The 2010 GAA Handball 40x20 Senior Championship has proven to be one of the most competitive in years, with plenty of upsets and drama thus far.
A feast of doubles action is in store this weekend with provincial finals taking place around the country. In Leinster, Meath’s Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan take on the Model County pairing of Gavin Buggy and Paul Lambert, who recorded a surprise semi-final victory over Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jensen.
Carroll is keen to get his season back on track, following a disappointing end to his singles campaign.
Carroll said: ‘My entire focus is on the doubles now, and hopefully, Tom and I can get things right on Saturday.
‘Gavin and Paul will be a difficult opposition, but we’ve gained a lot of experience in the past few years and we know what we have to do.’
In Munster, Limerick's CJ Fitzpatrick and Seamus O'Carroll appear in their first provincial final, having just graduated from the minor ranks, and they face Tipperary’s David Maloney and Fergal Collins.
Elsewhere, the semi-finals of Connacht and Ulster Senior Doubles Championships take place during the week, with the provincial deciders down for Saturday.
The most significant result of the Senior Singles Championship transpired in the Leinster decider last weekend, where Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy overcame Eoin Kennedy (Dublin) to claim the honours in a three-game thriller.
Having claimed the opening game 21-20, McCarthy was unable contain Kennedy's finishing power in the second, losing 21-18. However, he bounced back with an amazing 21-15 third game victory to claim his first ever Senior Leinster title in the inaugural provincial championships.
In Ulster, reigning champion, Paul Brady (Cavan) recorded an emphatic win over Armagh's Charly Shanks. The Breffni hero was in top form and stormed to a 21-6, 21-8 victory over his Lurgan opponent. In the all-Mayo affair in Connacht, Dessie Keegan overcome his club colleague Joe McCann in their first competitive meeting.
The final Provincial Open title of the weekend was won by Kerry's Dominick Lynch, who recorded a 21-6, 21-10 victory over Cork's Colm Jordan.
