:quality(75))
By Paul Fitzpatrick
:quality(70))
Reigning Men's National 60x30 Softball champion, Gary McConnell.
The Irish 60x30 Softball Nationals, which has become synonymous with the softball hotbed that is Wexford, serves off this weekend.
With 100 players in the draw, it has all the makings of a fascinating tournament, with defending champions Gary McConnell and Martina McMahon heading the Men’s and Ladies Open fields.
McConnell finally captured the All-Ireland Senior Singles title last year and the Kells man will expect to make another deep run. He opens against either former Senior Doubles winner Galen Riordan or Gearoid Healy and would be fancied to progress to a quarter-final against Joe Devereux or rising Kilkenny talent Kyle Jordan.
Jordan is one of the most naturally gifted young players in the country and will fancy his chances this weekend, having shown good form in recent inter-club matches with Kilfane.
In the same half, left-handed former Intermediate Singles champion Brian Mahon faces experienced Tipp man Ger Coonan in one of the stand-out opening ties. Mark Doyle, fresh home from America after competing on the pro tour while studying in Mankato in Minnesota, also looks well placed in that section.
The young Taghmon player could emerge from a difficult quarter featuring veteran Gavin Buggy, one of the fiercest competitors in the game and a former Senior Doubles medallist.
The bottom half appears equally competitive. David Hope, who was runner-up in this last year, takes on Tipperary’s Ned Reilly while Evan Murphy against former minor winner Cormac Finn is another interesting game.
Chris Doyle of Coolboy, Wicklow, a left-handed former intermediate singles winner, will attract attention in his section, although Talbots Inch power-hitter Ciaran Neary has the game to trouble anyone.
Second seed Brian Carroll looks to have a manageable route early on, though Shane Birney, who won the Junior Doubles last year, and Chris Doolin, recently relocated from Australia and a welcome addition to the circuit, are both capable opponents. Carroll, though, remains one of the most decorated doubles players of all time and knows exactly what it takes to win this title.
:quality(70))
Reigning women's National 60x30 Softball champion, Martina McMahon.
Nine players take their chance in the Ladies Open where McMahon will be strong favourite. The Broadford citeog loves the traditional big alley code and confidence will be high after winning the doubles trials for Team Ireland for September's World Wallball Championships in New York.
McMahon faces the winner of Clare Conway and Emer Barron in the quarter-final.
Mollie Dagg is the number two seed, having reached the final last year, and meets Noelle Dowling from Kilkenny.
The other quarter-finals see former Senior Singles finalist Cuileann Bourke from Mayo take on the decorated Aishling O'Keeffe of Cork, with Aoife McCarthy - McMahon's doubles partner for those Worlds trials - facing Clare's young star Leah Minogue.
The Open matches will be hosted in Castlebridge and St Mary's.