All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles finals take place on Saturday:
Limerick’s Martina McMahon faces Kilkenny’s rising star Amy Brennan.
By Paul Fitzpatrick
The softball season will reach its conclusion – at least in terms of national competitions – this Saturday at Abbeylara, Co Longford, with the Men’s and Ladies All-Ireland Senior Singles finals down for decision.
Abbeylara will once again be the centre of the Irish handball world this Saturday when the All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles finals take place, with the ladies final throwing in first at 1pm followed by the men’s decider. The matches will be streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.
In the opening match, which serves off at 1pm, Martina McMahon of Limerick faces Kilkenny’s rising star Amy Brennan. McMahon, the Broadford left-hander, has been in imperious form across all codes in recent years, adding to a haul that already ranks among the best in the sport’s history.
In the last 12 months she has won the Senior Softball Doubles alongside Aisling Shanahan, the World Open Doubles in 4-Wall with Aoife McCarthy, the World Open Singles in Wallball, and the All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Singles title earlier this year.
Her semi-final win over McCarthy last weekend was decisive, although McMahon felt the scoreline flattered her.
“I suppose the score didn’t really reflect the game and I think Aoife will probably be disappointed with how she performed. We all know she’s a very good big alley player but I’d say things weren’t clicking for her today. But look, I’m delighted to get the win and move on to next weekend,” she said.
Since undergoing surgery for a serious back injury, McMahon says her focus has shifted.
“I don’t evaluate the year like that (counting trophies). Every competition I play, I just want to win. And I think since the back surgery, I just enjoy the game a lot more… you never know when it will end. I just love the game of handball and long may it continue.”
McMahon has fond memories of Abbeylara, a fantastic facility which previously hosted senior finals.
“I remember playing Catriona (Casey) in my first 60×30 final there. It’s a savage alley, similar to Croke Park, very well maintained, big and high which would suit me. The people of Abbeylara always look after us well.”
Her opponent, Amy Brennan from Clogh HC, is making her first appearance in a Senior Singles final after an impressive campaign. The Kilkenny player accounted for former finalist Mollie Dagg from Kildare before overcoming Aoife Holden in a gruelling semi-final. Brennan edged the opening game 21-19 after a series of long, energy-sapping rallies and sealed the win in the second with some crisp right underhand kills.
“I’m delighted now to be honest, my first senior final,” Brennan said.
“It was never going to be easy – me and Aoife know each other inside and out – but I’m just delighted and looking forward to the final. I can go in and just enjoy it.”
Brennan, a Kilkenny U23 camogie panelist and former county minor, has focused in on this championship since some way out.
“I was disappointed in my 40×20 season this year so I said I’d really give this a good go. The first game was in and out on 20, the second I just wanted to get her out of serve, get into the lead and keep going.”
She knows the challenge ahead.
“Sure Martina is different gravy at this stage but I’m excited. Anything can happen on the day so I’m just going to enjoy it and see how it goes.”
Once the ladies champion is crowned, attention will turn to the men’s final, where Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy chases a 12th Senior Softball Singles title. McCarthy, unbeaten in singles in this code since 2019, booked his place in the final with a hard-fought semi-final win over Brian Carroll of Meath.
“Brian and I go way back so we know each other’s games inside and out. He went on a nice run of kills in the first game (which McCarthy won 21-19).
“We’ve been going around with each other since we were about 11 years of age – we’re both after retiring three times at this stage,” he joked.
“I probably went for a few more shots in the second game, he gave me more chances.”
McCarthy downplayed his position as the foremost softball player in the game, suggesting wryly the younger brigade should have overtaken him by now.
“At the end of the day, I’m 38 now, let’s be real, someone should have caught me by this stage. I should be well gone.”
While disappointed the match is not in the National Handball Centre, he praised the Abbeylara facilities. “It feels a bit down-grading towards the singles but it is what it is. Abbeylara is a savage alley.”
Standing in his way is Meath’s Gary McConnell, who is targeting a rare softball treble after winning the Senior Doubles with Carroll and the Irish Softball Nationals, a prestigious warm-up tournament, in Wexford earlier this year. McConnell overcame Kilkenny’s Kyle Jordan in the semi-final and is relishing the chance to face McCarthy.
“That was the goal at the start of the year – to get back into the Senior Singles final. I’m playing Robbie, that’s what I wanted, and I have it now,” he said.
The Kells man’s path to the final included a comeback win over Sligo’s Cormac Finn in the quarters before getting past youngster Jordan, whose performance impressed him.
“He’s a tricky player, has two brilliant hands and is definitely going to be there in the next couple of years. He caught me out today, I didn’t expect him to be as good as he was.”
McConnell also spoke of the emotional week in the lead-up to the semi-final following the passing of club stalwart Jimmy ‘Noddy’ Black.
“It’s been hard but I’m delighted to be in the final. One big game left – that was the goal at the start of the year. I’m there and I cannot wait.”
Confidence, he says, is high. “I’ve done a lot of work this year, not only on the court but off it, mentally. Today’s performance is gone – you’ll see a different me next week. I can’t wait.”
Both matches will be streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.