Dublin’s Eugene Kennedy will be hoping to carry on the winning family tradition when he takes to the court at handball headquarters on Sunday next in the All-Ireland Emerald Masters (55+) Singles 60x30 Semi-Final against Mayo’s Martin Cronin. Eugene is the father of current Senior Singles and Doubles 60x30 champion, Eoin, and much of the success of the 28 year-old can be attributed to the work of Eugene in the early stages of Eoin’s illustrious career.

Handball has been passed down through the Kennedy family tree and although Eugene will be representing Dublin next weekend, it was growing up in Roscommon where he attuned his handball skills. His father, Paddy Kennedy, won an All-Ireland Junior Doubles title for the Rossies in 1938 and Eugene has collected several over-age All-Ireland titles over the past few years. His most recent big alley success came in 2004, when he partnered Vinny Farrelly to take the Golden Masters Doubles All-Ireland title.
His opponent from the West next Sunday was beaten in last year’s final, and the battle of the pair should be an exciting contest, with both players having a wealth of experience. Cronin has also collected a number of over-age titles, and the Swinford man put in a Trojan performance in last year’s singles final where he lost out to Tipperary’s Packie Mullins 21-20, 21-15. Cronin will be hoping to avenge that defeat, but in Kennedy’s home ground, it won’t be an easy task.

Meanwhile, Mick O’Brien takes on Sligo man Paddy Walsh in the Ruby Masters All-Ireland semi-final, also at Croke Park on Saturday. O’Brien accounted for Kilkenny’s Sean Curran in the Leinster final on a 21-5, 21-6 scoreline. A member of the Na Fianna Club, O’Brien is the holder of three All-Ireland handball medals. He won his first with the Na Fianna Novice Interclub team in 1983. It took him 10 years before winning his second with Ray Quinn in the Golden Masters B doubles and in 2002, he collected his third with Sean Moore in the Diamond Masters Doubles. Now, the 67-year-old is just one-step away from winning his fourth All-Ireland medal.

Also in action at handball headquarters is Na Fianna clubman, Paddy Clerkin who takes on Galway’s Tony McInerney for a place the Emerald Masters B singles final. Clerkin defeated club mate Peter McTiernan in the Leinster final by 21-4, 21-6 and will be up against when he faces the tribesman, but the home fixture could swing the odds in his favour.
All-Ireland championships 60 x 30 semi-finals:

At National Handball Centre, Croke Park, Sunday 30 September, 2.00 p.m.

Ruby Masters Singles: Dublin (Mick O’Brien) v Sligo (Paddy Walsh)
Emerald Masters B Singles: Dublin (Paddy Clerkin) v Galway (Tony McInerney)
Emerald Masters A Singles: Dublin (Eugene Kennedy) v Mayo (Martin Cronin)

Eugene Kennedy with his son, Eoin, current current Senior Singles and Doubles 60x30 champion.