Handball: McCarthy falls at the final hurdle
Westmeath GAA handball news
It wasn’t to be for Robbie McCarthy Jnr on Saturday last, as he bowed out of the All-Ireland Senior Championship at the final hurdle to Clare’s Diarmuid Nash.
Robbie, away from handball for the past twelve months, understandably caused an upset reaching the final. On returning home from a tour of duty, Robbie came back to training with Nash, his world doubles partner in the past number of weeks. With the lads having become like sparring partners, this final match up was always going to be a tough battle.
It was Nash to serve to get things started with Michael Finnegan of Kingscourt in Cavan calling the shots as referee. Robbie took off slow in game one, taking a while longer to get fully warned up but managed to get a few points on the board.
While diving mid-way through the first game Robbie landed on his already injured knee, forcing an injury time out. He came back on court but was not at the races as he lost out on a score line of 21-8 in the first game.
Back on court for game two, Robbie seemed more settled taking a comfortable 19-7 lead. Diarmuid wasn’t giving up though and tried where at all possible to move Robbie from Centre court. It was a nailbiting second game as the long rallies and multiple stoppages came bringing the cam to a close on a scoreline of 21-17 in favour of McCarthy.
It was one of these famous 11-point tiebreakers where it was anybody’s for the taking. Nash quickly bounced ahead with some super shots keeping McCarthy to the back as much as possible and jumping to a 6-0 lead. Robbie fought back and found his rhythm until a questionable skid ball call unsettled the number eight seed. Diarmuid came back to serve reaching to 9-7 in his favour when Robbie brought on a flat roll out.
Robbie made another ace before Diarmuid edged his way back in bringing himself to 10. McCarthy fought until the last not giving it up too easily, with Nash having to serve twice at game ball. On this occasion, it wasn’t to be for Westmeath as Nash took the tiebreaker on a score line of 11-8.
This was the third occasion for the pair to have met in an All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Final and with McCarthy taking the titles in both 2014 and 2019, Nash was hungrier than ever for the title. We congratulate Robbie on another All-Ireland final appearance and wish him a speedy recovery.
We have another final to look forward to this coming Saturday as Robbie McCarthy Snr and his doubles partner Mick Naughton compete in the Emerald Masters ‘A’ Doubles Leinster final. The duo will travel to Crinkle to take on Kilkenny’s Paul Dowling and John Brennan. Wishing the lads all the very best in their Leinster Final.