2014 O’Neill’s Sportswear All-Ireland Senior Handball S-Finals

The race for the 2014 O’Neill’s Sportswear All-Ireland Senior Handball Championship is heating up as this Saturday’s two semi-finals in both the Men’s & Ladies events draw closer. Today at Croke Park, O’Neill’s International Sport Managing Director Kieran Kennedy, Uachtaran Liathroid Laimhe Willie Roche, and top Senior players Aisling Reilly and Diarmuid Nash gathered to launch Saturday’s quadruple bill of top class action,

The impressive Kingscourt HC in Cavan is the host venue on Saturday, where a large crowd is expected to gather to see Ireland’s elite do battle. In the Men’s, three of the players involved are currently ranked in the top five of the official Irish rankings, whilst in the Ladies, the top four seeds have all made the cut, proving that the cream really has risen to the top in this years Championship.

In the first Men’s semi-final, there is a cracking encounter in store at 4pm. Irish number one Robbie McCarthy has cruised into the latter stages, having not dropped more than 12 points in a single game thus far. McCarthy came of age at the New York Pro-Stop last month when he defeated US number one Luis Moreno, before falling to an 11-6 tiebreak against World Champion Paul Brady. McCarthy will deservedly enter as favourite this weekend, with his serving in particular a massively impressive attacking option, but his opponent is a rising star in Irish Handball, who will hold no fear of the Mullingar man. Cork’s Killian Carroll is explosive, his all action play a joy to watch, but he has real substance to his play as well. Carroll is undefeated thus far in 2104, having claimed both the Munster Singles & Doubles titles. He followed this up with a QF win last weekend against experienced Dubliner Eoin Kennedy 21-19, 21-13. This game has the potential to go right to the wire.

In the second semi-final, Clare’s Diarmuid Nash takes on Meath’s Brian Carroll at 5pm. Nash is the current Irish Nationals Champion, and has made his mark on the international stage in the last few months, reaching the final of the Houston Pro-Stop in January. Having lost a Munster semi-final against Killian Carroll a few weeks back, Nash bounced back last weekend when he defeated Brendan Fleming on Saturday, before closing out a 21-19 tiebreaker win over training partner Martin Mulkerrins on Sunday, which leaves him in good stead for his semi-final against Carroll. Meath man Carroll found impressive form himself last weekend, dispatching Vinny Moran on Saturday before taking out Charlie Shanks 21-17 in a tiebreak in Sunday’s QF. The two men have met only once before in competitive action, that being last years Irish Nationals Final when Nash pulled through in a tiebreaker. A tough game is expected, that is too close to call. Both games are sure to provide a real treat for the spectators, who will also get the opportunity to see our top four Ladies in semi-final action from 3pm.

All of the players still in with the chance of All-Ireland glory in the Ladies Championship need no introduction, each of them proven champions in recent years. Top seed, and World Champion Aisling Reilly from Belfast was due to take on Kerry’s Ashley Prendiville in the top bracket semi-final before Prendiville  had to withdraw due to injury. Reilly hasn’t had much competitive game time recently, but showed no signs of rust last week as she dispatched Mayo’s Pauline Gallagher 21-1, 21-7 in the QF.

In the bottom semi-final, Prendiville’s doubles partner, and former four-time champion Maria Daly also has a huge task ahead of her. Catriona Casey will be her opponent, with Casey on a sensational run of form at present, having won 4 out of 4 titles already in 2014 alone. Casey has held the upper hand on Daly in recent meetings, and again looked impressive last weekend when overcoming Amy Corrigan 21-8, 21-7. Daly herself had a comfortable win over Ashling O’Keefe, and can be very clinical on her day. Both Ladies semi-finals have been scheduled to take place immediately after the Girls Cumann na mBunscoil National Day to enable the 24 young stars of the future the chance to see the stars of the present in action. A fantastic day is in store for Handball in Kingscourt this weekend.

All-Ireland Senior Singles Semi-Finals

Sat 15th March, Kingscourt

3pm Ladies Semi-Finals –

Aisling Reilly w/o Ashley Prendiville scr.

Catriona Casey v Maria Daly

4pm Men’s Semi-Final 1 – Robbie McCarthy v Killian Carroll

Men’s Semi-Final 2 – Diarmuid Nash v Brian Carroll