There are three Last 16 ties down for decision on Saturday in the 2019 MyClubShop.ie Men’s Senior Softball Singles Championship.
The highest seed in action is #5 seed Gary McConnell from Meath, who faces Kilkenny’s Ciaran Neary. McConnell reached last years Singles SF, and is the reigning Doubles champion so will be expected to advance. But this will be his first competitive outing of the year having missed the Softball Nationals, something Neary will hope will stand to him. Neary himself fell to Tommy Hynes in the Nationals in an entertaining tiebreak, and is a former Doubles finalist in the big court.
This match is part of a double header in Na Fianna HC, with the second match being a battle of two lefties, Brian Mahon (Kilkenny) & David Hope (Offaly). Hope starts as favourite, reaching the last two Nationals SF’s, and only falling in a marathon tiebreak to Gavin Buggy in this years SF a few weeks back. Mahon makes his Senior debut having won the Intermediate ranks in 2018.
The tie of the round is arguably Tipperary’s Ger Coonan v Mayo’s Joe McCann. Both are vastly experienced and well matched so a close encounter is expected. McCann did not compete at the recent Nationals in Wexford, whereas Coonan has a good win against Barry Goff, before falling to eventual winner Martin Mulkerrins in the QF.
Last 16 - Saturday 10th August 2019
At Clonmel, Tipperary @4.00pm OIC: Ken Conway Ph: 087 6784510 OFF
- A. Dublin (Carl Browne) w/o Kerry (Dominic Lynch)
- C. Wexford (Gavin Buggy) w/o Limerick (CJ Fitzpatrick)
At Mullingar, Westmeath @1.00pm OIC: Robbie McCarthy Ph: 087 6998085
- E. Tipperary (Ger Coonan) v Mayo (Joe McCann)
At Na Fianna, Dublin @12.00pm OIC: Frank Daly Ph: 087 2247379
- B. Meath (Gary McConnell) v Kilkenny (Ciaran Neary)
- D. Kilkenny (Brian Mahon) v Offaly (David Hope)