Senior championship goes into overdrive
August 05, 2008
The All-Ireland Senior Singles Softball Championship goes into overdrive this weekend as the top eight big alley players fight is out for semi-final places.
Defending champion, Eoin Kennedy faces a tough battle with Westmeath young-gun Robbie McCarthy, who many feel has yet to show his full array of talents since his move to the senior grade. Kennedy is bidding for his fifth All-Ireland Senior Singles title in a row and it will take a top performance from the Lake County youngster to undo the softball master in Crinkle (Offaly).
Mayo kingpin, Dessie Keegan meets last year's surprise semi-finalist, Wicklow's Michael Gregan in his quarter-final in Mullingar. Keegan is seeded four in this year's champion but Gregan will not be dwelling on the script this weekend and has the potential to cause an upset. Last year, the Coolboy handballer defeated Meath stalwart, and this year's number three seed, Tom Sheridan in the quarter-final before going down to Kilkenny maestro, Michael Ducksy Walsh in the next round.
Walsh is also in action this weekend and takes on Sheridan's doubles partner, Kells clubman, Brian Carroll. Like McCarthy, Carroll has yet to show his full potential since his move to the top grade but having already overcome Wexford's Cormac Smyth and Mayo's Vinnie Moran, he will not fear the legend of Ducksy.
In the final game of the weekend at Crinkle, Tom Sheridan meets Kerry's Dominic Lynch in one of the Kingdom's longest runs in the men's senior singles championship. Lynch caused an upset in the last round, taking number six seed, Mayo's Joe McCann and will be hoping to continue his winning ways when he meets the Royal veteran on Saturday. Sheridan last collected an All-Ireland title in 2003 but is a formidable force and when these two lefties clash, a hard-fought contest is expected.
M DONNELLY ALL-IRELAND SENIOR SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-Final Fixtures
At Crinkle, Friday 8th August, 8.00pm
Eoin Kennedy (Dublin) v Robert McCarthy (Westmeath)
At Mullingar, Saturday 9th August, 6.00pm
Dessie Keegan (Mayo) v Michael Gregan (Wicklow)
At Crinkle, Saturday 9th August, 6.00pm
Tom Sheridan (Meath) v Dominic Lynch (Kerry)
Brian Carroll (Meath) v Michael Ducksy Walsh (Kilkenny)
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