10th US Nationals title for Brilliant Brady
June 15, 2015
Cavan's Paul Brady secured a phenomenal 10th title at the 65th USHA National Four-Wall Championships at the Los Caballeros Sports Village in Fountain Valley, California on Saturday evening.
The Cavan man has now ammassed an incredible 10 All Ireland Singles titles, 10 All Ireland Doubles titles and now 10 US Nationals titles to confirm his status as not just the greatest Handballer of his generation but also one of the greatest Irish sportsmen to grace a sporting arena.
Brady entered Saturday's final following wins over Tyler Stoffel (Minnesota), Vic Perez (Los Angeles) in the earlier rounds only conceding a maximum of 6 points to each. He followed this up with a semi final victory over the last man to defeat him, Armando Ortiz (California) with a confident 21-6, 21-11 victory, as he set up a repeat victory over last year's finalist Emmett Peixoto (California) to capture his 10th title.
Peixoto started well in the final, scoring the fist three points on his first serve to take an early 3-0 lead. Once Brady settled his incredible power and fitness took over scoring 21 of the next 24 points to take a one-game lead. Game two saw Brady take a 3-0 lead before a six-point Peixoto run momentarily shifted the momentum. A timeout by Brady quashed the Peixoto momentum and Brady showing exceptional control of the ball scored 21 of the final 25 points of the match to take the coveted 10th title, 21-6, 21-8. Brady is only one title behind the record holder Naty Alvarado who has 11 US Nationals titles but few would bet against the Cavan man surpassing that and smashing yet another record in what continues to be a remarkable career.
Meanwhile it will be an all Irish affair in Sunday's Ladies Open Final as Cork's Catriona Casey advanced to the final following a nearly 90-minute battle against rising 18-year old sensation Cianna Ni Churraoin of Galway winning out, 21-11, 21-9 in the end. Casey will face her greatest rival, Aisling Reilly from Antrim, in today's final. Reilly simply overwhelmed and overpowered Danielle Daskalakis of New York in the second women's semifinal, sweeping both games in less than 35 minutes.
