (Offaly), Brian Mannion (Roscommon), Ned Reilly (Tipperary) and Oran Kiernan (Monaghan).
McNamee saw off Mannion in straight games with Reilly getting the better of Kiernan (21-20, 20-21, 11-5). In the final, Reilly impressed as he won 21-11, 21-4 in his second All-Ireland Singles final appearance of the season.
The Masters A Singles final was contested between two former top intermediates in JP O’Connor (Intermediate finalist in 2017) and Ollie Conway, who won the Intermediate grade the year before.
In a battle of the lefties, O’Connor, from the famous Hospital club in Limerick, saw off Williamstown clubman Conway in a pair of 21-18 games.
The Over 35 A Singles went to Ballina, Co Tipperary man Ger Coonan, who defeated Dublin’s Carl Browne 18-21, 21-3, 11-4 in a high-quality decider.
Meanwhile, Cork’s Eoghan Daly saw off Kilkenny’s Jack Doyle in the U21 final, 16-21, 21-19, 11-2.
The ladies grades were a particularly high standard this year. Under the new She’s Ace format, players can move between grades depending on results.
Kildare’s Mollie Dagg claimed top honours on the weekend as she beat former Senior Singles finalist Ciara Mahon of Kildare on a 21-13, 21-20 scoreline.
The Ladies Junior Singles final was a very high-quality encounter. Wexford’s Cliodhna O’Connell opened an early lead over Kilkenny’s Amy Brennan but Brennan clawed it back to win 21-12, 21-9 in an excellent match at Abbeylara.
Finally, the Ladies Junior B Singles crown went to Laois as Una Brophy defeated Tyrone’s Claire Conway 21-12, 21-15.
Next up is the All-Ireland doubles championships in all grades.
See here for full results.