As a spectator, we were even drained watching an epic battle unfold yesterday in Kingscourt as Martin Mulkerrins took 2 hours and 25 minutes to see off Diarmuid Nash in the 2017 O'Neills 40x20 Championship QF.
Having raced into an early 5-0 lead, Mulkerrins never seemd to get going fully in the opener, but that was down to Nash's style of play, mixing up his shots with passes, fly kills and soft dump shots making it hard for Mulkerrins to find his groove. 21-14 first game to Nash, and the banner man looking strong.
At 10-6 in the second, Nash was again in a strong position before Mulkerrins drew level at 10 and started to gain a bit more of a grasp on the game. With scores tied at 19, Maulkerrins killed a straight ball into the left hand side to get within a point of forcing a tiebreak. And that he did after a diving re kill to finish a 20+ shot rally, much to the joy and admiration of the enthused spectators.
Mulkerrins went 9-1 up in the tiebreak and looked like running away with it. But Nash is not soft and refused to allow an easy surrender. He fought back to 17-15 and started to suffer from cramp in both legs, not surprising given the speed and intensity this game was played at. But somehow the scores were again level at 18....this was make or break time. Pressure was on. A long range kill into the right got Martin to 19, and a fly kill into the right saw him lead 20-18. Nash then pulled a sensational back wall left corner kill out of the bag to force the hand out, but he couldn't get a mark, as Mulkerrins sealed the win with a brilliant long range left hand kill.
The win now sees the Galway star play reigning champ Robbie McCarthy, who after a 21-7 opening win, was made to dig really deep to see off Michael Gregan. Gregan held a 15-11 lead, and with scores tied at 19 he has the champ in his sights. But McCarthy was not to be stopped and he won out 21-19.
Early in the day, Cork's Brendan Fleming came from 20-15 down in the opener v Kilkenny's Patrick Funchion to snatch victory 21-20, before sealing his progression to a maiden SF with a second game 21-13 win. He will now face Armagh's Charly Shanks who received a late injury withdrawal from Mayo's Joe McCann last on Saturday night.
Video's of both bottom QF's are available on GAA Handball's Facebook page.
QF Results:
- QF1: Armagh (Charly Shanks)W/O Mayo (Joe McCann) inj.
- QF2: Cork (Brendan Fleming) dft Kilkenny (Patrick Funchion) 21-20, 21-13
- QF3: Galway (Martin Mulkerrins) dft Clare (Diarmuid Nash) 14-21, 21-18, 21-18
- QF4: Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy) dft Wicklow (Michael Gregan) 21-7, 21-19