Dublin's Kennedy completes a unique All-Ireland Treble

On Saturday 7 September, Eoin Kennedy, the DCU research student and St Brigid's Blanchardstown and Castleknock club-man, became the second Dubliner in 50 years to win an All-Ireland Senior Singles Handball final at Croke Park. In the final he defeated none other than the legendary Michael 'Duxie' Walsh of Kilkenny, a man who has rewritten the handball history books throughout his career at the top level.

23 year-old Kennedy, an electronic engineering research student at Dublin City University, added the All-Ireland Senior 60x30 Singles title to the All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Singles and Irish Open Singles crowns already captured earlier in the year, thus completing a unique treble in the sport.

In fact, his 2002 record includes the Irish Universities title in February, the Irish Open in March, the All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Singles title in May, the Munster 60x30 Open in July and now the 2002 Senior 60x30 title. Thus Kennedy has proved himself over the last twelve months to be the outstanding Irish handballer.

The players were welcomed by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the galleries were absolutely packed with large crowds supporting both players and providing a tension filled atmosphere. Kennedy won the match decisively by producing a powerful display of offensive handball repeatedly finishing off the rallies with precision killing. In the second game Walsh rallied to within a single ace 9-10, but Kennedy held his nerve and with a succession of passing shots pulled away to 18-10. A few minutes later he won the vital 'gameball' and match point to wrest the title from Walsh.

Throughout the match Kennedy displayed a wide variety of skills, superb shot selection and execution and his extraordinary fitness. Over the last twelve months he has greatly matured as a player and now has the confidence to go on the offensive. His superb 'killing' of the ball was a highlight of the final.

In receiving the Purcell Cup, Eoin joins an illustrious band of players stretching back over eighty years. He also completes an unprecedented sweep of All-Ireland Singles titles at all levels of Under 14, Under 16, Minor, Under 21, Intermediate and now Senior level.