The pick of this weekends Men’s QF’s is easily the match up between Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins & Clare’s Diarmuid Nash. Both men are good friends off the court, and whilst Mulkerrins admits he is sure they will remain mates after the match, he will be putting friendship to one side as he bids to return to the 2017 O’Neills 40x20 Championship SF.
It has been quite a different few months from normal from the 24 years Moycullen man, who spent the last three months of 2016 in New Zealand as part of his Masters Research in Agicultural Innovation.
“It was a great three month opportunity through Teagasc & UCD. I was researching Monitor Farms, and New Zealand are leading the way in this field so it was a great experience for me to see how they run things and what I could bring home and make applicable to Irish farms.”
Home just at the mouth of Christmas didn’t leave Martin with much court time, but after several sessions with younger brother Diarmuid, he was straight back into the thick of things at the Gaffney Memorial in early January.
“I was doing my gym work and running out there (in NZ), so keeping in shape as much as possible. And then once I came back I played a few games which went well and I was enjoying Handball. I suppose I went into the Gaffney hungry.”
Whilst not putting too much pressure or expectations on himself, he openly admited that “like anyone at that level, I wasn’t going in there just for the craic! You enjoy it and what not, but I want to win every game!”
And very nearly win every game he did, defeating Brendan Fleming, Owen McKenna & Charly Shanks, before falling to Killian Carroll in the Final.
“It was a tough draw, and I was delighted to get as far as I did. It was good to get the win against Shanks. I was 12-1 in the final against Killian, and then he played super stuff after that. He has been the in form player the last year or so. But to be 12-1 up on him gave me the encouragement knowing that when I get going I am able to compete at the top level.”
Mulkerrins knows he has the game to compete at the very highest level, and by focusing on improving his already high levels of conditioning in training will enable him to maintain that ferocious intensity more consistently. He knows he is devastating in parts, and he also knows this is something that is under his own control.
Leading up to the Championship Mulkerrins had the option to compete in the Irish Intervarsities, a decision made easier due to his lack of Handballing opportunities the previous few months.
“In previous years we would have had the Golden Gloves and the Nationals at the back end of the year, but I was away in New Zealand up until the week of Christmas. The Intervarsities was a good help and I decided to for the game time and there was some very good players in it. I had a very tough final with Crehan. A competitive game like that is better than any training session.”
A 21-17, 21-18 Final win over Clare’s Colin Crehan saw Mulkerrins claim his record equaling 5th consecutive Intervarsities crown, and set him up nicely for last weekends Last 16 encounter with Roscommon’s Rikki O’Gara.
“I have played Rikki a lot over the years in training. We know each others game so I always knew it was going to be tough. But I hit form on the day and everything clicked for me. I felt good. My kills were going in well and I was pretty happy with my serving as well.”
That leads us to this weekend’s showdown with a good friend, 2014 Finalist Diarmuid Nash, who has been a consistent training partner for the last 7/8 years. Nash’s four year stint at NUIG in Galway enabled a 16 year old Mulkerrins a top quality training option. Then with Mulkerrins going to UCD, joined by Masters student Nash, they were again afforded the option of regular training battles.
“He is probably the person I have played most over the years. Diarmuid is a very clever player, and is extremely efficient when you give him chances. I am expecting nothing more than a long, tough battle.”
You do however have to go back to 2014 until the pair last met in competition, a Championship QF when it was 18-18 in the tiebreak before Nash snatched victory at the death with a few aces.
“Diarmuid is a seasoned campaigner. I am going to have to play as good as I can to win that game. But I am just focusing on what I can do and not worry to much about his game.”
Key for Mulkerrins this weekend will be his serving, which at its best can be a real weapon! Having put more emphasis in training on his serve this part year, the Galway man understands the importance of the serve, something young players should take note of and appreciate.
“You have got to get a good serve. At this level you might get a few aces against these top guys if you are lucky, so you just want to force a weak return. I think it is important for tomorrow, it is the one time you have ten seconds on and full control of the ball.”
So does the friendship affect mentality going into tomorrow’s encounter? Certainly not! These are two real stars of Irish Handball, and two proper athletes who put in endless hours on court, in the gym, on the roads, all aimed at winning major titles. Tomorrow one will take a big step forward to achieving a potential first All-Ireland Senior Title.
“We have gotten on very well for years, but once we both go inside them doors tomorrow we will give it our all. I am sure we will both be friends when we finish tomorrow. I can’t think too much about who I am playing. I am focusing on playing the best shot I can play at any given time. Tomorrow it is just me and another player!’