FOR the second year running, Robbie McCarthy has completed the All-Ireland 40x20 and 60x30 Singles Championships, as he makes Eoin Kennedy wait at least another year for his 10th big alley win, while Martina McMahon ends, for the present at least, the winning trail of Catriona Casey.
Handball fans were treated to a day of thrilling handball at Croke Park as McCarthy and McMahon took the men's and ladies' senior titles and Shane Dunne made up for defeat in last year's minor final by winning the title, this time against Diarmuid Mulkerrins.
It was the fifth success for Westmeath man McCarthy as he outgunned Dubliner Kennedy in two games before a packed attendance at Headquarters. Kennedy began in determined fashion as he chased that elusive 10th title, shooting into a 9-4 lead but, once McCarthy got to terms with the situation, he levelled at 9-9. He then slipped into gear and raced to a 21-13 victory in the first game.
In typical fashion, Kennedy made an aggressive comeback in his efforts to force a third game, but McCarthy kept in front and clinched his fifth title with a second game 21-17 result.
“I'm delighted to get this win and especially to win in Croke Park. The last time we played here, Eoin gave me a lesson, so it means a lot to win this one here today. It's a great feeling,” said McCarthy.
The trail of success Catriona Casey has been blazing for some time had to come to a end at some stage and, with Martina McMahon's progress in recent times, it was always possible the Limerick girl could be the one to call halt. That she did, with a shootout victory in the 60x30 ladies' singles, in front of the biggest ever attendance at the final in Croke Park.
The action was a superb advertisement for ladies' handball, with both players serving up incredible play. As usual, Casey began slowly as McMahon raced into a 15-5 lead. Casey rallied, but the new champion took the first game 21-10. The defending champion showed her class to bounce back with a 21-14 win to force a tie-breaker, but the pretender to the throne wasn't ruffled.
The decider was tied at 7-7, before the challenger moved away to open up a 17-9 lead, winning her first ever senior title at 21-10.
