The quarter-finals of the 2011 M Donnelly GAA Handball All-Ireland Senior Doubles Championships witnessed two huge shocks this weekend as the 2010 champions Meath and 2009 victors Dublin exited the tournament both in two straight games.
Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jenson, who successfully retained the senior hardball crown back in June, were hot favourites to progress to the doubles semi-final, but Mayo’s talented duo of Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann didn’t read the script.
The Ballaghadereen pair, who both played a significant role in the club’s seventh Softball Open Club title last month, have a wealth of experience in the top flight and have previously scooped the 40x20 gong.
The Connacht side raced out of the blocks and dominated the opener, winning 21-4 and even though the Dubliners curbed the onslaught somewhat in the second, Mayo advanced winning 21-15 and will now prepare for Cavan’s Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan.
“Joe [McCann] is so fit and fast that I can go for my shots more, as I know if I don't quite get a winner, he is always ready to cover me. Over the years we have built up a serious understanding and I feel this is our year to take on the 60x30 as we have prepared very well on our own and together,” said Keegan.
Keegan remains on course for the double after his three-game win over Tipperary’s Paul Mullins 7-21, 21-8, 21-9 midweek in the singles.
Kennedy will now focus exclusively on collecting his eighth consecutive softball gold medal after his triumph over Kilkenny’s Nicholas Anthony.
Looking ahead to his quarter-final in the singles, the softball kingpin is well aware of the task in hand.
“I'm playing Meath's Brian Carroll in the quarter-final and I'm expecting a huge challenge from him. He has two great hands, is very offensive, very quick and most importantly he is a fearless competitor who always raises his game for big matches. For a young player, he also has considerable experience having won two softball doubles titles in the past,” said Kennedy.
Since their world title win in 2003, Cavan’s Finnegan and Brady have been the best 40x20 doubles side on the planet but they have never managed to bring that winning mentality into the 60x30 court, until now.
Brady’s return to the big court has inspired Finnegan and their surprise 21-15, 21-16 victory over Sheridan and Carroll has set up an eye-catching semi-final clash with Mayo.
Carroll will now look forward to the quarter-final match-up with Kennedy after ousting Tipperary’s Fergal Collins 21-15, 21-19 in round two of the singles, while veteran Sheridan will have to steer past Roscommon’s Ricki O'Gara and the speedy Wicklow player Michael Cregan if he is to book the remaining quarter-final spot.
The second semi-final in the doubles will involve the 2010 beaten finalists Kilkenny’s Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh and Michael Clifford versus the winner of Wicklow's Michael Gregan and Johnny Willoughby versus the recently crowned Irish National’s winners, Wexford’s Barry Goff and Colin Keeling.
Kilkenny easily accounted for Limerick’s Seamus O’Carroll and CJ Fitzpatrick 21-3, 21-11 on Sunday, while the last quarter-final will be decided this week.
Amazingly, record-breaker Walsh, who has amassed an incredible 16 singles and ten doubles wins since 1985, remains in the hunt for honours in both singles and doubles at 44-years-old.
Tipperary’s Ger Coonan gave the Kilkenny maestro a stern test in the last 16 of the singles campaign midweek, but Walsh used all his guile and experience to etch out the win 21-13, 18-21, 21-19.
