WESTMEATH'S Robbie McCarthy takes another step this weekend in defence of the men's All-Ireland Senior Singles 40x20 Championship title and doesn't seem too bothered about the hurdle ahead.
He confidently enough wrapped up the provincial title, a few weeks ago, with a two games defeat of Wicklow man Michael Gregan, at 6 and 16, and on Sunday he will play neighbour Brian Carroll in the semi-finals, at Crinkle.
“It was to be either Brian or Ricky McCann but, I understand, that Ricky has pulled out,” says McCarthy.
“I have played Brian loads of times and, thankfully, things have mostly gone my way. I would be favourite to beat him again. Michael had his moments in the Leinster final but I got through it OK and I'm happy enough with playing Brian on Sunday.”
McCarthy, a Cork-based Naval Service employee, has no plans of playing outside of Ireland in the immediate future: “I can't make plans too far in advance because of my work so defending the Irish Championship title is plenty to be going on with for the present,” he says
Qualifying for the semi-finals takes place tomorrow at Crinkle and at St Coman's in Roscommon with the semis on Sunday, at the same venues. Antrim's Owen McKenna is drawn against Leinster runner-up Gregan, in Roscommon, with the Wicklow man keen to work through for another crack at McCarthy. Waiting in the wings for the result of the Gregan-McKenna battle is Ulster winner Charly Shanks.
What should be an interesting battle on the same bill, tomorrow, is the clash of beaten Munster finalist Colin Crehan (Clare) and Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy. Kennedy may be better-known as a 60x30 player but he is formidable opposition on any court. The second qualifier at Crinkle will have experienced Mayo man Joe McCann and Noresider Patrick Function, whose brother Peter is top seed for the US Collegiate title this week, in opposition.
For a change, the whole range of All-Ireland finals will be played at Kingscourt on March 18 to 20 with 52 players gracing the four courts. The men's and women's finals will be all-ticket matches. Previously, the finals were spread around the country but, in some cases, the attendance was poor as the bigger names may have been missing. Also, players from the same club were appearing at different venues, meaning a problem with local support.
FIXTURES
All-Ireland Men's 40x20 Singles Championship
Saturday, at Crinkle: Q6 Mayo (Joe McCann) v Kilkenny (Patrick Funchion); at St Coman's Roscommon: Q7: Clare (Colin Crehan) v Dublin (Eoin Kennedy); Q8: Wicklow (Michael Gregan) v Antrim (Owen McKenna)
Sunday, at Crinkle: QF1: Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy) v Q5 Winner; QF2: Limerick (CJ Fitzpatrick) v Q6 Winner; at St Coman's, Roscommon: QF3: Galway (Martin Mulkerrins) v Q7 Winner; QF4: Armagh (Charly Shanks) v Q8 Winner.
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