The 2016 All-Ireland 40x20 Men's Senior Singles semi-finalists are now confirmed and it is the four Provincial winners who prevailed and are let standing to battle it out next Saturday in Kingscourt.
Robbie McCarthy & Martin Mulkerrins recorded straight game victories over Brian Carroll & Eoin Kennedy respectively, whilst Michael Gregan was forced to retire injured whilst 18-6 down in his opening game against Charly Shanks. The last QF was a humdinger though as CJ Fitzpatrick held off a match point in the third to defeat Patrick Funchion 17-21, 21-13, 21-20.
McCarthy kept alive his bid for three in a row and looked good in the second game after holding off a spirited challenge in the opener from Carroll. He will now face Fitzpatrick in next Saturday's SF after the Limerick man eventually saw off the Championship surprise packet Patrick Funchion in a mammoth encounter which went the distance. Mulkerrins, like Fitzpatrick, is also set for his first Senior Singles SF after a gruelling battle with Eoin Kennedy. The Moycullen man will take a lot from this game and will face Armagh's Charly Shanks next weekend. Shanks didn't get much game time today with an ankle injury forcing Michael Gregan to retire, but Shanks cruised through Ulster impressively and will start next weekends game as slight favourite.
There are now only two remaining Ladies QF matches, set for Wednesday night in Nenagh, before we have the full list of Semi-Finalists complete in both the Mens & Ladies Championship as attention now turns to Kingscourt for SF Day this Saturday from 2pm.
Men's QF Results:
- Robbie McCarthy dft Brian Carroll 21-16, 21-5
- CJ Fitzpatrick dft Patrick Funchion 17-21, 21-13, 21-20
- Martin Mulkerrins dft Eoin Kennedy 21-15, 21-18
- Charly Shanks dft Michael Gregan 18-6 ret inj
Ladies QF Fixtures:
Wednesday 2nd March – Quarter Finals
- 7.30pm QF1. Kerry (Ashley Prendiville) v Galway (Ciana Ni Churraoin) in Nenagh
- 8.30pm QF2. Limerick (Martina McMahon) v Kilkenny (Ciara Mahon) in Nenagh
#RoadToKingscourt