Defending champion and number one seed Robbie McCarthy Junior successfully defended his All-Ireland Softball 60x30 Men's Open Senior Singles title when he overcame a stern challange from Eoin Kennedy in a thrilling final over two games at the National Handball Centre in Croke Park.
In the first game, each player exchanged points and with the scorelevel on numerous occasions, the game was delicately-poised.
However McCarthy had more gas left in the tank as the finishing line loomed and with the score level at 19-19, he reeled-off two rasping kill shots with pinpoint accuracy to close it out on a narrow scoreline of 21-19.
The second game proved to be a much more one-sided affair.
Once again, each player swapped point for point and with the score level, several times, the game was evenly-balanced.
Then, McCarthy, seized control as he began to produce his full range of streamlined passing shots and lethal kill shots, reeling-off a lung-bursting series of uanswered points to win and secure a deserved victory.
Meanwhile, in the Women's Open Senior Singles final, at the same venue, recently-crowned World Women's Open Senior Singles champion Martina McMahon defeated defending and five-times champion Catriona Casey (Ballydesmond) in a pulsating clash over three games, 14-20, 21-20, 21-20.
