The iconic 60x30 handball court at Croke Park will soon be no more.
The facility, opened in 1970, will host just two more programmes of matches – the MyClubShop.ie All-Ireland Senior Singles and Doubles finals – before the centre is demolished and handball action moves to a new state-of-the-art facility elsewhere at the stadium.
This Saturday, reigning All-Ireland champion Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath puts his title on the line when he takes on old rival Eoin Kennedy of Dublin in the first of those deciders.
The Mullingar man is aiming to take the crown for an eighth time and a fifth season in succession but, he says, such milestones are irrelevant.
"I haven't been thought about that, I didn’t even realise it was five to be honest," McCarthy said.
"I knew I was going for number eight but not five in a row. I don’t think about things like that, I just go into the court and go for broke, that’s me."
Both McCarthy and nine-time winner Kennedy – who is almost a decade the champion’s senior - grew up watching the likes of the legendary Michael 'Ducksy’ Walsh compete at Croke Park. Kennedy eventually ended the great Kilkenny man’s run in 2002 and asserted his dominance before McCarthy ascended to the throne.
Our brand new state of the art National Handball Centre at Croke Park is really starting to take shape!
— GAA Handball Ireland (@GAA_Handball) July 25, 2019
With completion expected in time for the 2020 season it really is exciting times for GAA Handball. 😁
Take a look at some recent pictures! 👷♂️🔨🏗 pic.twitter.com/1YtzSA9euH
Walsh, still competing strongly at the top level in singles play at the age of 51 which was unprecedented, died suddenly three years ago. The Senior Singles cup is now named in his honour and McCarthy is desperate to retain it at the venue which the late Ducksy made his own.
"In a way, I’m going to be sorry to see [the centre] go," he said.
"I used to come up here as a kid and watch Ducksy and the likes of Walter O’Connor, I’ll never forget those games. But they’re obviously moving for a good reason, there will be a brand new complex with all the mod cons and the handball offices will be moved there as well.
"I don’t think I’ll ever match what Ducksy did, he was one of a kind. But at the same time, my preparation is geared towards this trophy.
"I really want to win this trophy, more than anything else. When I was younger, I used to go and stay with Ducksy for weekends and train with him. He meant a lot to me and to keep this trophy is my priority."
Some images from yesterdays launch of the 2019 https://t.co/4s8NOqfWGQ All-Ireland Softball Finals, which take place this Saturday in Croke Park HC.
— GAA Handball Ireland (@GAA_Handball) September 4, 2019
Full Story ➡️ https://t.co/jY4xiUnBGP pic.twitter.com/Ovofk6QPnf
McCarthy impressed in his semi-final win over Wexford’s Gavin Buggy while Kennedy overcame a slow start to get over Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins in his penultimate clash.
The former kingpin admitted that motivation was not a problem given that Saturday marks the last-ever singles final in Ceannáras.
"I desperately, desperately wanted to make the final this year knowing that it was the last chance to play here," Kennedy said.
"Nothing will ever top the feeling of winning your first, but to win the last title at Croke Park would be very special indeed."
The curtain-raiser to the men’s final is the Ladies Senior Singles as Limerick’s Martina McMahon meets Catriona Casey of Cork, while Kilkenny’s Kyle Dunne takes on Monaghan’s Eoghan McGinnity, the 40x20 champion, in an intriguing minor final.
