McCarthy romps to eighth All-Ireland senior handball title
There may have been novel finalists but there was nothing unusual about the winners as Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy and Limerick’s Martina McMahon claimed the men’s and ladies’ All-Ireland Senior Singles titles on Saturday.
The matches were played behind closed doors in Crinkle, Co Offaly but streamed free on GAA Handball's social media channels. It made for a surreal atmosphere for one of the biggest occasions in the handball calendar but the quality on show in all grades was high.
McCarthy (33), lining out in his 12th successive decider, faced a new opponent in Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins. The Mullingar right-hander started well, racing into a 12-4 lead, but Mulkerrins began to find his range on aggressive kills from deep and came back to level matters at 13.
However, McCarthy showed his experience as he pinned the Moycullen man in the back court and his deft touches in the front proved the difference as he produced a succession of trademark paddle kills to close out the first 21-15 before pulling away for an easy 21-8 win in game two.
Athlone-based soldier McCarthy's preparation was disrupted this year but his class was never in doubt as he secured title number eight in impressive fashion.
“I was really busy with work, even during lockdown, the Defence Forces were doing a lot. It gave me a nice bit of a break. I still did an odd run here and there but I wasn’t in a handball alley obviously and I wasn’t getting to train properly.
“I just did a little bit to tick over, I piled on a heap of weight at one stage and then had to get rid of it when I went back. It was a new thing for me this year I suppose.
“I just kept plugging away. It wasn’t that I missed it or that I didn’t miss it. I got to spend more time at home.
“It was nice to get the break but it wasn’t nice the way it happened. I didn’t want the break but I got the break so I took it.”
McCarthy will now meet Mulkerrins again in the delayed 40x20 Senior Singles final in December, restrictions permitting.
Meanwhile, the peerless Martina McMahon was in a different league in the ladies final. She over-powered first-time finalist Ciara Mahon of Kilkenny as she won the first game 21-2 in just 14 minutes.
She name-checked Mullingar's Aoife McCarthy, who toppled Cork's Catriona Casey in the quarter-final, after the game.
“We’re all just fortunate that we can play this year with what has been going on. A lot of us were glad of the break but once I saw in black and white that there was going to be a competition, that was it – gloves tied, goggles on and ready for road,” said McMahon.
“Catriona [Casey] being knocked out by Aoife McCarthy, it was the shock of the year but it just goes to show that in sport, anything can happen.”