Dublin's Eoin Kennedy continued his defence of the All-Ireland Senior Hardball title when he edged out Limerick's Seamus O'Carroll on Saturday to move into the tournament’s final.
O'Carroll is one of the most promising players coming through the Irish handball ranks at present and didn't disappoint in Saturday's semi-final, providing a stern test for the big alley number one.
In the opening game, both players played some top class handball and were level on three occasions, with O'Carroll taking the lead at 14-11 before Kennedy took control to eventually take the opener, 21-18.
In the second game, the Dubliner showed his experience as he raced into a 14-0 lead, and eventually reached 20-4 before the Treaty County man found form and pulled back 12 consecutive aces.
Kennedy, under obvious pressure, then found the finish line with a clinical corner-kill to hit 21 and end O'Carroll's hopes of forcing a third game.
The Dublin ace will now face Mayo's Vinny Moran, who was deemed winner of the second semi-final after fellow Ballaghaderreen clubman Dessie Keegan was forced to withdraw from the game having sustained an injury to his right hand.
Moran will now bid for his first Senior title when he takes on Kennedy in the final.
