Mayo kingpins, Ballaghaderreen will be aiming for a third consecutive 40x20 All-Ireland Open Club title when they take to the alley against Gort na Móna (Antrim) on Sunday next.

Last weekend, Brackey (Tyrone) defeated Wicklow’s Coolboy in the All-Ireland Junior Club Final, but a very tough encounter awaits their fellow Ulstermen against Ballaghaderreen. The team from the West have dominated club proceedings in recent years, winning four of the last five finals. In 2006, the Mayo club brushed aside the challenge of Kells (Meath) to take their third title and earlier this year the same players added their fourth 60x30 All-Ireland Club title in a row.

Led by hard-hitter, Dessie Keegan, the team is well balanced with a consistent doubles partnership in Vinnie Moran and captain, Paul Flynn, and last singles player, Joe McCann add further depth to the team’s abilities. “I think our main strength is the fact we have no major weakness in any of our players – that’s key,” said captain, Paul Flynn.

Keegan will face the familiar figure of Ricky McCann in the first singles and the pair will no doubt fight out another exhilarating battle. Keegan will be anxious to redeem himself after last year’s Inter-club semi-final, where McCann powered his way to a 21-16, 21-5 win. Last weekend, Keegan overcame one of America’s top players, Emmet Peixoto, during Ireland’s victory of the Casey-Lawlor Cup in San Francisco and this will inevitably boost his confidence.

“If Dessie can hold Ricky, we are in with a great chance,” said Flynn. “His win against Emmet is a major boost and can hopefully give him an edge against Ricky.”

Doubles duo, Flynn and Moran will then most likely face left hander, Paddy Crothers and John McCarry. Moran is also a powerful left-hander and this battle should produce some great rallies. The final pair to enter the alley will be McCann and Gort na Móna’s Eddie Mallon. McCann pulled back a 17 point deficit against Mallon when the side’s met in last year’s semi-final and will be confident of securing victory in this meeting.

“Joe is a fantastic singles player and we’re always confident when he takes into the final singles game,” said the Ballaghaderreen team captain. “This game is huge for us; we defeated Gort na Móna to take our first title in 2003 and this is the one competition we have where we play as a unit.

“I think better promotion and time should be devoted to the Club competitions and I hope next Sunday sees us with our fourth All-Ireland title,” concluded Flynn.

Meanwhile, the Irish Junior Handball team will have their final training session on Sunday next, ahead of their assault on the USHA Junior Nationals in Tucson, Arizona, with team manager, Michael Ducksy Walsh, putting them through their paces.

ALL-IRELAND 40x20 OPEN CLUB FINAL:
At Kingscourt, Sunday 16 December, 2.00 p.m.
Ballaghaderreen
(Dessie Keegan, Paul Flynn, Vinnie Moran, Joe McCann)
v
Gort na Móna
(Ricky McCann, John McGarry, Paddy Crothers, Eddie Mallon, Martin Osborne)


Des Keegan