Following some thrilling singles battles over the past few weeks, attention in the handball world has now shifted to the M DONNELLY Senior Doubles Championship.

Meath’s Carl Browne and Gary McConnell open the weekend’s action when they take on a strong Wexford pairing of Colin Keeling and Gavin Buggy at Ballymore Eustace tonight (Friday).

Both Wexford players were defeated in the early stages of the singles competition and have now turned their focus to the doubles where they remain major contenders to make the final stages.

In the second clash at the Kildare venue, the father and son pairing of Robert McCarthy Junior and Senior face tough Dublin opposition in Ian Griffin and Christy Donnelly. Both Na Fianna clubmen have been in action in recent weeks in the Leinster circuit and have their sights firmly set on making the quarter-finals of this competition. Westmeath’s McCarthy duo are determined that their mix of youth and experience will see them through, and the talented Robbie Junior could be the difference between the pairings.

The Tipperary team of Ger Coonan and Martin McInerney were forced to pull out of the doubles competition after McInerney sustained an injury to his shoulder in the Munster Doubles final during the week. This allows Roscommon’s Damien Martin and Rikki O’Gara an easy route to the quarter-final stages of the competition. Also in action this weekend are the second Tipp pairing of David Maloney and Noel Murphy, who face a battle with Kerry’s Dominick Lynch and John Joe Quirke at Broadford on Saturday night.


Robbie McCarthy Jun (Westmeath) in action