Reigning All-Ireland champion, Cavan’s Paul Brady, takes on Antrim’s Ricky McCann in the GAA Handball 40x20 Senior quarter-finals at Kingscourt, Cavan this weekend.
Brady has just returned to competitive action following a lengthy spell in the gallery due to his well-documented hip injury, which he sustained prior to the World Championships last October.
The Breffni handball ace has yet to return to the county’s football set up, but hopes to be back in action after the league campaign.
‘It’s great to be back playing and I feel in good shape at the minute,’ said the Mullahoran clubman.
‘I took a while off to rest after the worlds, but now I’m concentrating on the championship and you can’t afford to take your eye of the ball with any of the top senior players in opposition.’
McCann overcame his namesake, Joe McCann (Mayo), in last weekend’s final round of qualifiers clash, but will be up against it when he takes on the current world champion, who is bidding for an incredible sixth All-Ireland title in succession.
Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy is also in action on Saturday next and he is hoping to continue his championship campaign when he takes on Armagh’s Charly Shanks.
Shanks defeated Wexford’s Gavin Buggy in last weekend’s qualifiers to seal his quarter-final place against McCarthy and a real tussle is expected between these two players.
Elsewhere, in Roscommon, Connacht champion Mayo’s Dessie Keegan takes on Wicklow’s Michael Gregan in what is certain to be one of the most keenly contested clashes of the weekend.
Gregan and Keegan have met on numerous occasions in championship history and with a semi-final place at stake, it’s all to play for at the St Coman’s venue.
There is also Men’s Senior Doubles qualifier action this weekend, with Cork’s Colm Jordan and Shane Hedigan pitted against Wexford’s Gavin Buggy and Paul Lambert in O’Loughlin’s (Kilkenny).
At the same venue, Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jensen take on Tipperary duo David Maloney and Fergal Collins, while Wicklow‘s Michael Gregan and Johnny Willoughby face Antrim pairing, Ricky McCann and Seamus O'Tuama in Kells.
In the final doubles action, Armagh’s Charly Shanks and James Doyle clash with Mayo’s Vinnie Moran and Campbell Brennan in a bid to continue their championship campaigns.
