The meeting of the current big alley and small court greats caused quite a stir in the handball fraternity, leading to a sell-out crowd at the Connacht venue. Brady was in devastating form over the two games, demonstrating a varying array of shots and all with clinical finishing, as he powered to a 21-10 win in the first. In the second game, the Dubliner had no answers for the Breffni man as pushed into top gear to finish 21-4 to take his sixth senior singles title.
“I’m delighted with the win,” said dual-star, Brady, who is also a member of the Cavan senior football panel.
“It was always going to be tough against Eoin and I’m just relieved to have come through it.”
Brady, the current World number one, now moves a step closer to equaling the record of eight senior titles held by Kilkenny handball legend, Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh. Brady will return to the court on Saturday next where he partners Michael Finnegan against Wicklow’s Michael Gregan and Johnny Willoughby in the All-Ireland Senior Doubles Semi-Final.
Antrim’s Fiona Shannon also collected her eight All-Ireland Senior Singles title at the Roscommon venue when she defeated fellow Saffron, Aisling Reilly, on a 21-19, 21-11 scoreline in the Ladies Final. The first game provided a marathon of handball as Shannon served for game six times before eventually sealing the deal. Reilly pushed her St Paul’s clubmate in the second, but the current World Champion held firm to take her eight crown.
Meanwhile, in the All-Ireland Minor Final, Tyrone’s Caolan Daly and Meath’s Gary McConnell served up a thriller as the Ulsterman took a 21-20, 21-15 victory to take his first All-Ireland title. The Royal County man had chances in the first but Daly was resilient and finished out the game in style.
GAA 40x20 ALL-IRELAND HANDBALL FINALS
C Daly (Tyrone) df G McConnell (Meath) 21-20, 21-15
F Shannon (Antrim) df A Reilly (Shannon) 21-19, 21-11
P Brady (Cavan) df E Kennedy (Dublin) 21-10, 21-4
