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Eoin Kennedy Makes It 4 in a Row defeating Duxie Walsh in All-Ireland Final - Mon, 3 Sep 2007

Well done to Eoin Kennedy on capturing a historic 4 in a row in the 60 by 30 Senior Singles. It was also great to see that Julie Long was remembered with a minutes silence before the start of the game. A special thanks to the fantastic support from the club for Eoin. Eoin will be next up in the doubles final in Croke Park on Saturday August 15th. To obtain tickets, please call Eimear on 01-8192383 or email niamh@handball.ie.

Dubliner Eoin Kennedy took the Martin Donnelly All-Ireland softball singles title for the 4th year in succession following his impressive win over the legendary Michael Ducksy Walsh from Kilkenny in Croke Park on September 1st last writes Michael McGee. Such was the attraction of seeing the big two in action there was queues outside the Croke Park handball centre an hour before the start. Eileen Dunne from RTE the well known Newsreader kept up the proud family tradition officiating as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

And so the stage was set for the finale. Eoin Kennedy came on court and Michael "Ducksy" Walsh soon after to a huge cheer. Before the start there was a minutes silence for the late Eamon Law and Dublin's Julie Long who passed away this year. Katie McCarthy sung Amhran na bhFiann faultlessly. Eoin Kennedy got an unbelievable start as he hit 16 times champion Walsh for 16-0 in the opening skirmishes. Right from the start Kennedy had his homework done meticulously. Kennedy was very patient keeping the ball high up on the front wall, thus keeping Walsh out from the dangerous short line where he could off load winners from. Kennedy's two prong attack on Walsh worked a treat with the high returns to the front wall and the high lobbing serve to Walsh's left corner landing over on the right proved winners. Walsh from that whirlwind start from Kennedy managed to breath some life into his game and he gained 4 points. Kennedy kept the ball high up on the front wall waiting for Ducksy to make the mistakes. Kennedy went further clear to be on game ball and had chance to close out the game. Instead of going for a close in point he chose a passing shot that Ducksy reacted quickly too. Walsh hit back with 6 points of his own. Kennedy his second attempt made sure with a volley over on the right side for a 21-10 win in game one which lasted a little over 30 minutes in duration.

Game two Kennedy opened with a 6-0 lead. Ducksy at 41 y.o. put in a determined bid to get back into it. Walsh was dangerous when he got the chances from the short line in. Now it was Kennedy's turn to make some forced errors. Walsh cut the ball out and with a kill off the grid was only 2 behind Kennedy at 7-5. Kennedy patient in his play. Walsh won an excellent rally again when he ran in and got under the ball and rolled out. There was wild deafening cheers from the Kilkenny faithful as Ducksy at last showing some signs of the Ducksy of old to be only 7-6 behind. It was at this stage that Kennedy used another ploy and it worked perfectly. Kennedy using low hard drives with power. After winning point number 10 Kennedy with clenched fist sensed he had Walsh for the taking. For point number 13 Kennedy with a high lobbing ball to Walsh's left corner and was heading for the right corner. Walsh stumbled backwards and ended up falling beside the glass side wall. He picked himself up and was ready to continue. Kennedy with powerful passing returns to Walsh's left and right had him in a very commanding position and the champion went for the jugular. A number of quick scores off the left and right corners had him on game ball and he duly finished it as Walsh missed the return. Kennedy raised his arms in triumph and both players embraced at the end. Uachtaran Cumann Leathcleas Gael Nicky Brennan presented fellow Kilkenny man Ducksy Walsh with his runners-up medal and the Corn Puirseil Cup and winners medal to Eoin Kennedy.

Afterwards Ducksy Walsh clearly disappointed kindly talked to me and I asked him his thoughts on the game just finished. "I'm disappointed but I can't have any complaints the best player won on the night. Eoin was too strong. I gave it my best shot, played hard, I've no complaints."

I then put it to Eoin Kennedy that it was a tremendous achievement the 4-in-a-row and to beat Ducksy in a great final what was his thoughts afterwards?

"Yes, absolutely delighted came the quick reply from the champion. I felt under a lot of pressure coming into the game. Going for the 4-in-a-row and also up against a great champion like Ducksy. Having played him in 2001/2002 and I played him in the semi-final last year. I knew how tough it was going to be. I was really trying to concentrate on my own game. Getting off to a good lead at the start was crucial it helped me to relax and play my game then."

I then put it to Eoin that he had a good game plan going into the final keeping Ducksy out from the front with the high ball onto the front wall with accurate serving and then the low hard drives in the second game.

"Yes, Ducksy's game is based on serve & volley. He likes to go underneath the ball. I was determined to try to bring the ball out over his head or bounce it in front of him so that he couldn't meet the ball on the fly. It worked out for me tonight."

Turning his thoughts to the doubles final in two weeks time Eoin said "we're really looking forward to it. I think it is going to be a cracker. The Mayo boys are really up for it. They said it is going to be their goal this year to win the doubles. Myself and Egin are playing for the last number of years and are experienced. We played well in the semi-finals. I think it is going to be a right belter of a game. A crowd pleaser as well. As far as we're concerned we don't mind as long as we win it" concluded the happy Dubliner.

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