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Team Ireland Worlds Doubles Trials

The final four 40x20 spots on Team Ireland are down for decision this weekend as quality ridden field competes this weekend in the Worlds Senior Doubles Trials for team Ireland in Kingscourt.

As the 40x20 season draws to a close, one would recommend not missing out on this weekends action, as yet again fantastic Handball lyes in wait. Every one of the major GAA Handball finals days this year has brought it's own unique ending. From Robbie McCarthy showing nerves of steel to come from 20-16 down in the third to defeat Charly Shanks in the Senior Singles Final. From Aisling Reilly throwing the form book out the window en route to retaining her Senior Singles crown against Catriona Casey. From Brian Carroll & Tom Sheridan defying doubters to win the Senior Doubles title, albeit in the dramatic injury withdrawal circumstances that no one could have predicted. And from last weekends Junior Nationals where top seeds fell, and dark horses shone under a cauldron of pressure.

So the Handball fan has one more big opportunity to witness the next instalment in what has been a roller coaster year thus far! And with the tiebreakers only to 11 this time out, there is sure to be some shocks and nail biting finishes.

Taking top seed in the Mens draw is Cavan's Paul Brady & Michael Finnegan, who face Gavin Buggy & Dominic Lynch after the latter defeated Michael Walsh & David Maloney in a 11-9 tiebreak last night. Interest is mounting around the 2012 World Finalists Brady/Finnegan after their dramatic injury withdrawal in the All-Ireland Doubles Final a fortnight ago, with Brady pulling up with a quad injury. Given the depth of quality in the field, Brady carrying an injury could have a major impact in their chances of progression so time will tell if he has recovered sufficiently to compete.

The second QF sees two men who know each other very well go into action, Mayo's Dessie Keegan & Joe McCann, but this time in opposite corners. The 2009 All-Ireland championships will pair up with Dublin's Eoin Kennedy & Limerick's CJ Fitzpatrick respectively in an intriguing encounter thats hard to call. Kennedy at 35 is still as fit as a fiddle, whilst with Fitzpatrick/McCann both being renowned as right sided specialists, it will be interesting to see how this one fairs out.

In the bottom half of the draw, recently crowned All-Ireland Doubles champions Brian Carroll & Tom Sheridan look strong as they face Martin Mulkerrins & Niall O'Connor. Despite how the final ended two weeks ago, the Meath men were well worth their win, and showed huge heart to come from 15-3 down in the first to steal it 21-20. Their opponents however have teamed up with each other in the last two World Championships as they came up through the ranks, and will know they have the game to trouble Carroll/Sheridan.

The final QF sees our two All-Ireland Singles Finalists come face to face again at the same venue. Robbie McCarthy teams up with Diarmaid Nash as the country's officially ranked #1 & #2 players form a formidable pairing. They face Charly Shanks & Owen McKenna in a pairing who should not be taken lightly. Shanks & McKenna both play very aggressive and attacking Handball, and McCarthy/Nash need to be on top of their game to avoid a potential banana

Five teams are left in the Ladies grade as All-Ireland champions Catriona Casey & Aishling O'Keeffe take top seeds. They face the winners of Ciana Ni Churraoin/Meave McElduff v Pauline Gallagher/Lorraine Havern, but given their doubles record of recent years (won last two All-Ireland 40x20 Doubles titles), they will be confident of progressing to a final showdown.

The bottom SF on paper looks like a cracker. Kerry's Maria Daly & Ashley Prendiville are as experienced as they come in the Doubles arena, and played their part in an excellent All-Ireland Final a fortnight ago. They are former 3 time All-Ireland winners, but will need to draw on all of their big game experience to oust the strong pairing of Aisling Reilly & Martina McMahon. Reilly is riding high on confidence after her major win in last months Singles final, and with lefty McMahon controlling the left side of the court, they should have a big say in who gets the cherished spots on Team Ireland.

It is rare for Irish Handball fans to get to witness such an array of elite doubles play in such a short space of time so spectators, young and old alike are encouraged to come down to watch, and learn from our senior stars!

Team Ireland awaits!

Saturday 25th April 2015 in Kingscourt

Ladies Quarter Finals

  • 10.30am Court 1. – 1. Ciana Ni Churraoin/Meave McElduff v Pauline Gallagher/Lorraine Havern

Men’s Quarter Finals

  • 11.30am Court 1 - 3. Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan v Gavin Buggy/Dominic Lynch 
  • 11.30am Court 2 - 4. Eoin Kennedy/Dessie Keegan v Joe McCann/CJ Fitzpatrick 
  • 1.00pm Court 1 - 5. Brian Carroll/Tom Sheridan v Niall O'Connor/Martin Mulkerrins 
  • 1.00pm Court 2 - 6. Robbie McCarthy/Diarmaid Nash v Charly Shanks/Owen McKenna

Ladies Semi Finals

  • 2.30pm Court 1 - Catriona Casey/Aisling O’Keeffe v Winner 1 
  • 2.30pm Court 2 - Maria Daly/Ashley Prendiville v Martina McMahon/Aisling Reilly

Men’s Semi Finals

  • 3.30pm Court 1 - Winner 3 v Winner 4 
  • 5.00pm Court 1 - Winner 5 v Winner 6

Sunday 26th April 2015 in Kingscourt

  • Ladies Final - 1.00pm 
  • Mens Final - 2.00pm