All-Ireland Finals Report and Photos from Croke Park

Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy won his 5th  senior  softball singles title in a row following his victory over the legendary Michael “Ducksy” Walsh of Kilkenny, in the Martin Donnelly sponsored All-Ireland 60 X 30 finals played in Croke Park, on Saturday September 6th last.  Kennedy became only the 3rd player in history to achieve this feat following in the footsteps of Roscommon’s Paddy Perry and the magical Michael “Ducksy” Walsh who announced his retirement after the final. The National Handball Centre was packed to witness 4 All-Ireland finals. Eileen Dunne kept up the proud family tradition and acted as M.C. for the evening and introduced G.A.A. President Nicky Brennan, President elect Christy Cooney and also Louth’s Joey Maher who won 6 All-Ireland singles titles from 1963-1973. First on the full programme of finals was the Minor Singles between Limerick’s Seamus O’ Carroll and Meath’s Gary McConnell. It had all the hallmarks of being a great contest and so it proved to be.  After scores were tied at 3-3 McConnell began to play some fluent handball. The Kells man kept O’Carroll chasing all over the court as the Meath man opened up a good 10-3 lead.  O’Carroll didn’t panic and showed maturity beyond his years and began to eat into the Meath man’s lead.  At 11-6 in arrears O’Carroll came back strongly and reeled of 8 points to lead by 14-11.
McConnell replied and drew level at 14,15, 18. McConnell soon was on game ball but O’Carroll fought back to also be on 20.  McConnell was very lucky as his high return was inches away from the lights overhead and O’Carroll missed the return to give the Kells man a narrow 21-20 win in game one. Game two was also very close between the 2 young stars. At 5-5 in the second McConnell played powerful handball. Meath supporters in the gallery made themselves heard.  McConnell got into good positions in centre court to dictate play and he went into an 15-9 lead with a number of good kill shots. The Meath man looked well on the way at this stage.   Instead of pushing on for the win it was O’Carroll who coolly and assuredly came more into it.  Taking a leaf out of McConnell’s book it was O’Carroll who killed some great shots of both sides as he battled back to be on level terms at 15 and 16.  It was O’Carroll who drove on and took the second game by 21-16.	In the final 3rd game both players gave it their all in an absorbing final. At 5-5  O’Carroll was making use of chances that came his way while McConnell was going for kills from far out and missing them and also close to the front wall.  O’Carroll was now into an 12-6 lead.  McConnell won a great rally after O’Carroll missed a sitter of a chance at the front wall.  The Royal supporters were making their voices heard and giving encouragement as the Kells man inched his way closer to O’Carrolls lead. At 13-10 it was as close as he could get as O’Carroll a member of this years Limerick minor county football team showed tremendous fitness as he kept going to the finish line. McConnell looked to have hit a stone wall and couldn’t get the points to keep him in it despite his best efforts.    The Meath’s man’s challenge fell away as O’Carroll took the Minor title in one of the best finals played at this level in over a decade.
Minor Sinlges Champion Seamus O'Carroll (Limerick) with Tony Hannon	Martin McInerney & Ger Coonan ID Winners with Nicky Brennan
Kerry's Ashley Prendiville with Tony Hannon left and Christy Cooney	Meath's Gary McConnell R-Up in the MS with Tony Hannon and S O'Carrol

Next on the programme was the Intermediate Doubles between Dublin’s Ian Griffin and Kerry Hennessy and Tipperary’s Ger Coonan and Martin McInerney. Dublin lined out in the old Dublin style strip.  Dublin opened brightly with Hennessy helping the Dubs into an early 5-2 lead.  It was short lived however as Tipp drew level at 5 and again at 6.   Ger Coonan was playing very consistent on the left side throughout as Tipperary went into an 12-7 lead.  Dublin seeing the danger that Tipperary imposed fought back well to level at 13  a piece.   The Tipperary men piled on the pressure on Dublin gaining 6 points without reply.   Left handed Griffin killed a nice shot after Coonan did extremely well to return the ball after it bounced behind  McNerney on the right. McInerney stopped the Dublin advance of 3 points with a great dive to put Tipperary back in serve.  Coonan’s serve to Griffin proved a winner as the ball hoped awkwardly of the back wall to win by 21-16.

Tipperary started the better in game 2 taking a 5-1 lead with Kerry Hennessy forced into hurried returns on the right.  Ian Griffin with some great overhand returns brought Dublin back to parity with Tipperary at 5-5.  Coonan had to dive twice to keep the ball in play but unluckily for Tipperary McNerney put ball into the roof to gave Dublin a narrow lead.  Both teams were level at 8-8 with McNerney giving his all on the left with some great kills and returns.  The longer the game went on McNerney was equal to everything that Dublin could throw at him.   Dublin upped the tempo to keep in the championship and fought back well to 13-13. The men from Tipperary surged clear once again at 16-13. Griffin walked back slowly to await the serve somewhat discontentedly.  Tipperary kept the pressure on Dublin to lead by 19-13. Ian Griffin fought hard to keep Dublin in it  with 3 scores.  Two further scores from Dublin but it was not enough as Tipperary closed out the match by 21-18 in a closely fought contest.

The Ladies final was between reigning champion Ashley Prendeville from Kerry and 4 times champion Bernie Hennessy from Limerick. It was a disappointing final overall.  Berni Hennessy sister of Dubliner Kerry Hennessy had a good 10-0 lead at the start of game 1.  Once Prendeville found her shots and her rhythm the final result was never in doubt.  Prendeville taking the 1st   game by 21-13.  Prendeville with strong returns kept Hennnessy on the back foot and the nearest the Hospital Club player could get to the Kerry star was 12-9.  In the end the Ballymacelligot player won comfortably by 21-12.
After the presentations the eagerly awaited senior final started. Kennedy from the off had his homework done on Ducksy Walsh as he immediately hit the Kilkenny player for 7 without reply.  Kennedy’s strong overhand serve on the right bouncing off the left wall and landing in Walsh’s right corner gave the  Kilkenny star much to think about.  This tactic worked a treat as the Dubliner further extended his lead to 13-1.  A number of kills and a neat passing shot by Kennedy’s right had Ducksy on a score of 5.  Kennedy with power and pace in abundance easily took the first game by 21-5.

Walsh came out with all guns blazing at the start of the 2nd game.    With some excellent kills and passing shots the Kilkenny wizard had Kennedy worried. There was signs of the Kilkenny maestro of old beginning to show his silken skills to the Croke Park faithful.  With purpose he shot into an 7-2 lead and troubled Kennedy.  Kennedy a student and a hero of Ducksy’s growing up learned well from the Master as he fought back well.  Kennedy killed the ball off the grid for 7-7 with a great round of applause from the packed gallery.  It was level again at 8-8.  Kennedy with an amazing pick placed the ball on the right for 12-8.  Kennedy’s low hard shot into the left corner with Ducksy helpless to go into an 14-8 lead.  Walsh was forced into a number of errors and his own shots normally accurate were falling short. This helped Kennedy into an 19-10 lead.  Two more scores from Walsh was not enough as Kennedy finished strongly.  Immediately after winning he rose his arms in triumph and both players embraced at the end.

 Martin Donnelly presented the Corn Purirseil Cup to Kennedy and the runners-up medal to Ducksy Walsh.  Kennedy spoke and thanked Walsh for a great game and praised Walsh for being a great champion and for being his hero growing up.  Kennedy thanked the Irish Handball Officials, Martin Donnelly, players from Dublin and to his parents Eugene & Carmel Kennedy who brought him all over the country to take part in handball competitions. Ducksy then spoke and congratulated Eoin for being a great champion and wished him the best of luck.  Ducksy quiet spoken, barely audible   head bowed announced it was to be his last senior singles appearance. As I turned around to the gallery my eyes slowly moving around like the R.T.E. cameras in the workmen’s Boxing Club in Beijing everyone stood up and gave the magical Walsh a prolonged and warm standing ovation.  It was a special moment in Irish Handball History and end of a golden era.  The Croke Park faithful acknowledged Ducksy Walsh as a hero and rightly so.  I am sure Ducksy’s great friend and mentor the late Tommy O’ Brien R.I.P.  was smiling from on high.

After the Presentations I asked Eoin Kennedy what was his thoughts on winning the five-in-a-row? “I am absolutely delighted to have won said Eoin.  To have got five-in-a-row is extra special and knowing that myself and two other players have ever done it.  That is a great feeling.  Also there is a little relief when you go into a match as favourite having won it for the last few years.  There is always that extra pressure.  To be honest I am absolutely delighted having done it.”

I asked Kennedy had he a specific game plan going into the final as his serve’s worked very well on Ducksy?   “Yes, obviously I have a couple of serves that I like to start with.  If they work I stick with them, if they don’t work then I will change. To be honest,  I always try to concentrate on my game and don’t worry to much about who I am playing.   The way I look at it if I can get my own game right hopefully if I play well it should be good enough.”

Next question I asked the champion at what stage did he feel he was getting the upper hand?   “Having won the 1st game I was thinking the second game could  be very  different and that is the way it turned out. He jumped up into an 7-2 lead and was beginning to getting a little bit I wouldn’t say worried but at the same time thinking that if he got a few more points it was going to be hard to pull it back.  I dug deep and went a couple of aces ahead.  Once I was up it is much easier to kill the ball in the lead.”

Last question I asked Eoin that he is in an elite group of players like Paddy Perry and the legendary Ducksy that must give you a great sense of satisfaction and achievement?   Yes, those names are legendary. To be even considered with those names is a huge thing for me. Ducksy obviously a player outstanding 13 titles in a row and 16 in total is mind boggling.  I know myself I will never get anywhere  near those.  But at the same time having won 5-in-a-row nobody can ever take it away from me  I am just delighted”  ended Eoin.

Michael “Ducksy” Walsh  kindly gave me a few minutes of his time.  I asked him What was  his thoughts having played well in the final?  “I am disappointed I wouldn’t say I played very well, Eoin just played better than me.  I have no complaints. He was stronger and just too good on the night.   He is a great champion.”

I asked Ducksy in the second game he had a good 7-2 lead.  Did he think he could go on from there and possibly win that second game?  “I didn’t know for definite.  You can never say your going to beat Eoin even if your 15-2 up. He is young, strong and fit.  I knew when I was 7-2  in the lead I was a long way from home and needed another 14 to get there.  But it wasn’t to be and I have no complaints.  I did the best I could and that’s it.”

The legendary Michael Ducksy Walsh called time on an illustrious career winning 16 All-Ireland senior singles titles from 1985-2001, 10 in doubles and 38 in total. It’s a record that will never be surpassed. His achievements  on the handball courts are exceptional.  Walsh was Lord of the handball courts and his magical handball wizardry left us speechless. A phenomenal player his likes will never be seen again.  Just like the great Joey Maher from Louth who has a statue built in his honour in Drogheda the same should be done for Ducksy Walsh in Croke  Park. It would be a fitting tribute for a player who has given so much to handball and given countless numbers of handball supporters from all over the country and abroad so much enjoyment. Ducksy’s extraordinary exploits in Croke Park will live long in the memory.

M DONNELLY ALL-IRELAND FINALS RESULTS
At Croke Park, Saturday 6 September, 3.00pm
MS   Limerick (Seamus O’Carroll) dft Meath (Gary McConnell) 20-21, 21-16, 21-11
ID     Tipperary (Ger Coonan, Martin McInerney) dft Dublin (Ian Griffin, Kerry Hennessy) 21-16, 21-18
LSS  Ashley Prendiville (Kerry) dft Bernie Hennessy (Limerick) 21-13, 21-12
SS    Eoin Kennedy (Dublin) dft Michael Ducksy Walsh (Kilkenny) 21-5, 21-12