For Limerick's Martina McMahon, the road to another oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Singles final has been one paved with resilience. Having come back from a career-threatening injury, McMahon won the World Wallball Championships and made the final of the 4-Wall Worlds; now, she aims to add another title to her glittering CV.
The 30-year-old left-hander from the Broadford club will today face a familiar adversary: Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin, the woman who denied her a world title last November.
"Yeah, look, I'm happy to be there," McMahon said after a testing semi-final victory over Kildare’s Mollie Dagg.
"Mollie kind of put it up to me, especially in the second game. I think I kind of slacked off my own shots and, yeah, just fell into a slump. But look, I'm delighted to be back in the All-Ireland championship final. And yeah, all roads to three weeks’ time."
Victory over Dagg re-affirmed McMahon’s standing as one of handball’s premier competitors. Yet a greater challenge lies ahead. In Ní Churraoin, she faces a player she knows well and another instalment of a rivalry built on years of trading wins at the highest level.
"Exactly. And look, I'm sure Ciana is the exact same," McMahon said when asked about the dynamic of facing such a familiar opponent.
"You never kind of really focus on who you're playing, it’s more about what you bring to the game and focus on yourself. But yeah, look, myself and Ciana, I suppose, it's nearly like history repeating itself between myself and Catriona (Casey) there for a while."
McMahon respects Ní Churraoin’s form, noting her semi-final performance against Fiona Tully.
"Ciana is playing well. She had a good win against Fiona as well. I would have expected that actually to go to the tiebreaker myself. But yeah, look, I'm looking forward to it. As you say, we've traded games. I would have liked that world title, but I suppose it's probably something that motivates me."
That loss in the World final remains a point of reflection for McMahon and a powerful source of motivation.
"Yeah, look, on that day, I don't think I performed as well as I could. I didn't seem to be able to kill a ball. But that's not taking it away from Ciana either. I suppose the next big title for me is this All-Ireland championship. And, yeah, I'm gonna put full focus into that."
In the build-up to the final, managing body and mind will be crucial. After undergoing back surgery in recent years, McMahon knows the importance of pacing herself.
"I'd say I probably will take a bit of time off, alright. I don't know, like I suppose since the surgery, the longer the time off probably suits me better as well, give the body a bit of a chance. But yeah, look, I suppose it's the same for everyone. We wouldn't be used to this three-week gap. But look, it's all about trying to time it right for the big day. And hopefully I can do that."
And if there are nerves in the build-up, McMahon sees that as only natural - and even necessary.
"I think everyone does. And I'd say if you don't, it's probably a bad sign, because it just shows it means so much to you to be actually getting nervous before a big day," she admitted.
"But yeah, like, I suppose once you go in there, and you start warming up, it kind of goes to the back of your head again. And I suppose that comes with experience. The more you get into it, the more big days you have. I suppose you learn from it, like look at Paul there and Robbie as well. They don't look too nervous. We’ve just got to relish these moments and look forward to a few weekends’ time."
Admission
Saturday the 10th May
Admission will be charged for the Senior Singles Finals only. The Showcourt auditorium will be cleared after the mornings matches and admission will be by ticket holders only prior to the Senior Finals, wristbands will be distributed to all patrons, no wristband no access to the Showcourt. Tickets can be purchased from the link below, of which there are two options available:
Main stand: €20 per person
Side Galleries: €15 per person
Buy tickets here.