By Paul Fitzpatrick
This year’s 40x20 Minor Doubles All-Ireland final pits Cork against Tyrone in a real pick ’em encounter between two well-balanced sides.
Given that Sean Kerr has just won the Minor Singles and U17 Nationals, he and partner Turlough Clarke will possibly go in as slight favourites but the Rebel duo of Tadhg O’Neill and David Walsh are an accomplished pairing who will be going all-out to bring the title back to Cork for the first time in five years.
One man who is very familiar with the Cork boys is former All-Ireland senior champion Tony Healy, who won the All-Ireland Minor Doubles in 1995 and 1996 alongside his cousin Ger.
And the Ballydesmond man reckons his county colleagues are in with an excellent chance in this final.
“I think they will be there or thereabouts for sure, I haven’t seen any of the Tyrone pair but obviously Sean Kerr is dominant in this grade right now with his two recent singles victories,” said Healy.
“However, Tadhg and David are a very solid even pair, both playing very well at present, and I would hope with an additional desire for the title given their respective singles defeats in various stages of recent competitions.”
O’Neill and Walsh are both strong performers in their own right, Healy feels.
“I see loads of strengths in both. David is just a naturally fluent handballer in that most of the shots in the game come easy to him, and, as a result has very little hand errors and makes shot adjustments very easily on the court.
“His court mobility is really improving also so I expect this will boost their chances. Tadhg is an aggressive, explosive player who is also improving at a rapid rate. He is still getting to grips I think with the balance of all round game to complement his style of play - however he has that kind of elite shot-making ability that can end rallies, rack up points quickly and win matches.”
In the opposite corner, though, is a very potent Tyrone duo. They beat Cavan in three games in the Ulster final before seeing of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Coach to the Cavan pair was last year’s All-Ireland 60x30 Intermediate Singles finalist James Brady and the Mullahoran native feels that Kerr and Clarke will take all the beating.
“They’re an extremely strong pair. Sean Kerr obviously is very well-known and plays the left but Turlough Clarke is also a very steady player on the right,” Brady, who is no stranger to doubles success having played in minor and U21 Doubles All-Ireland finals, told GAAHandball.ie.
“Clarke is deceptively good, he’s quick and does everything you want in a right-side doubles player, he can pick a lot of ball and returns everything – he also has a very good sidearm and will kill the ball if it’s sitting up for him.
“Kerr, though, is an excellent killer of the ball, with both hands. I would rate him in the top three young handballers in the country at the minute, he’s that good. They’re confidence players and they’re exceptionally good when they’re going well and their game is on.”
Should Tyrone build up a lead, they are capable of front-running and turning on the style, said James.
“Kerr has a very good low side-arm serve down either side but he can mix it up, he has a good Z-serve as well and a good lob in his arsenal. Clarke will stay steady with his serve and bring it back deep.
“I was very impressed with them when I saw them in the Ulster final. They lost the first game but dug deep and ended up winning the third game 21-5.
“They don’t have many weaknesses but Sean might be slightly vulnerable on the ceiling – he’s comfortable enough with overhand shots but he would definitely prefer the ball low, where he can put it away. If he gets half a chance, he’ll bury it and he’s cool under pressure and very, very fast, too.”
All in all, a nailbiting battle is expected. All four young stars will know what’s on the line and while winning a minor All-Ireland is not the be-all and end-all, it’s an important signpost on the road to the top, according to Healy.
“Though not essential, it gives players the confidence to see they are following the trend of those gone before them into senior as well as being able to win a ‘major’ title.
“Winning a minor is also probably the start of a process for many players to look at the existing Senior players and start the believe they can compete and win.”
