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PREVIEW: Softball Doubles Finals

The stage is set for the last-ever programme of matches in the iconic handball centre at Croke Park tomorrow.

Headlining the card will be the novel meetings of Westmeath and Meath in the MyClubShop.ie All-Ireland Senior Softball Doubles final.

Robbie McCarthy and Colm Jordan will take on the holders, Brian Carroll and Gary McConnell, in the main event. Preceding it will be the Minor Doubles final between Kilkenny (Kyle Dunne and Billy O’Neill) and Monaghan (Eoghan McGinnity and Tiernan O’Rourke) and the Intermediate Singles final which will be contested by Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne and Tyrone’s Ryan Mullan.

The Men’s Senior Doubles has all the makings of an epic encounter. Champions McConnell and Carroll from Kells had no problems against Wexford's Gavin Buggy and Mikey Berry in the semi-final, running out comfortable winners in straight games, 21-11, 21-8.

Wexford competed well in general play but the difference between the teams was probably the Royals' ruthlessness when attacking, with some exceptional killing from McConnell and right-side star Carroll the highlight.

In the second semi, McCarthy and new partner Jordan, a native of Fermoy who formerly represented Cork, lost game one 21-7 against veterans Tommy Hynes and Barry Goff from Wexford but bounced back to win 21-19, 21-12 and make their first final.

In the opening set of what was the game of the day, the hard-hitting Hynes was majestic, combining flat, powerful kills off the left with deft dumps in a brilliant exhibition of attacking play.

In the second, the towering Jordan – who, interestingly, moved over to the left to serve – began to grow into the game and after a tight start, Westmeath pulled clear at 12-4.

Hynes and Buggy rallied and would cut the gap before actually leading at 19-18.

However, a magnificent kill from McCarthy saw Westmeath reach game-ball and they closed it out when a return from Hynes caught the rafters.

That success could have marked a huge swing in momentum but Wexford were the better side early in the third, leading 5-2 and 11-8. However, the Mullingar pair found their range again and, playing with confidence, advanced to their first Senior Doubles decider.

The Westmeath pair will be quietly optimistic about their chances. They survived a stern examination last time out and will improve for the outing.

Meath, however, will start as favourites, with Carroll gunning for a ninth Senior Softball Doubles crown, having won seven alongside Tom Sheridan before linking up with clubmate McConnell.

Regardless of what happens, it will be a special day for the Dunne family from Clogh in Kilkenny. Shane Dunne will attempt to earn his passage to the Promised Land of senior ranks when he meets Tyrone’s Ryan Mullan in what is an intriguing clash while his younger brother Kyle goes in the Minor Doubles.

Mullan defeated his own doubles partner Barry Devlin in the Ulster final before landing an eye-catching victory over Galway’s Diarmuid Mulkerrins last time out. The Carrickmore man will be confident of giving an excellent account of himself as he attempts to bring this prestigious title back to Ulster for the first time since Cavan’s Michael Finnegan won it in 1996.

However, Mullan faces an excellent opponent in Dunne, who has already won the Intermediate Doubles title along with Keith Bourke. Shane, a student in IT Tralee, formerly represented Ireland at U19 level at the 2018 World Championships and comes into this final in outstanding form, with a 21-13, 21-16 win over Munster champion David Walsh of Waterford in the semi-final.

The curtain-raiser, Kilkenny meet Monaghan in the Minor Doubles. Kyle Dunne narrowly saw off Eoghan McGinnity in the corresponding singles final and the pair will lock horns again, with Billy O’Neill and Tiernan O’Rourke now in tow.

All three matches will be streamed live on the GAA Handball Facebook page, with a large crowd expected at HQ for this occasion.

Doubles Finals in Croke Park @ 12 noon

  • Minor Final: Kilkenny (Kyle Dunne/Billy O’Neill) v Monaghan (Eoghan McGinnity/Tiarnan O’Rourke)
  • Intermediate (Singles) Final: Kilkenny (Shane Dunne) v Tyrone (Ryan Mullan)
  • Men’s Final: Meath (Brian Carroll/Gary McConnell) v Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy/Colm Jordan)

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