Sunday will mark a busy day of action at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park, with three oneills.com Men’s Senior Doubles quarter-finals down for decision, writes Paul Fitzpatrick.
First up is the meeting of Kilkenny brothers Paddy and Peter Funchion and Kildare men Kevin Diggins and Niall O’Connor (pictured). The Funchions, from the Kells club, have been knocking on the door for some years now; they are regarded as one of the leading doubles pairs and have enjoyed numerous successes (including Softball ID last year) but have yet to reach a senior final, which will be driving them on.
The Leixlip duo, both naturally left-handers, are a novel force but a potentially very strong pairing and will command plenty of respect. They enjoyed a good win last time out against Monaghan’s Gavin Coyle and Oran Kiernan.
Elsewhere, it’s Antrim v Meath in the second of the matches down for decision on Sunday. Gary McConnell and Brian Carroll, from Kells, are two of the most experienced active players in the game, having won this title in the past and been the dominant force in the ‘big alley’ for quite a few years now.
They face last year’s Intermediate champions Jordan O’Neill and Mark Rainey. The Belfast men are a well-balanced side, with Rainey a combative presence on the right and the classy O’Neill playing the left, but they will need to be on top form against the Royals.
The final match looks an intriguing tussle. David Walsh, the form player in elite singles handball at present, pairs up with world Over 40s champion Brendan Fleming and they meet the Westmeath pairing of Robbie McCarthy and Colm Jordan.
Adding spice is the fact that the towering Jordan is a native of Fermoy, Co Cork. An interesting match is in store; Walsh had the upper hand on McCarthy in the World Championships (11-9 tiebreaker) and won on an injury default in the final of the Southern Classic so the Mullingar man will be keen to lay down a marker ahead of the championship if possible, while the battle between Jordan and the canny Fleming on the right should make for an entertaining match.
The first of the quarter-finals is off as defending champions Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan won on a walk-over against Tipperary’s Ger Coonan and Rory Grace.
Sunday, February 23, National Handball Centre, Croke Park, 12.00pm
1. MSS QF: Cork (Daniel Relihan & Michael Hedigan) dft. Tipperary (Ger Coonan & Rory Grace) W/O
2. MSS QF: Kilkenny (Paddy Funchion & Peter Funchion) v Kildare (Kevin Diggins & Niall O’Connor)
3. MSS QF: Meath (Gary McConnell & Brian Carroll) v Antrim (Mark Rainey & Jordan O’Neill)
4. MSS QF: Cork (David Walsh & Brendan Fleming) v Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy Jnr & Colm Jordan)