Three out of four ain’t bad as Irish stars Martin Mulkerrins, Catriona Casey and Fiona Tully all remain standing in the Open Singles grades at the 2023 World Handball Invitational & 72nd USHA National Four-Wall Championships at the University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness Center in Minneapolis.
The odd one out is American Sean Lenning, who had a very impressive win over Boston-based Corkman Killian Carroll in yesterday’s semi-final. With Mulkerrins also in brilliant form as he saw off defending champion Diarmaid Nash, there will certainly be a new name on the trophy by tonight.
Mulkerrins and Lenning meet at 5pm Irish time in the final. This will be the Galway right-hander’s third US Nationals Open Singles final and with the event doubling as the Worlds Invitational, the Moycullen maestro will certainly not lack for motivation.
Currently employed as a coach at Texas A&M University, Martin’s experience playing in the States over the last year has stood to him so far in this tournament as he comfortably defeated Californians Peter Jansen and Dylan Hernandez and Kilkenny’s Peter Funchion to set up a repeat of last year’s final against lefty Nash, with the Moycullen ace winning 21-8, 21-14.
Lenning, for his part, has taken the scalps of three Irish players in Patrick Funchion, Mark Doyle and Killian Carroll and having been among the top players in the world for over 15 years, the Tucson resident will look to finally get his hands on the big one.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Open sees Cork’s Catriona Casey and Roscommon’s Fiona Tully go head to head (4pm Irish time) in the decider. Both players have cruised to this stage, with eight points the most either have conceded in any game.
The pair have met many times in recent years. Ballydesmond’s Casey has held the upper hand at home and abroad but Roscommon ladies footballer Tully will be hopeful of turning the tables on the big stage.
In the Men’s Open Doubles, Carroll and Mulkerrins meet Shane Dunne and Mark Doyle in the semi-final.
Casey and Aishling O’Keeffe currently top the group in the Women’s Open Doubles, which is being played on a round robin format.
Training partners Gavin Coyle (Monaghan) and Joe Dillon (Cavan) will meet each other in the Men’s A Singles final. Coyle won the All-Ireland Intermediate Singles earlier this year, with Dillon winning the Junior Singles.
Finals will be live streamed on the USHA YouTube channel.
View the draws here.