The big weekends keep on rolling for GAA Handball and this weekend the focus turns to the Open Doubles Trials as the top seniors in the country pair up in a bid to earn a spot on Team Ireland.
Eight male teams and five female teams will battle it off in a straight knockout weekend tournament at Kingscourt this Saturday and Sunday. Reigning Mens World Doubles champs Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) & Diarmuid Nash (Clare) are the favourites and rightly take top seed and face Tyrone's Ryan Mullan & Johnny Woods. Nash of course is the recently crowned All-Ireland Senior Doubles champ. His partner on that occasion was Colin Crehan, who this weekend will pair up with Kerry's Dominic Lynch, and could potentially face Nash/McCarthy is a SF if they overcome Tyrone's Darragh Daly & Sean Kerr.
#2 seeds in the Mens draw are the Funchion brothers Peter & Patrick, who having reached the last two All-Ireland SF's, will be confident in their ability to claim glory. Standing in their way though is a tricky encounter with long term partners and recebtly crowned Intermediate champs Daniel Relihan & Michael Hedigan (Cork). 2016 All-Ireland champs Eoin Kennedy & Carl Browne (Dublin) occupy seed #3 and will also face an all Cork pairing in Tadgh Carroll & Ryan Harkin.
In the Ladies draw, reigning World Doubles champions Martina McMahon & Aisling Reilly are the team to beat, with 4 time All-Ireland Doubles champs Catriona Casey & Aishling O'Keeffe hot on their heels. Experienced pair Pauline Gallagher & Ciara Mahon take on the Cork girls in the bottom SF.
Aoife McCarthy & teenager Leah Doyle will face Fiona Tully & Clodagh Nash in the only QF, with the winer taking on McMahon/Reilly.
Mens Draw
Saturday 21st April – Kingscourt
- QF1: Robbie McCarthy/Diarmuid Nash v Ryan Mullan/Johnny Woods Court 1 @ 11.30am
- QF2: Darragh Daly/Sean Kerr v Dominick Lynch/Colin Crehan Court 2 @ 11.30am
- QF3: Eoin Kennedy/Carl Browne v Tadgh Carroll/Ryan Harkin Court 2 @ 1.00pm
- QF4: Michael Hedigan/Daniel Relihan v Patrick Funchion/Peter Funchion Court 1 @ 1.00pm
- SF1: QF1 v QF2 Court 1 @ 3.30pm
- SF2: QF3 v QF4 Court 1 @ 5.00pm
Sunday 22nd April - Kingscourt
- Final: SF1 v SF2 Court 1 @ 1.00pm
Ladies Draw
Saturday 21st April – Kingscourt
- QF1: Aoife McCarthy/Leah Doyle v Fiona Tully/Clodagh Nash Court 3 @ 11.00am
- SF1: Martina McMahon/Aishling Reilly v QF1 Court 1 @ 2.30pm
- SF2: Pauline Gallagher/Ciara Mahon v Catriona Casey/Aisling O’Keeffe Court 2 @ 2.30pm
Sunday 22nd April - Kingscourt
- Final: SF1 v SF2 Court 1 @ 12noon