An exciting programme of games is set for O'Loughlin's HC, Kilkenny this Saturday from 2pm, with three enticing Senior Doubles ties.
First up is the Ladies Senior Doubles Final where reigning champions Catriona Casey & Aishling O'Keeffe (Cork) will start as strong favourites in their bid for a 3 in a row against Limerick's Martina McMahon & Katie McCarthy.
The Cork duo have dominated the Ladies Doubles scene in the last three years, also completed a third consecutive 60x30 Doubles title last summer, so they have a huge amount of big game experience and know each others game inside out. Last time out they were very impressive in dispatching Kilkenny's Ciara Mahon & Mary Phelan 21-7, 21-3 in the SF, and a win on Saturday will see Casey become the first player since Fiona Shannon (Antrim) back in 2012 to claim the slam of 40x20 Singles & Doubles crowns.
McMahon & McCarthy are playing together in their first Senior Final as a partnership, and McMahon in particular will have a big part to play in any potential upset. The Broadford left hander has been gradually improving her game in the last two years and her powerful attacking play can pose a threat to any pairing, with this weekend being no different.
The second match on the programme sees the top seeds and ten time champions Cavan (Paul Brady & Michael Finnegan) play their first match in the Championship having received a QF bye last weekend. Given their experience and success they will start as red hot favourites against Munster winners Kerry (Dominic Lynch & Jack O'Shea). The Kerry duo had a good QF win against Galway's Martina Mulkerrins & Seamus O'Conghaile in their last outing and will have nothing to lose so could prove a tricky obstacle if Lynch in particular gets his shooting game on form.
The final match of the day is arguably the most competitive, and one that could go either way. There are two former champions on show, in opposing corners, in Mayo's Joe McCann (2009) & Dublin's Eoin Kennedy (2005), but both men are playing with new partners in Vinny Moran & Carl Browne respectively. Leftie Moran is prone to going on devastatingly effective bursts of points, while McCann is one of the best right sided players in the game.
Browne has of course big game experience having won last years 60x30 Senior Doubles crown with Kennedy, who himself is in fine form, running Martin Mulkerrins very close in the Singles QF last month. It lends to a potential cracker and finishes an excellent bill of Handball in O'Loughlin's.
Saturday 9th April – Semi-Finals in O’Loughlin’s, Kilkenny
Adults: €10 Juveniles/OAPS: €5 - Pay on the door
- 2.00pm LSD Final: Cork (Catriona Casey/Ashling O'Keefe) v Limerick (Martina McMahon/Katie McCarthy)
- 3.00pm SF1: Cavan (Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan) v Kerry (Dominic Lynch/Jack O’Shea)
- 4.00pm SF2: Mayo (Joe McCann/Vinnie Moran) v Dublin (Eoin Kennedy/Carl Browne)