The final National Ranking event will take place this weekend in Belfast with the Annual Golden Gloves Tournament, hosted by St Paul’s GAC.
There are well over 100 entries across 13 divisions, but headlining the event will be the Men’s & Ladies Open grades. There are 18 entries in the Men’s with last years All-Ireland Finalist Charlie Shanks (Armagh) coming in at top seed. He will face the winner of Friday nights Preliminary game between Sean Clarke (Antrim) & David Maloney (Tipperary). Limerick’s talented CJ Fitzpatrick is #4 seed and will be Shanks’ SF opponent if seeds hold true in the opening rounds.
The bottom half of the draw holds on paper what are arguably the two most eye-catching first round draws. Wicklow’s former Irish #2 Michael Gregan continues his comeback trail against Kilkenny’s Peter Funchion, with the Kells man actually holding #3 seed in this draw. Exciting young guns Colin Crehan (Clare) & Darren Doherty (Monaghan) meet in an intriguing tussle which is sure to be a very attacking and entertaining match.
But second seed Martin Mulkerrins (Galway) is the biggest name in the bottom half of the draw, and the current Irish #6 could jump to #4 in the Irish Rankings with a win this weekend. The athletic Moycullen man has consistently been around the latter stages of big tournaments both home and internationally over the last few years, but is still awaiting his maiden Irish Senior Title, something he hopes to claim this weekend.
“I enter every tournament to win but I know it will be tough this weekend. I was playing big alley up until 2 weeks ago and I have only really got back into the small alley this week. So I am just going to use this weekend to gauge where I am at with the aim of being at full flight for championship in the new year.”
“I am happy enough with where my fitness levels are at, and generally keep in decent shape all year round, but my small court game is not at it’s sharpest at the moment, understandably so, but hopefully I will improve with every game this weekend.”
Martin’s last outing in the 40x20 was a successful one, claiming the 23&U World Title in Calgary back in August against Colin Crehan in a tough two game battle, 21-14, 21-15. The duo could meet again in the second round but Mulkerrins isn’t looking any further than his opening round game against Patrick Funchion (Kilkenny) or Barry Devlin (Tyrone).
“I am just focusing on myself and my first match and will take each game as it comes. I’m looking forward to the weekend!”
In the Ladies Open, reigning All-Ireland & World Champion Aisling Reilly will defend her title with a SF opener against Maeve McElduff (Tyrone). The second SF sees Galway’s Ciana Ni Churraoin return to the small court after her Intermediate 60x30 Singles title win last weekend, and the Micheal Breathnach club woman takes on Down’s Lorraine Havern.