It's Ladies Finals Day in the Myclubshop.ie All-Ireland 60x30 Championship this Saturday afternoon in Croke Park HC from 2pm, with two other enticing Men's semi-finals also on the three match programme. The showpiece match will see reigning three time champions Catriona Casey and Aishling O’Keeffe (Cork) take on Limerick's Martina McMahon and Katie McCarthy in what’s a repeat of this year’s 40x20 Doubles final. On that occasion the Cork duo were pushed all the way after losing the first 19-21 before taking the second 21-16 and the tie-break 21-8.
First up is the Men’s Senior Doubles SF’s between reigning champions Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne (Dublin) versus Robbie McCarthy and David Mulaniff (Westmeath). The experience of Dublin will see them enter the SF as slight favourites but with Robbie in top form after his Singles victory, Westmeath will have a sneaky feeling this could be their day.
The second match on the programme is the showpiece Ladies Doubles Final were Cork will be going for a fourth title in as many years. Cork with the consistent Casey on the left and the solid O’Keeffe on the right must start as favourites but Limerick will be in optimistic mood after their leftie McMahon won her first senior title just two weeks ago. The experience that young McCarthy got from her first senior final last April will give them a shouting chance on Saturday to pull off a double upset.
The final match of the day is in many people’s eyes going to be the most competitive match of the day. It’s the second Men’s Doubles SF between number three seeds Joe McCann and Dessie Keegan of Mayo up against the number two seeds and the FIVE time winners Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan of Meath. In fact the Mayo players have played their Meath counterparts in four out of those five finals that Meath won the last of which was played in 2014. Last year the men from the west lost out to the eventual winners (Dublin) in an epic semi-final match that could have went either way. On Saturday they will hope to go one better than last year and reach an eight final but the men from the royal county will have other ideas as they try to reach their sixth final.
This programme of matches on paper looks like being a cracker, considering the experience and quality on show. Will you be there to see the very best Softball has to offer?
Saturday 24th September – Croke Park HC, Dublin
Adults: €10 Students/OAPS: €5 - Pay on the door
- 2.00pm MSD SF1: Dublin (E Kennedy/C Browne) v Westmeath (R McCarthy/D Mulaniff)
- 3.00pm LSD Final: Cork (C Casey/A O'Keeffe) v Limerick (M McMahon/K McCarthy)
- 4.00pm MSD SF2: Mayo (J McCann/D Keegan) v Meath (B Carroll/T Sheridan)