Reigning champion Catriona Casey and up-and-coming star Martina McMahon will contest the M Donnelly 60x30 Ladies’ Senior Singles final in Abbeylara on Saturday.
Casey, who is going for a three-in-a-row of 60x30 titles, defeated Kerry's Ashley Prendiville, a long time adversary of Casey and a three-time winner herself, in last weekend’s semi final.
The first game saw Cork woman Casey in typically devastating form as she surged ahead of her Kerry counterpart and claimed a 21-6 victory. Casey displayed her full array of skills in securing a comprehensive first game and set down a marker that she would not be beaten easily.
The second was much the same as the first and, despite a brief rally from Prendiville, the Cork champion was too good and took the second 21-10 to book her place in the decider.
In the second semi-final, McMahon from Limerick caused yet another shock as she defeated Kerry’s experienced Maria Daly.
Daly, who took her maiden title in 2011, won the first 21-7 and appeared to be heading for a re-match with Casey in the battle for this year's honours.
McMahon though is having a year to remember and is coming of age in 2014 and she displayed the resilience and quality that has been a hallmark of her performances this year to bounce back in the second and take the game 21-10 to set up a tie break finish.
In the tie break the action was much more even with both girls pulling out all the stops in a bid to reach the final. Many expected Daly's experience to pull her through in a tight encounter but it was the Limerick lady who held her nerve to close out the game 21-19 and book her place in her first 60x30 Senior Singles final.
And so the two-time champion will face the young pretender in the final on Saturday at 2pm.
