HARDBALL may be the poor relation of the different handball codes but those who play it have a great affiliation to it.
Eoin Kennedy, for instance, speaks highly of the action involved in hardball and firmly believes that playing it can often supersede either the 60x30 and 40x20 forms of the sport.
“I didn't start playing hardball until I was about 22 or 23,” he said.
“But once I got into it I loved it. I suppose it is a sort of a specialist game and some people might not want to play it in case of damage to their hands.
“What can make it more interesting is that you are inclined to get a lot more closer games than in the other codes. I like that.”
It is obvious that Dubliner Kennedy likes hardball as, since he took the game up, he has added eight All-Ireland singles Championship titles and five doubles hardball crowns to the list of 40x20 and 60x30 Championships he has collected. He is one of the few players who constantly competes in all three forms of handball.
Now, he is aiming to increase his tally of doubles titles as, today at Na Fianna in Dublin, he teams up with court partner Keith Bourke in an All-Ireland quarter-final battle with Kildare pair Niall O'Connor and Paul Moran.
The Dublin men are aiming to regain the title that they lost last season when, surprisingly, they were beaten in the first round by Meath's Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll - who went on to win the final.
“At least we had the consolation of saying we were beaten by the ultimate winners of the title,” quips Kennedy.
For many years, Eoin's partner was fellow Dub Egin Jensen but he got a rather serious Achilles tendon injury a few years ago and it is only recently that he has been able to return to handball. Keith Bourke, who now partners Kennedy, is originally from Kilkenny but has transferred to Dublin.
“Keith is a young lad. He is very strong and mobile and great to play with but we will have a tough battle, no double, against Niall and Paul. Niall won a singles title, a few years ago and is very experienced. He has an exceptionally strong left hand.”
However, Kennedy and Bourke will start as slight favourites to reach the semi-finals. Whatever about that, Kennedy will be back in hardball action next weekend as he bids for a ninth singles title. He will meet Joe McCann from Mayo in that final.
If he and Bourke are successful today then they will have a semi-final date in the doubles this day fortnight and, if they cleared that hurdle, the doubles final will be next on the list.
“It would be nice to think that we will be playing every weekend for the next four but all that matters just now is this weekend and our doubles date with the Kildare lads from Leixlip,” stresses Kennedy.
