Two fascinating Senior Softball Doubles finals are set for this Saturday at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park (1pm), with Meath facing Westmeath in the men’s final and Galway taking on Limerick in the ladies decider.

The men’s final brings together Meath’s blend of power, speed and craft against the supreme class of one of the game’s all-time greats. Gary McConnell and Brian Carroll form a well-balanced partnership, with McConnell’s raw strength and beautiful touches on the left side complementing Carroll’s speed, intelligence and court awareness on the right. The pair have won four Senior Doubles titles together in the big aley, and Carroll has seven from his partnership with Tom Sheridan.

Lining out against them will be the outstanding Robbie McCarthy, widely regarded as the greatest player of his generation. A peerless figure in the 60x30 code, McCarthy has amassed 11 Senior Singles titles and remains at the peak of his powers. His dominance is not confined to one code either, having also captured the World Open Doubles crown last November in the 4-Wall with Joe McCann.

McCarthy’s movement, killing ability and composure under pressure make him the stand-out performer in the sport. His partner, Colm Jordan, a former Intermediate Singles champion from Fermoy, is a clever and gritty competitor who holds his own in any contest. A veteran, Jordan is an accomplished performer in his own right but Meath will likely try to target the big man on the right side, but the Cork native is well equipped to handle the heat.

The match-up offers an intriguing contrast of styles and has the makings of a classic, with both pairs showing good form last time out.

In the Ladies Senior Doubles final, a new name will be etched on the cup as Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin and Niamh Heffernan go head-to-head with Limerick’s Martina McMahon and Aisling Shanahan.

Ní Churraoin and Heffernan come into the final on the back of a dominant semi-final display against Jodie Keeling and Aoife McCarthy, winning 21-0, 21-10. Though more experienced in the 4-Wall and wallball formats, the Galway duo have adapted well to the big alley game. Ní Churraoin has already claimed national titles in Minor Singles, Minor Doubles and Intermediate Singles and brings a strong left-sided presence.

Their opponents, McMahon and Shanahan, dispatched Kilkenny’s Amy Brennan and Aoife Holden with ease in the semi-final, 21-10, 21-5. McMahon, a multiple-time champion and the reigning world wallball title holder, has returned from a serious back injury in stunning form. Her power and attacking instincts, along with her composure in big matches, make her one of the finest female players in the sport’s history. Shanahan, who won the All-Ireland U17 Singles title in 2018, has been a rising force and is seeking her first senior Celtic Cross.

Both finals promise a high standard of play and compelling contests. Coverage will be streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.

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