HANDBALL – 31/8/15
By Tony McGee
Among his many awards, Paul Brady has already locked away ten All-Ireland 40x20 Championship trophies and now Eoin Kennedy is chasing him down the big alley, as the M Donnelly All-Ireland 60x40 Championships hit off tomorrow evening.
Kennedy has, to date, won nine big alley titles and starts favourite to equal Brady's record on the small court but he is not counting his chickens just yet. He knows there is a rocky road ahead before he could match the Cavan man's amazing total.
“It would be lovely to match Paul's trail of success but there are a lot of good players in the 60x40 game, too, and I won't be thinking of winning that tenth medal just yet. There is a lot of handball to be played over the next few weeks before that possibility could become a reality,” says Kennedy, sensibly.
Kennedy opens his campaign next Saturday against either Limerick's Paudi Quish or David Hope from Offaly, who clash tomorrow evening in Round One at Thurles.
“I have played and beaten David in the past but I have never played against Paudi but I know his form. He is in his early 20s and is a former Irish minor champion. He is a very talented player but we will wait and see who comes through in Thurles,” comments Kennedy (36).
The 60x40 championships are later than usual this season because of the Worlds and Kennedy's last competitive outing was in the Hardball Championships in May-June. He won the final in that code, again, but the gap in action is a bit of a drawback.
“I didn't go to the Worlds as I wanted to concentrate on the 60x40. I have been to the Worlds for over 20 years but decided to by-pass them this time. My dad (Eugene) did go and came home with three medals. He was a winner in the 65+ doubles and in two singles events. He is delighted, of course,” reveals Kennedy, junior.
He continues: “It was a bit of a drawback that the 60x40 Irish Nationals weren't played this year but, I suppose, concentration was put on the World Championships and there wasn't time to slot in the big alley Nationals. Problem is that I am not really sure what level I'm at, just now, because of the delay in competitive action.
“No doubt, I'll soon find out. Hopefully, I'll be up to speed and it would be lovely to match Paul Brady's record on the small court.”
The big alley game is not so popular in Ulster, probably because of the lack of 60x40 courts in the province. Just two Ulster players, Patrick Clerkin and James Brady (both Cavan), are in the draw. Cavan's Michael Finnegan is Ulster's top 60x40 player but, after his exertions in Canada, he is by-passing the big court game this time.
Kennedy will team up with Carl Browne (Meath) in the men's Open Doubles and Catriona Casey will defend the Women's Open Singles title but more about those competitions later.
