In an interview for the Meath GAA Yearbook 12 months ago Tom Sheridan reflected on a hugely successful 2003 campaign, but also contemplated his future and wondered if he would continue to put his body through the punishing schedule involved in a sport that has been a huge part of his life for a quarter of a century or more. The Kells man, whose dedication and commitment to the game of handball over so many years has to be truly admired, did continue into 2004 and his continued efforts were rewarded when he teamed up once again with his trusted partner Walter O'Connor to claim the All-Ireland 60x30 senior single title at Croke Park on the last Saturday of September. The Royal County duo were maintaining their dominance of this particular championship and they have now won six out of the last seven doubles titles together, which clearly represents a tremendous rate of consistency. Sheridan's record in the All-Ireland senior doubles championship is particularly impressive as his 2004 triumph represented the eighth time he has achieved outright success. He also claimed the doubles crown on two occasions with fellow Kells player James McGovern - himself a superb exponent of the game - back in both 1992 and '94. Sheridan and O'Connor had clinched the title in 2003 when beating Wexford pair Tommy Hynes and Colin Keeling in the decider, a matter of days after the Meath duo had clashed in the All-Ireland singles final, with Sheridan defeating his doubles partner and great friend 21-6, 21-12 to win that championship for the first time. This year, Sheridan secured a High Court injunction the day before the final against a six-month suspension imposed on him by the handball authorities and he and O'Connor clearly didn't allow that to upset their concentration as they claimed yet another title in the presence of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, who was in attendance at the finals for the first time, along with her husband Martin. Sheridan and O'Connor defeated that legendary figure from the sport of handball Michael 'Duxie' Walsh and his Kilkenny partner Eugene Downey 21-19, 21-7 as they turned in a thoroughly committed and spirited performance in the final. However, the Meath combination had to work extremely hard to claim the first game, having appeared to take command of proceedings when moving into a very useful 18-13 lead. But the Kilkenny men stormed back strongly to push ahead 19-18 after taking six successive aces and they looked poised to take an early advantage. To their credit, Sheridan and O'Connor responded positively to the challenge and took the last three aces to clinch the opening game and set themselves up nicely to claim the doubles championship title once again. The second game was competitive in the very early stages as the men from Kilkenny battled to keep their title hopes on track, but Sheridan and O'Connor soon took command and pushed ahead to win it and the title. It certainly represented a tremendous achievement for two men with a combined age of 72 as the two 36 year-olds claimed yet another All-Ireland title and it was a very nice and fitting gesture by Sheridan when he presented his medal to well-known Trim solicitor Michael Regan who had represented him the previous day. Four months earlier Sheridan had been honoured at Cabra Castle Hotel in Kingscourt when he was named as the Irish handballer of the year at the FBD Irish Handball Awards. The Kells player was certainly a very worthy recipient of that particular accolade which was in recognition of his outstanding achievements in 2003 when he claimed that historic All-Ireland singles title and then added the doubles crown along with O'Connor. That singles crown will undoubtedly always hold a special place for a player who has been to the forefront of the game of handball since he won his first national title as an under-12 way back in 1979. However, O'Connor, who had claimed the All-Ireland singles title in 1998 when he deprived 'Duxie' Walsh of a 14th successive crown, was probably a player Sheridan would have preferred not to come face-to-face with in the final. And that would be very understandable considering that they play and train together so often and are such good friends. But that was how it worked out and both players simply had to get on with the task of trying to win the championship. Sheridan was favourite going into the most important match of the year following an impressive run to the final which included victories over reigning champion Eoin Kennedy of Dublin at the quarter-final stage and Tommy Hynes from Wexford at the penultimate hurdle. And he took control of the final from an early stage and claimed the first game very comfortably on a 21-6 score line, before O'Connor battled back bravely in the second. However, Sheridan proved too strong and won it 21-15 to claim the title for the first time, much to the delight of the sizable travelling support from his home town. "I'm delighted that he won, but would prefer if I didn't have to play him in the final," O'Connor had said in the aftermath of the Croke Park showdown in 2003. "It was a surreal atmosphere that seemed to affect both of us. After all, we train together four nights a week all year round." When the pair went on to team up together a matter of days later and win the doubles crown they might have been forgiven for calling it a day and accepting that age was catching up on them, but they didn't and their reward was another doubles crown this year. Sheridan spoke a year ago about injuries to his ankles and knees and how he felt it in the morning after training or playing when coming down the stairs. He had considered packing it in, but after achieving so much additional success since he is surely very glad that he didn't opt out and that O'Connor has stayed by his side as his doubles partner. But how was Sheridan feeling going into the 2004 doubles decider after the High Court sitting the day before? "I wasn't really distracted going into the final the day after the court hearing," he commented. "Myself, Walter and Karl Browne kept training away because we felt it was a cut and dried case. Our fitness levels remained quite good because we kept at it. "It was a really big relief to get the court hearing over and done with and to know that I was clear to play in the final. We moved into a good 18-13 lead in the first game, but they came back at us and edged ahead, before we finished it strongest to win it. "We opened up a very big lead in the second game. They got a few consolation aces near the end, but we still won it well." After all his successes does the Kells player still get a thrill out of winning championships? "I still get a big thrill out of it," he added. "That was my 51st All-Ireland title and Walter has won over 40, so between the two of us we have about 100. "After the final I gave my All-Ireland medal to my solicitor Michael Regan because he did so much for me in court the day before. Without his help I wouldn't have got the opportunity to play. I just wanted to show my appreciation." Sheridan, O'Connor, Brian Carroll and Karl Browne teamed up to bring the All-Ireland 40x20 Club Championship title to the Kells club in 2004 as they defeated St. Paul's from Belfast in the final. However, the Kells men were deprived of a big Club Championship double as Ballagh-aderreen beat them in the 60x30 decider. "It's nice to win titles with your club because you are lining out with the lads who you are playing with all year round," Sheridan said of the club success. The big question now will once again centre on Sheridan's future and whether or not he will continue to compete in a sport that he has dedicated so much of his life to for such a long number of years. After all, he is now 36, the same age as his doubles partner O'Connor. "I really don't know if I will continue after all that happened and I am also busy at work," Sheridan said as he reluctantly thought ahead. "I have done very little since the doubles final and Walter hasn't been in an alley since. Maybe later on I will feel different. I just don't know." Whatever Sheridan's decision, the one certainty is that he has done his club, his town and his county proud during a long and highly successful career. Like O'Connor, he has absolutely nothing to prove. Tweet

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