After a year in the gallery, Kilkenny’s Michael Walsh returned to senior singles softball action last weekend and, on Saturday will be seeking to extend his run when he takes on Cavan’s Michael Finnegan in the GAA Handball 60x30 Championship.
Four very exciting quarter-final clashes take place in Kells (Meath) and Abbeylara (Longford), with Walsh taking to the Royal venue for his clash after a year in retirement.
Finnegan was in action last weekend and took a 21-12, 21-17 win over Tipperary’s Paul Mullins to seal his quarter-final place against Walsh.
‘It's great to be back in championship mode; I really enjoyed the doubles last year but it's fantastic to be back,’ said Walsh, who won 38 senior titles during his career to date.
‘I'm looking forward to playing Michael - it's been a while, and I'm sure it will be a good game.’
In the second game at the Meath venue, Wexford's Barry Goff makes a welcome return to the senior singles championship after a four year break and many handball enthusiasts are marking the former Model County hurling ace as a real contender for the title.
Goff takes on last year's beaten finalist, Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy, and this game is being primed as one of the most exciting in the championship thus far. McCarthy proved last year that he is capable of making a mark on the senior softball championship but is certain to have a tough battle against Goff on this outing.
Meanwhile, in Mullingar, reigning champion Eoin Kennedy (Dublin) takes on Meath stalwart Tom Sheridan in what is one of the most eagerly awaited meetings of the championship. Kennedy has dominated the senior softball championship since the turn of the centre and this year is bidding for an incredible seventh title in succession.
In the second game at Mullingar, Mayo's Dessie Keegan and Wexford's Gavin Buggy take to the court, with Buggy hoping to repeat the form he showed in 2009 where he made the semi-final stage. Keegan, who is seeded four in the championship, has been one of the main challengers to Kennedy in recent years but Buggy has shown that he is a very capable player and this meeting is certain to be a close affair.
