The top four female handballers in the country will battle it out this weekend in the GAA Handball All-Ireland Senior Singles semi-finals, with Antrim’s Aisling Reilly facing a tough battle in Kingscourt (Cavan) against the in-form, Anna Wrynn from Kildare.
Reilly lost out to fellow Saffron handballer, Fiona Shannon in the World Championship final in Portland, Oregon last October and is bidding for a first senior crown this year.
Wrynn won a senior doubles title in 2002, but a victory in the singles grade has eluded the Leixlip handballer.
‘It’s going to be a tough game against Anna. She’s an experienced player and I know she’s put a lot into preparing for this year’s championship,’ said Reilly.
‘But I’ve also been training hard and I’m looking forward to the battle on Sunday.’
In the other semi-final, Kerry’s Maria Daly and Marianna Rushe (Roscommon) go head-to-head for the second weekend in succession at the Crinkle venue in Offaly.
Daly was on the winning side in Kerry’s senior doubles semi-final victory over Roscommon and Rushe will be hoping to avenge that defeat when she takes on the Ballymacelligott handballer this weekend.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Senior Doubles Championship, all four provincial champions will contest this season's GAA Handball All-Ireland semi-finals, following Meath's third game victory over Armagh on Monday last.
In the new-look championship format, Meath's Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan made sure of their last-four spot with victory over Orchard County pairing, James Doyle and Charly Shanks.
The Meath duo will now take on Cavan's Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan on Saturday in what promises to be a cracking semi-final.
The second semi will draw a large crowd to Moycullen (Galway) as reigning champions, Mayo’s Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann face rising Limerick stars, Seamus O'Carroll and CJ Fitzpatrick, with the Treaty men also having the All-Ireland Intermediate Doubles final on their agenda in the weeks ahead.
