Eoin Kennedy wins All Ireland Handball Title
Wednesday, 14 September 2005

Eoin Kennedy

Dublin's Eoin Kennedy retained his All-Ireland 60 x 30 Senior Singles Crown at Croke Park on Saturday night, when he defeated Wexford's Barry Goff, in two straight games, 21-20, 21-6. The St Brigid's player has now taken the coveted 60 x 30 title three times and it brings his total haul of Senior All-Ireland titles to eight.

After taking an early lead with four unanswered points, Goff continued to race ahead until at one stage he was 17-5 up on Kennedy. An undeterred Kennedy, showed why he was favourite, staging a remarkable comeback which saw Goff stuck on 17 as Kennedy raced to just one behind him at 16. With Goff getting in to serve again at 18, he managed to take the game to match point and had his large crowd of supporters on the edge of their seats. However, Kennedy's renowned steeliness served him well and as he regained serve to take it to 20-20, with both players evenutally having to play the rally again after a hinder ball. The break in the game served Kennedy well and he took the first game with a well placed shot low to the front wall.

With the first game being such a close encounter, the crowd were expecting the predicted three game thriller. It wasn't to be though as, after producing a series of stunning shots in his first game, it became clear Goff, did not have the legs required to outgun the St Brigid's Clubman. Kennedy took the early lead at 4-1 in the second game and while Goff remained stuck at 3, Kennedy raced ahead to make it 19-3 before Goff regained serve. With just too much to do for the Castlebridge man, he only regained two more marks before Kennedy finished the game off with two consecutive scores.

Speaking about his win Kennedy said, "I was a bit worried early on in the first game as I knew Barry was well focused for the final, but then I managed to regain my focus and luckily for me it turned out my way in the end. I've had a lot of support from my family, DCU and my club St Brigid's and I'm delighted I've managed to retain the title, both for them and also myself".

In the Intermedaite Doubles title, Roscommon players Damien Martin and Rikki O'Gara were the surprise package of the night, overcoming the experienced Carl Browne and Peter Reilly of Meath, 21-18, 21-4 to take Roscommon's first ever ID 60 x 30 title. The delighted pair held their nerve well in the first game and given such a confidence boost made light work of their opponents in the second game.

Westmeath's Robert McCarty did not disappoint his fans in the Minor Singles Final as he claimed his second consecutive Minor title on a 21-7, 21-0 scoreline over Waterford's David Hickey. The Mullingar player will celebrate his eighteenth birthday later this week and many up and coming Minor players will breathe a sigh of relief at his move to the next grade. Hickey will be back in action in the Senior Doubles Final on Saturday, 24th September, at Croke Park when he and David Walsh will meet Kilkenny's Richie and Patrick Hogan.