With Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy having retained his All-Ireland Senior Singles title last week, the race for senior doubles honours resumes this weekend.
An exciting programme is in store at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday afternoon, where a capacity crowd is expected ahead of the U-21 hurling decider between Tipperary and Galway.
The opening game on the four-match programme sees Wicklow’s Shaune Hilley and Kerry’s Catriona Casey go to battle in the Ladies’ Intermediate Singles final, while a cracking All-Ireland Senior Doubles tie awaits as Mayo’s Amy Corrigan and Pauline Gallagher bid to topple reigning champions, Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville from the Kingdom.
The first of the Men’s Senior Doubles All-Ireland semi-finals pits defending champions, Dublin’s Egin Jensen and Kennedy against Kilkenny’s dark horses, Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh and Michael Clifford. The Cats came agonisingly close to making last year’s final, and many feel that the pair have a fighting chance of going one step further in 2010.
Walsh continues to prove dangerous as ever on the left side of the court, and is ably assisted by St Canice’s Clifford, who provides a consistent anchor on the right. Jensen and Kennedy have been the top pairing over the past number of years, but the black and amber men may just pip them on this occasion.
‘It’s going to be a tough battle,’ said Walsh. ‘You don’t get anything easy in an All-Ireland semi-final, but we know we left it behind us last year, and hopefully, we can play to our potential on Saturday.’
In the second semi-final, 2009 beaten finalists, Meath’s Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll, face a tough encounter with Model County duo, Colin Keeling and Barry Goff.
The Wexford partnership collected early honours at the Kells invitational tournament in July, laying down a marker for their return to senior championship action.
Goff and Keeling are both fine handballers, but Sheridan and Carroll have gelled well over the past two seasons, winning the senior doubles crown in 2008, and they are eager to make amends for last year’s final defeat.
‘We’re just concentrating on one game at a time,’ said Carroll. ‘Barry and Colin are both good players but we’re focusing on our game and what we can do to win, hopefully playing our best will be enough.’
