THE legendary Ducksy Walsh has won many, many events during his illustrious career, but none any sweeter than the weekend's Irish 60x30 Men's Open National final, in which he defeated the holder and big alley expert Eoin Kennedy.
Catriona Casey, also building a major pile of awards, completed a five in-a-row of Women's Open crowns, but found Ashley Prendiville a tough opponent to shake off, before winning the final 15-11, 15-5.
Kilkenny man Walsh overcame his Dublin rival in two games - 15-9, 15-11 - to once again stamp his authority on Irish handball, having collected every honour in the game since his teenage days. Not alone on home soil has Ducksy been a major winner, but also in the US and there is no sign of him slowing down yet.
“I have no idea how many medals or trophies I have,” said the 50-year-old Noresider.
“I have never counted them, but they run to well over 100, at a guess. Beating Eoin rates as one of my best achievements. He is a great 60x40 player. It must be about 15 years since last I defeated him, so I am delighted with this latest result. I still enjoy playing as much as ever and I also enjoy passing on my experience and doing some coaching with young players, including Tyrone youngsters Mairead and Antoin Fox.”
Kitchen-fitter Walsh had some harsh words about what he alleged was the lack of promotion for the big alley game: “The handball authorities are not doing enough promotion for the code,” he argued.
“They are not promoting it enough and I don't mind you quoting me on that. It is one of the oldest GAA games and it is not getting the recognition and promotion it deserves. A lot more should be done for the 60x30 code. Not a lot of Ulster players take part. That should be looked at.”
In a tense first game between Walsh and Kennedy, scores were tied at 3, 5 and 9 before Ducksy reeled off six unanswered points to take that game. He began the second game as he finished the first, with an 11-0 run, but Kennedy changed to a straight lob and won the next 10 aces before Walsh stopped the rot to win 15-11.
In the ladies' final, Prendiville started the best and led 6-4 and 10-8 with right corner kills. Casey is known for her slow starts, but can always get over that with her overhand lob serve weapon. She won the first clash 15-11, but went 4-0 down at the start of the second, then, again, Cork's Casey took control of the action.
There were some great rallies and the 15-5 win for Casey doesn't really do Kerry's Prendiville justice.
IRISH 60x30 NATIONAL SINGLES
Men's Open first round: E Kennedy (Dublin) df R Mullan (Tyrone) 15-1, 15-4; G McConnell (Meath) dft C Neary (Kilkenny) 15-13, 14-15, 11-8; G Buggy (Wexford) dft D Hope (Offaly) 10-15, 15-7, 11-1; CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick) dft B Manogue (Kilkenny) 15-11, 15-13; G Coonan (Tipperary) 13-15, 15-7, 11-3 dft E Bourke (Kilkenny) 13-15, 7-15, 11-3; D Lynch (Kerry) 15-11, 15-10 dft C Browne (Dublin) 15-11, 15-6; B Carroll (Meath) dft P Quish (Limerick) 15-10, 7-15, 11-7; M Walsh (Kilkenny) w.o B Devlin (Tyrone) w.d; Quarter-finals: Kennedy bt McConnell 15-11, 15-11; Buggy bt Fitzpatrick 15-14 15-11; Lynch bt Coonan 15-8, 15-5; Walsh bt Carroll 15-4, 15-12; Semi-finals: Kennedy bt Buggy 15-3, 15-3; Walsh bt Lynch 15-7, 15-2; Final: Walsh bt Kennedy 15-9, 15-11.
Ladies' Open round-robin Group 1: C Mahon (Kilkenny) bt N Dunne (Laois) 15-14, 15-2; C Casey (Cork) dft Dunne 15-2, 15-3; Casey bt Mahon 15-3, 15-5; Group 2: A O'Keeffe (Cork) dft H Dagg (Kildare) 15-5, 9-15, 11-9; A Prendiville (Kerry) dft Dagg 15-3, 15-2; Prendiville dft O'Keeffe 15-7, 15-4; Semi-finals: Casey dft O'Keefe 15-2, 15-0; Prendiville dft Mahon 15-5, 15-12; Final: Casey dft Prendiville 15-11, 15-5.
