Ballaghaderreen Handball Club
By Kevin Mulligan
The Dublin star came through a titanic battle in his
semi final with local favourite Dessie Keegan. Keegan was the first player to
take a game off Kennedy all weekend, coming despairingly close to a final spot,
losing 11-7 in the tiebreak.
McCarthy’s progress to
the final was more serene. The Westmeath man was in stunning form throughout
the opening rounds of the tournament, thrilling the packed gallery at
Ballaghaderreen handball club with his devastating and seemingly effortless
power.
In the first game of the final was an extremely tight
affair. Kennedy looked unusually slow off the mark in the opening rallies, a
fact which McCarthy took full advantage of. The Mullingar native seemed to
sense this, pouncing on any half chance Kennedy presented him.
McCarthy’s shot making
was stunning in the opening game, taking balls at shoulder height and slamming
them in for corner kills. However he was failing to score heavily when serving.
This led to both players trading aces until the game went to 14 all. At this
point Kennedy showed his true form as a champion. Nearly all of the rallies
which followed were on an epic scale, over 20 shots in length. But it was the
Dublin man who was coming out on top, producing classy finished when they were
most needed. Kennedy closed out the first game 21-14, showing a tenacious
desire for victory.
The second game was something of a failure-to-launch
for McCarthy. He was still producing stunning shots to win rallies, and his
movement around the court was impressive to say the least. However Kennedy was
firmly in championship mode. He began to control the game and shape the rallies
to his advantage. Racing to an early lead, Kennedy was seemingly on autopilot
as he finished rally after rally with delicate corner kills.
McCarthy tried everything to stop the onslaught,
changing his game to try and move Kennedy around the court and refusing kill
shot opportunities he was rolling out in the first game to try and bring the
ball out and move Kennedy out of front court. But Kennedy would not be denied.
His will to win was tangible as he stormed to a 21-3 victory.
Taking the Gaffney cup in this dominating manner will
be a great boost to Kennedy as the 2011 championship season looms large.
McCarthy may also take heart in the fact that last year he lost to the Dubliner
in the final, but then went on to beat his in the Lienster championship two
weeks later.
A special thanks from Ballaghaderreen handball club
goes to Pat Towey Costcutter Express and service station, Ladbrokes, Durkin’s hotel and Spell’s bar for their support and sponsorship.
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