Kilkenny’s Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh is accustomed to holding the favourite tag, but when the 44-year-old legend takes to the court Saturday against Westmeath hotshot Robbie McCarthy in the All-Ireland Senior semi-final, he knows he will have one hell of a battle on his hands.
‘I suppose most people are saying I haven’t a hope and I should be collecting my pension at this stage,’ said the 16-time All-Ireland Senior Singles champion.
‘It’s incredible to think that I had won three of those 16 titles by the time Robbie was born, but at this stage I know that anything can happen in championship handball.’
Walsh spent last season in the gallery but the calling came again in 2010 and he returned to senior singles championship action once more. In his quarter-final clash with Tipperary’s Paul Mullins, Ducksy showed the handball world that he is back and came through with a 21-6, 21-2 victory.
‘Robbie will be the favourite, but I’ve trained hard and there’s no pressure on me,’ said Walsh.
‘I’m delighted to be in the semi-final and I’ve never felt in better shape so we’ll just see what happens on the day.’
Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy takes on Wexford’s Gavin Buggy in the second semi-final at the Abbeylara Club in Longford. Kennedy is bidding for an incredible seventh consecutive title this year and is hot favourite to retain his crown.
The business end of the Ladies Senior Singles Championship gets underway at Cashel, Tipperary on Saturday where two exciting semi-finals take place. In the first game, last year’s beaten finalist, Kerry’s Ashley Prendiville takes on Wicklow’s Shauna Hilley.
The Kingdom handballer won the title in 2008 and will be hoping to get take back the crown she lost 12 months ago, but having emerged from the underage ranks this year, Hilley is certain to provide a stern test to these title ambitions.
In the second semi-final, Prendiville’s doubles team-mate, Maria Daly, faces Roscommon’s Marianna Rushe. Rushe has come of age in recent years and will relish the opportunity of taking on one of the big alley greats.
