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Eoin Kennedy Wins 3rd 60 by 30 All-Ireland Single Title in Thriller - Mon, 4 Sep 2006

Eoin Kennedy was made to fight all the way before securing his third softball singles title in a row against the Tom Sheridan of Meath in an  exciting All-Ireland 60 x 30 singles finale in Croke Park. Eoin is a true Champion & St Brigids are very proud of Eoin.

Eoin Kennedy from Dublin and Meath's Tom Sheridan arrived on court for the big final.  Tomas O' Briain introduced the players to the packed gallery.  Kennedy opened with an early 4-0 lead.  On his 3rd service Sheridan opened with a trademark "kill" and looked to the crowd defiant.  He was clearly up for the battle right from the off. He made his intentions known and laid down the marker for Kennedy.  Another kill from Sheridan and then a blistering passing shot on Eoin's right had Sheridan back in the game.  Kennedy with an overhand serve kept the ball in Sheridan's right and at the start this ploy worked.  A number of scores coming from Sheridan's right side and Kennedy's great fitness over the court had him in the lead by 12-4.  Sheridan is made of stern stuff as the great Royal lion heart that he is roared back into contention in typical Meath fashion.  Sheridan assumed control like an experienced general and with good positioning and tactical awareness. 

Sheridan has lost some of the pace that seen him win the first of his 60 x 30 senior doubles contests back in 1992 but still he hasn't lost his trademark kills and battling skills he his renowned for.  Giving 12 years to Kennedy he fought back and took the lead 15-14 with a great comeback.  The tension was mounting as both sets of supporters got behind their heroes.  Sheridan exerted great pressure as Kennedy got scores hard to get.  He managed to draw level at 18-18.  Sheridan dived in to put him on game ball but Kennedy with an excellent kill saved 1st game ball. Sheridan immediately got him out and he in turn wasted no time in taking the game by 21-19 on his second attempt.

Sheridan continued from game one and went into a 4-0 lead.  It was a very close second game. With scores level at 6, and 7.  Sheridan with great serves a number of them sent Kennedy the wrong way. The Kells club man with a narrow 11-10 lead forced the pace and he had the Champion rattled as he went ahead 15-10.  It is the stature of a great champion that Kennedy is in the way he came back from the brink. Kennedy with a Lazarus like recovery and rallied in great style. It was a titanic battle royal with Kennedy calling on all his experience in tight situations drew level at 15-15.  The noise in the Croke Park cauldron was almost deafening as the two gladiators fought for supremacy. It was level at 17,18,19.  Kennedy got the decisive break and with 2 points of the right side wall ensured the final was going to a decisive third game.

Kennedy went in front 5-0 in the third but Sheridan swept back to 5-4.  The Meath's man's gigantic effort to win the second began to take its toll.  Sheridan drained from the exploits from the previous game while Kennedy got a new lease of life. He kept Sheridan at the back for long spells while at the same time gaining in confidence with scores. Sheridan knew the game was near up when he gave a wry smile as he ran from the front to the back court, to try to retrieve a Kennedy return as it landed in the left corner with Kennedy leading 18-5.  Kennedy became the first Dublin player to win the softball singles treble when he put the ball away in the left corner.

Tom Walsh made the presentations and congratulated both players for a great game. Martin Donnnelly presented Tom Sheridan with his runners-up medal and the Independent cup to the winner Eoin Kennedy.

I spoke to Eoin Kennedy afterwards and asked him could he have imagined the success he now has at the start of the year.

"To be honest my main goal was to compete in as many competitions as I could.  Going to the world championships I had trained hard and knew I had a good chance. To win the doubles I was delighted.  Looking back I probably did not have enough time to really prepare for the softball singles when I got back.  You could see the difference between me and Tom Sheridan.  He was really killing the ball where as I was of dropping it in 2 ft high and missing. It was the picking and driving the ball that got me out of it".  Kennedy also praised Sheridan as a great player.

I asked Kennedy his thoughts and feelings just after winning the final. "Absolutely delighted to have won here" came the immediate response from the champion.  "I would have taken 21-20 in the third.  It doesn't matter how you win as long as you get over the finishing line.  As far as I am concerned from my perspective it wasn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination.  I got there in the end and I am just delighted."

Next question I put to Eoin that he really had to dig deep to win the second game coming from behind 15-10 down.  "Yes, at 15-10 Sheridan missed two kills just barely missed them.  I got in and killed 3 or 4 chances and suddenly it was 15 all and I was back in the game. At that stage I just wanted to try and scrape over the finishing line. Once it went to a third game I got a good start and that was it."

Final question I asked Eoin on his thoughts on the Senior Doubles final in two weeks time.  "Oh yes that is going to be another really tough game the Wexford lads are very strong Barry Goff the left hander which is always an advantage in doubles and Gavin Buggy is also very strong on the right.  I and Egin are quite experienced as we have played for two years together.  We are defending out title and we are not going to give it up easily."

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