2024 4-Wall World 4-Wall Championships Updates: Saturday

Posted on Nov 2 2024 - 12:30pm by DV

Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles Semifinals

Dublin, IRE, WPH Press, 11/2/24

Men’s Open Singles Semifinals

Top-seeded Martin Mulkerrins was aiming for his second World Singles Championship, while Paul Brady was aiming for his unprecedented sixth. Mulkerrins entered the event in top form, having won his last five WPH Race 4 Eight pro starts, while Paul Brady entered just his second event of the year after forfeiting April’s All Ireland final with a huge lead after suffering a leg injury.

Brady showed no signs of the aforementioned injury, diving repeatedly to extend rallies in the first game. Brady led throughout the first game, with his biggest lead coming at 11-5. Mulkerrins stayed within striking range, closing the gap to 11-12, but Brady separated himself from there. A deep court kill to score his thirteenth point, an ace, and another kill quickly ended the first game. Now soaring with confidence, Brady was in full flight in game two, dominating the action from start to finish to stun Mulkerrins and advance to the final.

“Brady looked good, it looked like he had Martin second guessing his shots,” stated Race 4 Eight pro and WPH reporter Shorty Ruiz. “Kept him off balance for most of the game. Brady was putting the ball down really well and his serves were amazing.”

Both Diarmaid Nash and David Walsh scored career-defining victories in the quarterfinals, with Nash overcoming former World Champion and twenty-three-time Race 4 Eight champion Killian Carroll in a tiebreaker and David Walsh eliminating Irish legend Robbie McCarthy in a tiebreaker.

Nash’s ball control and anticipation thwarted Walsh’s plans in the first game, as Nash read Walsh’s shots and mitigated his power with off-speed paddle redirects and kills. After dropping the first game 15-7, Walsh stuck close throughout game two. Nash’s patience and big stage experience proved to be too much for the younger Walsh, as Nash advanced to Sunday’s final to face Brady.  

“Nash looked in control of the whole match until the end of the second game when David was coming back,” stated Ruiz.

 

Men’s Open Singles Results

Brady def *1 M. Mulkerrins 15-12, 15-3

Nash def D. Walsh 15-7, 15-13

Men’s Open Singles Final: Brady vs. Nash (Sunday, 11/3/24)

Men’s Open Doubles Semifinals

Team M. Mulkerrins/Carroll def Team Canales/Montijo 15-11, 15-6

Team McCarthy/McCann def Team Cordova 15-11, 15-8

Men’s Open Doubles Final (Sunday, 11/3/24)

Team M. Mulkerrins/Carroll vs. Team McCarthy/McCann

Women’s Singles Semifinals

Top-seeded Ciana Ni Churraoin started slowly against 2024 WR48 Rookie of the Year Niamh Heffernan, falling behind 2-5. CNC took control of the match from there, using her versatility and corner kills to score twenty-eight of the final thirty-eight points of the match. CNC did not allow Heffernan to become comfortable, pushing her from side-to-side and keeping her in the back court to advance to Sunday’s final.

Martina McMahon continued her quest for her second 4-Wall World Singles Championship, overwhelming Fiona Tully in the bottom bracket. McMahon power-served from the left, either driving a laser straight down the left or whipping a reverse wide to the right. McMahon earned a point or a setup off most of her serves, converting the setups at a high rate in the two-game romp.

“Martina is way too strong,” reported Ruiz. “She overpowers them with the serve and she gets a weak return and she puts it away anywhere she wants.”

29 October 2024; Paul Brady of Kingscourt, Cavan, in action in the Men’s Open round of 32 during day four of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Women’s Singles Semifinals Results

*1 Ni Churraoin def N. Heffernan 15-10, 15-5

McMahon def *3 F. Tully 15-5, 15-5

Women’s Singles Final (Sunday, 11/3/24)

*1 Ni Churraoin vs. M. McMahon

Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Women’s Open Doubles Semifinals

Team Ni Churraoin/Heffernan def Team Bourke/Mahon 15-1, 15-2

Team McCarthy/McMahon def Team McCrory/Tully 15-13, 10-15, 11-3

Women’s Open Doubles Final (Sunday, 11/3/24)

Team Ni Churraoin/Heffernan vs. Team McCarthy/McMahon

Follow the draws HERE

Watch the matches HERE

Follow the draws from all of the grades at the 2024 World 4-Wall Championships HERE

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

Photos courtesy of Sportsfile/Stephen Marken and GAA Handball

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer 

 


 

 

Quarterfinal Doubles 

Friday

Dublin, IRE, WPH Press, 11/1/24

Men’s Open Doubles Quarterfinals

Team M. Mulkerrins/Carroll def Team Ruiz/Esser 15-7, 15-7

Team Canales/Montijo def Team Crehan/Nash 9-15, 15-6, 11-4

Team Cordova def Team Funchion 15-9, 15-3

Team McCarthy/McCann def Team Ure/Burgos 15-3, 11-15, 11-4

Men’s Open Doubles Semifinals (Saturday, 11/2/24)

Team M. Mulkerrins/Carroll vs. Team Canales/Montijo

Team Cordova vs. Team McCarthy/McCann

Men’s Singles Semifinals (Saturday, 11/2)

M. Mulkerrins vs. P. Brady

Nash vs. D. Walsh

Women’s Open Doubles Quarterfinals

Team Ni Churraoin/Heffernan bye

Team Bourke/Mahon def Team Esser/Ruiz 15-9, 15-7

Team McCarthy/McMahon def Team Daskalakis/Munroe 15-4, 15-5

Team McCrory/Tully def Team Fraser/Hughes 15-0, 15-1

Women’s Open Doubles Semifinals (Saturday, 11/2/24)

Team Ni Churraoin/Heffernan vs. Team Bourke/Mahon

Team McCarthy/McMahon vs. Team McCrory/Tully

Women’s Singles Semifinals (Saturday, 11/2)

*1 Ni Churraoin vs. N. Heffernan

*3 F. Tully vs. M. McMahon

Follow the draws HERE

Watch the matches HERE

Follow the draws from all of the grades at the 2024 World 4-Wall Championships HERE

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

Photos courtesy of Sportsfile/Stephen Marken

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer 

 

 


 

 

Quarterfinal Thursday

Dublin, IRE, WPH Press, 10/31/24

Men’s Round of 8Mulkerrins vs. Pet. Funchion

Martin Mulkerrins continued his impenetrable play against Peter Funchion in the first quarterfinal of the day, working his way into the match in the first half of the first game and finding another gear from there to race into the semifinals.

“Martin started even with Peter but pulled ahead later on in the game and never looked back,” stated former Race 4 Eight finalist Max Langmack watching courtside. “He continued to increase his level of play in the second game and made no mistakes, leaving no opportunities for Peter to get the game back to his style of play.”

Brady vs. Hedigan

Paul Brady was relentless against the tournament’s Cinderella Story Michael Hedigan, never allowing Hedigan into the match. Brady controlled the rallies with his serve, power, and unmatched precision.

“Brady looked solid, he showcased his power and movement as well as his experience, as he moved Daniel around the court and used precise kills and passes to finish off the rallies,” stated Langmack.

“Paul is Paul – he controlled the whole match with his serve,” stated former Race 4 Eight Elite 8 member Shorty Ruiz.

Carroll vs. Nash

Diarmaid Nash enjoyed a dream start against his junior rival Killian Carroll, steamrolling Carroll 15-1 in game one. Carroll was able to work his way into the match, diving and scrambling to wrestle control of game two to force a third.

Carroll grabbed a 5-3 lead in the decider to eleven but looked exhausted after each rally. Nash scored five consecutive points with his patented dump kills to serve at 8-5. Consecutive flat roll outs from Killian cut Nash’s lead to one at 7-8. Carroll had a simple re kill opportunity with his left from in front of the foot fault line to tie the game but missed it.  

“That’s the changing of the game right there, that’s the match right there, that’s the winning and the losing,” stated Sport TG4 broadcaster after Carroll’s miss at 7-8.

Serving at 9-8, Nash closed out the match with a right-hand fly kill to score his tenth point and an unreturned serve to the left to end the match.

“The Nash/Carroll match could be the match of the tournament,” reported Langmack. “Incredible gets, shot making and serves from both players. Killian missed some shots in the first but Diarmaid was methodical and unrelenting in his control of the front court, using incredible touch to pocket balls on the bottom board and in the corners. Killian made adjustments in the second game and fought hard to take the second. The tiebreaker was an incredible game. Every rally brought the crowd to their feet as both players left it out there. Diarmaid seemed to sniff out a couple of Killian’s left kills and put them away to take the breaker.”

Nash pretty much did what he wanted in game one,” stated Ruiz. (Nash) controlled Killian by moving him left to right. We usually never see Killian call a timeout, so we all thought he was tired. Nash looked comfortable the whole match.”

29 October 2024; Robbie McCarthy of Team Ireland in action in the Open Men’s round of 32 during day four of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

McCarthy vs. Walsh

Robbie McCarthy appeared to be on cruise control to the semifinals, taking game one against David Walsh. Walsh has other ideas, catching fire in the second to force a tiebreaker. Walsh remained on fire in the tiebreaker, building a 7-1 lead in the decider to eleven. Walsh made several errors, while McCarthy struck several ace serves to eliminate the lead and serve at 9-8. McCarthy hit a near ace at 9-8, but David flipped the ball back into play, eventually winning the rally. Walsh calmly served out the match to win the biggest match of his career.   

“Amazing match (between Walsh and McCarthy),” reported Langmack. “Robbie was steady in the first and then David caught fire rolling everything with his left. In the breaker, Robbie had a small lead and then they traded points to the end.”

“This is a coming of age story here,” barked the Sport TG4 broadcaster.

Men’s Round of 8 Results

*1 M. Mulkerrins def P. Funchion 15-8, 15-0

Brady def D. Relihan 15-5, 15-6

Nash def *3 K. Carroll 15-1, 9-15, 11-8

Walsh def *2 R. McCarthy 8-15, 15-8, 11-9

Follow the Men’s Open Singles draw HERE

Men’s Semifinals (Friday, 11/1)

*1 M. Mulkerrins vs. P. Brady

Nash vs. D. Walsh

Women’s Round of 8

Top-seed Ciana Ni Churraoin eliminated the last-standing American in her first match of the tournament, dispatching the current 3-Wall national champion in two games.

2024 WPH Race 4 Eight Rookie of the Year Niamh Heffernan ousted the 2023 WPH Race 4 Eight Rookie of the Year Eilise McCrory in two games, setting the stage for a showdown between Heffernan and CNC.

Fiona Tully was impressive against Mollie Dagg, demonstrating her two-handed offensive attack to advance to the semifinals.

2018 Women’s World Champion Martina McMahon was too strong for current USHA national 4-Wall champion Danielle Daskalakis, ousting her fellow lefty in two games.

Women’s Round of 8 Results

*1 Ni Churraoin def M. Esser 15-2, 15-3

Heffernan def *4 E. McCrory 15-4, 15-8

*3 F. Tully def M. Dagg 15-5, 15-6

McMahon def *2 D. Daskalakis 15-8, 15-1

Women’s Semifinals (Friday, 11/1)

*1 Ni Churraoin vs. N. Heffernan

*3 F. Tully vs. M. McMahon

Follow the Women’s Open Singles draw HERE

Watch the matches HERE

Follow the draws from all of the grades at the 2024 World 4-Wall Championships HERE

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

Photos courtesy of Sportsfile/Stephen Marken

Huge thank you to WPH pros and reporters Max Langmack and Shorty Ruiz for reporting from Ireland.

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer 


29 October 2024; Paul Brady of Kingscourt, Cavan, in action in the Men’s Open round of 32 during day four of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Wednesday

Dublin, IRE, WPH Press, 10/30/24

Refresh this thread daily for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships

The oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships featured the Men’s Open Singles Round of 16 on Wednesday, with a number of thrilling tiebreakers as the field was reduced to eight.

The Women’s Open singles kicked off on Wednesday as well, with the ladies also reducing their draw to the final eight.

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

29 October 2024; Luis ‘Lucho’ Cordova of Juarez, Mexico in action in the Open Men’s round of 32 during day three of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Men’s Round of 16 (Wednesday, 10/30)

The top three men’s seeds were dominant in Wednesday’s round of sixteen, as top-seeded Martin Mulkerrins swept Arizona’s Shorty Ruiz in two games, second-seeded Robbie McCarthy was clinical in sweeping two-time collegiate national champion Shane Dunne, and Killian Carroll overwhelmed Ivan Burgos in two lopsided games after facing match point against the Canadian three weeks ago in Portland.

The Cordova brothers, seeded fourth and eighth, respectively, endured a Wednesday nightmare, as fourth-seeded Lucho was eliminated by 2024 R48 Chapman Memorial MVP Daniel Relihan and eighth seeded Danos Cordova was bounced by Peter Funchion.

After dropping the first game and dominating the second game, Lucho held match point against Relihan but could not convert, becoming the highest seed to be eliminated in the men’s draw.

“Lucho went up in the tiebreaker and looked like he was in full control until the score was 10-7, but Lucho couldn’t score game point,” reported Shorty Ruiz watching courtside. “Lucho got a final chance at 10-10 when (Relihan) dove for the ball and jammed his hand into the left wall. Lucho got up to serve and hit it too hard and the serve came off the back wall and it was an automatic set up. On his second match point, Relihan served to the left and Lucho set it up for a right corner kill.”

Eighth-seeded Danos split the first two games against Funchion and appeared to fall victim to fatigue in the third.

“After finding his rhythm in the second game and serving well and killing, the tiebreaker was a back and forth, but Daniel got winded and started missing easy shots,” reported Shorty Ruiz.

“Daniel seemed to be exhausted in the tiebreaker after a lot of long rallies,” Canada’s Jermome Santerre would later say.

After a leg injury forced him to retire with a huge lead in April’s All Ireland final, the indomitable Paul Brady showed no signs of injury or slowing down, as “The Gunner” blitzed Michael Hedigan in two quick games on his quest for an unprecedented sixth World Singles title.

29 October 2024; Killian Carroll of Boston, USA, in the Open Men’s round of 32 during day three of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Diarmaid Nash cooled off Team USA’s hottest player, drowning Ray Ure in the deep waters in a three-game battle. After splitting the first two games, Nash grabbed a 4-0 tiebreaker lead. Nash never relinquished his advantage, building his lead to 10-4 and giving himself a cushion for a late Ure rally. After scoring two points to cut the deficit to four at 6-10, Ure switched to an underhand lob serve and never had a look at another point. Nash’s experience and guile was the difference, as he forced Ure into uncomfortable positions to move into the final eight.

David Walsh eliminated Team USA’s singles representative “Big Game Hunter” Leo Canales in two games, as Leo quickly discovered that hunting is strictly prohibited in Ireland.

 Men’s Round of 16 Results

*1 M. Mulkerrins def B. Ruiz 15-8, 15-8

Funchion def D. Cordova 15-11, 10-15, 11-8

Brady def M. Hedigan 15-2, 15-4

Relihan def *4 L. Cordova 15-12, 5-15, 11-10

*3 K. Carroll def I. Burgos 15-2, 15-2

Nash def R. Ure 15-11, 12-15, 11-6

Walsh def L. Canales 15-9, 15-8

*2 R. McCarthy def S. Dunne 15-4, 15-5

29 October 2024; Shane Dunne of Clogh, Kilkenny, in action in the Open Men’s round of 32 during day four of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Men’s Round of 8 (Thursday, 10/31)

*1 M. Mulkerrins vs. P. Funchion

Brady vs. D. Relihan

*3 K. Carroll vs. D. Nash

*2 R. McCarthy vs. D. Walsh

Follow the Men’s Open Singles draw HERE

Women’s Round of 16 (Wednesday, 10/30)

The Women’s Open singles kicked off on Wednesday with five round of sixteen matches. Mikaila Esser became the only player born in North America to win a men’s or women’s open singles match on Wednesday, fighting off match point against Aoife Holden with a left-handed return of serve kill and winning the match on her second attempt with a right-handed pass shot. Niamh Heffernan, Eilise McCrory, Mollie Dagg, and Martin McMahon joined Mikaila Esser in Thursday’s round of eight.

Women’s Round of 16 Results

  1. Esser def A. Holden 15-8, 10-15, 11-10
  2. Heffernan def C. Bourke 15-4, 14-15, 11-1
  3. McCrory def C. Conway 15-1, 15-1
  4. Dagg def S. Entzeroth 15-7, 15-1
  5. McMahon def A. Ruiz 15-0, 15-3

Women’s Round of 8 (Thursday, 10/31)

*1 Ni Churraoin vs. N. Esser

*4 E. McCrory vs. N. Heffernan

*3 F. Tully vs. M. Dagg

*2 D. Daskalakis vs. M. McMahon  

Follow the Women’s Open Singles draw HERE

Watch the matches HERE

Follow the draws from all of the grades at the 2024 World 4-Wall Championships HERE

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

Photos courtesy of Sportsfile/Stephen Marken

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer 

 


Team Ireland Men’s captain Robbie McCarthy during the previews for the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

 

 

 

Dublin, IRE, WPH Press, 10/29/24

Refresh this thread daily for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships

The oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships featured the Men’s Open Singles Round of 32 on Tuesday, with all of the top seeds in action.

Men’s Round of 32 (Tuesday, 10/29)

*1 M. Mulkerrins def N. O’Connor 15-2, 15-7

Ruiz def G. Coyle 15-6, 12-15, 11-4

Funchion def E. Torres 15-10, 15-7

Cordova def G. Coonan 15-12, 15-8

29 October 2024; Paul Brady of Kingscourt, Cavan, in action in the Men’s Open round of 32 during day four of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Brady def L. Collado 15-4, 15-8

Hedigan def S. Esser 15-4, 15-5

Relihan def C. McGrath 15-2, 15-14

*4 L. Cordova def T. Carroll 15-11, 14-15, 11-7

*3 K. Carroll def C. Daly 15-4, 15-2

Burgos def D. Mulkerrins 15-2, 15-9

Ure def K. Diggins 15-14, 15-4

29 October 2024; Ray Ure of Minnesota, USA in action against Kevin Diggins of Leixlip, Kildare in the Open Men’s round of 32 during day three of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Nash def J. Santerre 15-2, 15-5

Canales def C. Crehan (fft)

Walsh def M. Langmack 15-9, 15-9

Dunne def M. Doyle 15-6, 15-5

*2. R. McCarthy def S. Cooney 15-0, 15-4

25 October 2024; A general view of The National Handball Centre at Croke Park during the previews for the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Men’s Round of 16 (Wednesday, 10/30)

*1 M. Mulkerrins vs. B. Ruiz

Cordova vs. P. Funchion

Brady vs. Hedigan

*4 L. Cordova vs. D. Relihan

*3 K. Carroll vs. I. Burgos

Ure vs. Nash

Canales vs. D. Walsh

*2 R. McCarthy vs. S. Dunne

Follow the Men’s Open Singles draw HERE

The Women’s draw will start on Wednesday, October 30.  

Follow the Women’s Open Singles draw HERE

Watch the matches HERE

Follow the draws from all of the grades at the 2024 World 4-Wall Championships HERE

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

Photos courtesy of Sportsfile/Stephen Marken

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer 

 


Dublin, IRE, WPH Press

The oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships kicked off with the world’s best 4-Wall handball stars battling for handball immortality in Ireland.

The Men’s Open Singles Round of 32 is set for Tuesday, with a number of blockbuster matchups.

Stay tuned to this thread throughout the week for updates from the oneills.com World 4-Wall Championships.

Men’s Round of 32 (Tuesday, 10/29)

*1 M. Mulkerrins vs. N. O’Connor

Coyle vs. B. Ruiz

Funchion vs. E. Torres

Cordova vs. G. Coonan

Brady vs. L. Collado

Hedigan vs. S. Esser

Relihan vs. C. McGrath

*4 L. Cordova vs. T. Carroll

*3 K. Carroll vs. C. Daly

Mulkerrins vs. I. Burgos

Ure vs. K. Diggins

Nash vs. J. Santerre

Canales vs. C. Crehan

Langmack vs. D. Walsh

Doyle vs. S. Dunne

*2. R. McCarthy vs. S. Cooney

Follow the Men’s Open Singles draw HERE

The Women’s draw will start on Wednesday, October 30.  

Follow the Women’s Open Singles draw HERE

Watch the matches HERE

Follow the draws from all of the grades at the 2024 World 4-Wall Championships HERE

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer 

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