There is no doubting Robbie McCarthy is up there with the greatest players ever to play the game of Handball, and in the big court (60x30) in particular he can be just jaw droppingly good!
Today he defeated first time finalist Martin Mulkerrins (Galway) in the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles Final 21-15, 21-8. Having raced into an early 12-3 lead, the result looked a formality, but Mulkerrins to his credit made McCarthy work in the first and rallied back with the scores tied at 15-15.
But that was to the signal for McCarthy to up his game again as he closed out the game and then match with his supreme court craft and paddle kills.
In the Men's Minor Final, Kilkenny's Billy Drennan also produced some breathtaking Handball to seal his first Minor crown, defeating Tipperary's Rory Grace 21-12, 21-5. Drennan is a top Hurler who starred for Kilkenny Minors last year, and now follows on from fellow Hurling stars DJ Carey (1989 Doubles) & Richie Hogan (2006 Doubles) as All-Ireland Minor Softball champions.
