Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy was crowned GAA Handball M Donnelly 60x30 champion once more after beating favourite Robbie McCarthy.
Very few people gave 35-year-old Kennedy a chance of dethroning three-in-a-row champion McCarthy but the Dubliner was determined to prove the doubters wrong.
McCarthy demolished eight-time champion Kennedy 21-5 in the first game and no one could have expected what happened next.
Kennedy came out a changed player in game two, going 6-1 up. McCarthy fought back to 6-5 and both players showcased incredible retrieval skills as the game progressed to 13-13.
Kennedy surged 20-17 ahead and at the third attempt made no mistake with a pass to win 21-17.
The crowd were on their feet as they were about to witness the first tie-break in the men’s singles final for almost a decade.
Kennedy sensed victory against his younger opponent, and his mental strength shone through as he went 13-1 ahead in the third.
McCarthy needed to change up his game and he did as he closed the lead to 9-13 showing he would not give up his title without a fight.
But as both men were on their feet, Kennedy managed to make a mini break and went 19-12 ahead, before closing out for victory, 21-12.
It was Kennedy’s ninth title in a remarkable 14 years.
Meath’s Gary McConnell defeated Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins in a tie breaker to take home the Intermediate crown on a scoreline of 12-21, 21-6, 21-7.
The minor singles went to Tyrone for the first time ever as Johnny Woods defeated Tipperary’s Daniel Hayes, with another tie-break needed to separate the two with the final score reading 4-21, 21-4, 21-19.
