'THE best handball final in recent years' - that's the description given of the All-Ireland Senior Singles Hardball decider at Thurles last weekend, when Limerick's CJ Fitzpatrick caused a surprise by whipping the crown from Eoin Kennedy's head.
Dubliner Kennedy has dominated the big alley scene for the past decade in both hardball and softball and was going for his ninth win in the former competition. Fitzpatrick, who lost in the semi-finals the past two years running, was aiming for his first success at senior level and he achieved it. Not, of course, before a titanic battle with Kennedy, as the final swung for side to side and it took three games to decide who was champion for 2016.
The first game set the scene, with the scores deadlocked over six times before Kennedy's know-how saw him up his game. Still, Fitzpatrick kept pace with the defending champion, but it was Kennedy who managed to close out the battle, 21-17.
It seemed Fitzpatrick was only warming up, however, as he stormed into an unbelievable 20-6 lead, second time on court, with both long-range and corner kills. Again, Kennedy's experience and never-say-die attitude shone through as he punished his opponent for any errors he made and the holder forced his way back into the action.
A diving kill from Fitzpatrick seemed to give him the advantage again, but a missed corner chance let Kennedy back in to gain momentum and a chance to slam the door shut on his much younger opponent. It wasn't to be the case, however, as the younger man regained his composure to land the vital points for a 21-17 reversal of the first game score, win and force a shootout to the cracking battle.
Kennedy wasn't perturbed about that, it seemed, as he raced into a 12-2 lead in the rubber game and looked like achieving his aim of collecting the title for a ninth time. Again, the Shannonsider's resolve shone through as he clawed his way back into the final, answering every question Kennedy threw at him, to leave the third game level at 14-14. It was level again at 16-16, with a series of rallies keeping the packed galleries on the edge of their seats.
The challenger hit four unanswered aces to be on match point. Kennedy regained the serve a few times but, strangely, didn't cash in as nerves mounted. Fitzpatrick stood firm and refused to give the holder any more chances and, finally, clinched match point to win his first ever national senior title, 21-16.
Kennedy had dominated the big alley for over 10 years as Paul Brady dominated the 40x20 court but, maybe, the difference in age made a difference or, maybe, it was the fact CJ Fitzpatrick and Pat Murphy lost the hardball soubles final to Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne a week previously, that gave Fitzpatrick extra impetus.
Maybe he learned a lot from that defeat.
