Kerry’s Ashley Prendiville will bid for her third consecutive All-Ireland title in succession on Saturday in the GAA Handball Ladies Senior Singles final.
The match-up is a repeat of the 2008 decider with Limerick’s Bernie Hennessy providing Prendiville’s three-in-a-row hurdle.
Hennessy is no stranger to the big stage, having amassed five senior singles titles in the 90s, and will be keen to avenge last year’s defeat. However the defending champion is aiming for a third crown in succession and is more than ready for action.
‘Going for three is a row is something special and I suppose it is at the back of my mind, but the focus is on winning this game and everything else is irrelevant,’ said Prendiville.
In 2007, the Ballymacelligott lady collected her first 60x30 senior singles titles, in addition to the All-Ireland intermediate singles crown and the senior doubles title, which she won with Maria Daly.
Prendiville is a big alley romantic and is keen to align herself with the traditional game.
This weekend she is playing for a coveted All-Ireland title, but the prize of a place on the Irish squad bound for the World Championships in Portland, Oregon is far from her thoughts.
‘Big alley is definitely my favourite; it’s the traditional Irish game and my goal this year was to be in the final; now I am and I have a job to do,’ said the UCC student.
With the 40x20 World Championships less than two months away, playing two codes has affected many of the top senior players’ big alley hopes, but Prendiville has only eyes for softball glory.
‘This has always been the most important thing for me this year and after the final, I’ll prepare for whatever comes next.’
There is also Men’s senior doubles championship action this weekend with reigning champions, Meath’s Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll facing a tough battle against Vinnie Moran and Stephen Cooney (Mayo) in Mullingaron Sunday.
Cooney and Moran’s Ballaghaderreen team-mates, Joe McCann and Dessie Keegan, will also take to the court on Saturday as they face Wicklow’s Michael Gregan and Johnny Willoughby in what is certain to be a tense affair. The last meeting of the pairings went to a third game, and this meeting is likely to unfold a similar plot.
