The stage is now set and the cast are ready to perform.
On Saturday next at Croke Park handball headquarters, Kilkenny’s Michael Ducksy Walsh will take on Dubliner Eoin Kennedy, in what promises to be an extraordinary M Donnelly 60x30 Senior Singles Final.
The legendary champion of the past, 16-time winner, Walsh makes a return to the final five years after his last appearance. In the other corner, man of the moment, Kennedy,is seeking a fourth consecutive singles title, and will also contest senior doubles honours in two weeks time.
“Since 2001, I have been in the final every year with the exception of 2003 and it’s definitely where every player wants to be,” said Kennedy, a lecturer at NUI Maynooth. “I love the buzz of playing in front of a big crowd, especially with something really important on the line.”
It doesn’t get much more important than an All-Ireland final against Ducksy Walsh, who collected 13 consecutive All-Ireland senior singles titles between 1985 and 1997, and went on to take three further titles from 1999-2001. “Ducksy is the greatest Irish handballer of all-time in my opinion. His success over the years has been incredible and I doubt anyone will ever get near his record of 38 Senior All-Ireland titles,” remarked the St Brigid’s clubman.
Ducksy, a member of famed handball home of Talbot’s Inch, is looking forward to the big event. “They couldn’t come any bigger than facing Eoin and it is great to be back in a final,” said the 41-year-old. “Eoin has been champion for the last three years and he will be the favourite heading into this final - he will be giving it his best shot and I can only do my best too.”
Earlier in the week, the Irish Handball Council announced that this Saturday’s finals are a sell-out and with a line-up with includes Walsh and Kennedy, there has been huge demand for tickets.
"Having a Senior Singles final like this is a great selling point for the game, and with Limerick and Kilkenny also contesting the minor singles final, demand for tickets has exceeded all expectations,” said National Promotions Administrator, Niamh Egan.
A screen has now been erected in the National Handball Centre, where a limited number of people can watch the action as it unfolds live. “We’ve made the best of a bad situation really, and we would urge only those with tickets for the venue to come on Saturday,” said Egan.
Curtain raisers to the eagerly clash of the generations will see a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s Hurling decider when Kilkenny’s Ciarán Burke and Limerick’s CJ Fitzpatrick battle for Minor Singles honours. The Intermediate Doubles final will be contested by Kilkenny and Tipperary, as Eddie Burke and Michael Clifford take on men from the Premier County, Paul Mullins and Adrian Johnson.
Fixtures
Irish Handball Centre, Croke Park, 3pm
Minor Singles: CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick) v Ciaran Neary (Kilkenny)
Intermediate Doubles : Paul Mullins & Adrian Johnson (Tipperary) v Eddie Burke & Michael Clifford (Kilkenny)
Senior Singles : Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh (Kilkenny) v Eoin Kennedy (Dublin)
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