Wicklow’s Michael Gregan enters this weekends O’Neill’s 40x20 Championship QF with the unenviable task of facing the champion of the last three years Robbie McCarthy. But when Gregan spoke to GAAHandball.ie, it became clear that the man he will be sharing a court with on Saturday doesn’t faze him one bit!
A ‘disappointing’ showing back in January’s Gaffney Memorial in Mayo made Gregan sit back and take stock of his game.
‘On the drive home I just reflected on everything and promised myself to train harder and do things correctly. I wasn’t happy with how I performed over the weekend so I upped my training a bit, and now feel fitter, better conditioned, and I am definitely playing better.’
This moment of reflection seems to have done the trick going by his Championship showing thus far. A ruthless 21-2, 21-5 win over Mayo’s 2015 Minor champion Niall Joyce (Mayo) was followed up with a 21-17, 16-21, 9-5 (injury withdrawal) defeat of Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy last Saturday.
‘That was a tough draw but a real good game to have and to come through at this stage. Eoin played me a lot on the roof, but to be honest I have a lot of experience playing on the roof from my years training with Duxie, so I could play on the roof all day and I felt I was comfortable. And then building on that, any chance that came my way I was very clinical in putting the ball away.’
But former champion Eoin Kennedy is no soft touch and his court craft stood to him in the second game as he responded and forced the tiebreak.
‘In the second game I fell behind early on 9-3 & 16-10. I couldn’t get any aces on my serve and just couldn’t reel him in. He got a few quick points and finished the game out.’
‘In the tiebreak I was up 6-0 and noticed Eoin was limping and it was getting worse. I think the score was 12-4 when he eventually had to concede, which is strange for Eoin because he is a real warrior.’
Admittedly 34 year old Gregan stated ‘the body was fairly sore now on Sunday’ but thankfully his unfortunate luck on the injury front is clearing up through smarter training, stretching, eating, etc.
So next up is the challenge of Mullingar star McCarthy, which is being played in Kingscourt on Saturday alongside the National Cumann na mBunscoil day, where 48 young boys and girls take to the courts in the morning ahead of the Senior showdown.
‘I am looking forward to Saturday in Kingscourt, and it’s a good idea putting it alongside the Cumann na mBunscoil so hopefully we can get a crowd watching.‘
It has been over a year since Gregan last met Robbie, at the 2016 Gaffney Memorial, with Robbie winning in two straight games. But that loss has quickly been put behind Gregan as he is adamant in saying he is a much improved player now after his injury nightmare and another year of competitive action under his belt.
‘I am going up there to win! There is no point having any other mentality. I have my game plan set and am confident in being able to execute it.’
‘Eoin (Kennedy) is a great player so that was a good game to come through. He is still easily a top 8 player in my eyes! I am improving every game.’
On a local front, Gregan is also at the fore of helping revive the game in Coolboy HC, Wicklow after it ‘died a death there over the last number of years’. The club has produced many names well known nationally, the likes of Gregan, the Willoughby brothers, Patricia Doyle & Shauna Hilley to name but a few.
‘We are making a big effort now to generate interest again and we have a large group of children coming to coaching sessions too. There is a real buzz about the place again and the kids are loving it, and never want to leave.’
‘We have a goal to get a few teams entered in the Feile this year so that’s what we are working towards. It’s a small step in the grand scheme of things but Coolboy have had no juveniles come through this past 5/6 years so it’s a great start for us and gives the kids a goal to work towards.’
‘All the lads in the club are working together and coaching so hopefully we will soon see a change of fortunes for Coolboy Handball in the not too distant future.’
Men’s 40x20 Senior Championship Fixtures:
Sat 25th Feb
Conna, Cork @ 12 noon OIC Chris Hurley 086 8972808
- QF2: Kilkenny (Patrick Funchion) v Cork (Brendan Fleming)
Kingscourt Ct 1, Cavan @ 4pm OIC Michael Finnegan 087 9614884
- QF3: Galway (Martin Mulkerrins) v Clare (Diarmuid Nash)
- QF4: Wicklow (Michael Gregan) v Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy)
Sun 26th Feb
Kells, Meath @ 2pm OIC Robert Fox 083 4408192
- QF1: Armagh (Charly Shanks) v Mayo (Joe McCann)