Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath was the toast of Irish handball today after he completed a hat-trick of All-Ireland 40x20 Senior Singles titles with a convincing final win over Armagh's Charly Shanks.
The Mullingar maestro, who also defeated Shanks last year in one of the closest senior finals in history (21-20 in the third game), was on top throughout today's decider and ran out a 21-13, 21-7 winner. The start of both games were very competitive with scores difficult to come bay, but McCarthy's ability to move up through the gears and run off a quick succession of points proved the difference, with his lethal deft touch corner kills proving decisive!
Meanwhile, Cork's Catriona Casey turned the tables on her great rival, Aisling Reilly of Antrim, to win the ladies Senior Singles for the second time. Reilly entered as favourite and was going for her a 3 in a row bid of her own, and looked well on course in the opener as she led 20-14. But from no where Casey stole a march and took the first 21-20.
The blow didn't appear to do Reilly no harm as she dominated the second 21-4 with some exquisite shooting to force the third game. But the decider was a total contrast to game two as Casey found some joy with a straight lob into Reilly, slowing the pace down and not allowing Reilly opportunities to shoot. The result never really looked in doubt in the decider as the Ballydesmond woman claimed the title with a 21-9 win.
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“It feels great,” said a happy McCarthy after the game.
“I thought I got a good bit of luck there, charly missed a few balls that he wouldn't normally miss, but I'm just delighted to have completed the three-in-a-row. “It was always going to be about controlling the front of the court, I think last year I let him drive me back a bit – this time, I wanted to attack more, to serve and shoot. I mised a good few as well but I got a lot of good ones.”
In the Boy's Minor Singles, Tyrone's Sean Kerr defeated Cork's Tadhg O'Neill 21-11, 21-9, with Fiona Tully of Roscommon holding off Kildare's Hannah Dagg 21-19, 17-21, 21-12 to win the corresponding ladies grade.
A record crowd paid in to Kingscourt, Co Cavan for the finals, which were part of a groundbreaking festival weekend.
