GAA Handball All Ireland 40x20 Championships get underway
January 30, 2013The provincial open championships concluded at the weekend and provided an indication of what may follow in the coming months but with a first ever Live Championship draw to determine the upcoming series, there is sure to be added intrigue surrounding the Championship.
"The new live draw brings a new dimension to the championship and with so many players now competing for the title it could prove decisive in determining how things unfold." Commented Paul Brady who is chasing an astonishing 9th successive title win in the event. The draw will go live in two weeks time.
Meanwhile, Armagh's Charly Shanks became just the fourth Irish player to win a US Pro stop as he defeated Naty Alvarado to clinch the Houston, Texas, stop at the weekend and move to the top of the US rankings as a result.
Brady signals intent with another title win...
In Ulster there is little surprise to see Paul Brady pick up where he left off in 2012 - with a title winning series of performances.
The Cavan maestro has literally made the 40x20 court his own in recent times and maintains his incredible record of not having lost a match in singles competitive play in Ireland since the 2004 All Ireland senior final, when he lost to Cork's Tony Healy by 21-20 in the third deciding game. 2013 has started in similar fashion for the Mullahoran man as he powered his way to the Ulster senior singles title again, winning out in the final against Michael Finnegan by 21-14, 21-12.
Ulster also boast the current World Ladies senior champion in Antrim's Aisling Reilly and the St. Paul's player secured the Ulster ladies crown also with a 21-6, 21-9 win over Down's Lorraine Havern.
Galway star is King in Connacht...
Galway's double All Ireland minor winning star, Martin Mulkerrins, is another 'new kid on the block' at Senior level, after claiming the All Ireland 40x20 Intermediate crown in 2012. The Moycullen clubman has emerged as the new senior champion in connacht following his impressive triple line of victories over Mayo men.
Mulkerrins overcame Vinnie Moran by 21-17, 21-11 and followed up with an eye-catching win over Connacht number 1 seeded player, Joe McCann, by 21-11, 21-9 to set up a final showdown with Stephen Cooney. The opening game provided a thrilling contest which Mulkerrins emerged winner by 21-20 and he went into overdrive in the second to open up an 18-1 lead before winning out 21-3.
Meanwhile, Roscommon's Leona Doolin bounced back to form by clinching her first Connacht Ladies Senior Singles title with a provincial final win over Amy Corrigan.
Clare's Nash is tops in Munster...
Clare's rising star, Diarmaid Nash, who made it to his first Mens Open final at national level in 2011, when he lost out in a tie-break to Robbie McCarthy in the Irish Nationals Mens Open final, is the newly crowned Mens Senior Singles champion in Munster.
The Tuamgraney player has certainly been showing immense progress in recent times and added this latest ranking points title to his resume, to follow on from an impressive World 23 & Under singles title win in the Citywest Arena back in October.
A 21-12, 12-21, 21-3 opening round win over Tipperary's Fergal Collins was followed by another pulsating victory in the semis finals against World 19 & Under champion, Killian Carrol of Cork. Nash claimed victory there by 21-13, 15-21, 21-16 against the Mallow clubman and went on to claim the title against another world champion, in 35+ Singles Worlds winner Dominick Lynch, by 21-9, 21-12.
Kilkenny star emerges in Leinster
In Leinster, last season's All Ireland Under 21 champion, and another player to be making a considerable mark on the game at present, Kilkenny's Peter Funchion, has secured his first Leinster Senior Singles Championship crown, denying Johnny Willoughby (Wicklow) in the final.
The Leinster Senior Ladies Singles Champion is again Anna Spence (Kildare) who overcame Patricia Doyle (Wicklow) in the final. Tweet
