The 2016 Irish Wall-Ball Nationals gets underway this Friday in the Breaffy House Sports Arena in Castlebar, Mayo, and Handball fans are in for a treat with arguably the most competitive Men’s & Ladies Open field in the tournaments history.
17 players will compete in the Men’s Open grade, with Tyrone’s Conor McElduff the man to beat having won out the last two years. The Breacadh clubman is also in fine form this year having claimed three victories in 2016 at the Mallow & Mount Talbot Opens, and the Ulster Championship.
Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins came very close to dethroning McElduff in last years final, falling only in a tiebreak. Mulkerrins aggressive style in eye-catching and he too has notched up several wins in the current One-Wall season, having won the Inis Mor & Williamstown titles. A run to the US 40x20 Nationals in Minnesota broke up his One-Wall season but the Moycullen man takes second seed this weekend.
Cork star Killian Carroll was the man who ousted Mulkerrins in Minnesota, and in fact went on to seal his maiden title at the event. Carroll, a 2013 finalist here, despite not having much One-Wall under his belt this term will be a major contender this weekend, and will no doubt be a fan favourite with his all action style.
If seeds go accordingly, Limerick’s Paudi Quish could set up a tasty QF on Friday night against Carroll, and the Hospital clubman will be confident with his chances. A semi-finalist last year, and a win at last years Mount Talbot Open has showed Quish will be a big contender himself at Breaffy.
In the top half, Tyrone’s Darragh Daly, a finalist in 2014, will bid to go one better this time round and has showed some form thus far in 2016 having reached the Ulster Championship & Mount Talbot Finals, falling only to McElduff both times in his only two outings this term.
Also in the top half is a former two-time champion, and the extremely talented Robbie McCarthy, who is of course the current 40x20 & 60x30 Irish titleholder. McCarthy has the game to trouble anyone in the draw, and a win this week would see him become the second most successful player on the Irish One-Wall roll of honour. His last outing came in 2014 though where he fell narrowly at the SF stage to Daly, and both men could set up a repeat QF this Friday night if they advance in their round of 16 games.
Armagh pair James Doyle & Conall McCavitt are two players renowned for their One-Wall game, and could again make an impact in 2016. The vastly experienced Doyle has however played no events thus far year due to work commitments, whilst McCavitt has made the SF’s of the Ulster Championship & Mount Talbot.
Aside from the top seeds there is a great depth of quality with a significant number of players more than capable of causing a first round upset. The Men’s Open action kicks off at 3.50pm on Friday, with the QF’s starting at 8pm on Friday evening.
Like their male counterparts, the female lineup in the Ladies Open is very impressive. Down’s Lorraine Havern, a former 3 time champion is the top seed, but having lost out in the last two finals, she will be keen to get another title for her mantelpiece. Havern cruised to retain her Ulster title in early June and has also being getting regular outings on the European Tour.
Limerick’s Martina McMahon is herself a former champion from 2014, and the stylish left hander got the perfect preparation for this weekend by storming to the Mount Talbot Final two weeks ago. She will though have to come through the same side of the draw as European #1 Miranda Scheffer from the Netherlands.
Scheffer is making her second appearance at Breaffy, falling to Havern in the 2014 SF, but has since improved her game and regularly notches up wins on the European Tour and thus will be a big threat to the Irish girls this weekend.
Harmke Siegersma is the second Dutch player on show this weekend and is in fact the #4 ranked player in Europe at present. A potential QF with Galway’s Ciana Ni Churraoin will be eagerly anticipated as the Micheal Breathnach woman makes her debut in the Open event at Breaffy, but who has a wealth of both experience and success from her juvenile career.
Tyrone’s Maeve McElduff & Mayo’s Pauline Gallagher have both represented Ireland previously and will be keen to claim a big scalp this weekend, whilst an array of exciting younger players make up the 15 player field in what will promises to be a special weekend of Handball.