Co. Claire, Ireland, WPH Press. 11/27/23
GAA Handball presented the second 4-Wall ranking event of the 2023/24 4-Wall season in as many weeks, as the GAA Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals 2023 headed to Banner County in Co. Claire to crown the national champions.
Last week’s Golden Gloves champions Robbie McCarthy and Catriona Casey (HERE) headlined the Men’s and Ladies Open fields. McCarthy was joined in the 16-player Men’s Open draw by last week’s finalist Diarmaid Nash, the Funchion brothers, Colin Crehan, David Walsh and Daniel Relihan, while Casey would face a stern test in the Ladies Open field with last week’s finalist Fiona Tully, WR48 #2 Eilise McCrory and Ciana Ni Churraoin.
Men’s Open
McCarthy was clinical in his march to the final in the upper bracket, sweeping R48 top 15 pro David Walsh in the quarterfinals and dominating current USHA collegiate national champion and R48 pro Shane Dunne in the semifinals.
Nash defeated Brendan Fleming in two games in the quarterfinals but found himself trailing by a game against Peter Funchion. Nash calmly worked his way back into the match after dropping the first game against Funchion, outscoring the Kells man 26-12 in the second and third frames to set up a rematch of last week’s Golden Gloves final.
Robbie McCarthy carried a 21-month, 616-day winning streak into the Irish Nationals final against Diarmaid Nash, with his last loss coming against Nash in the 2022 All Ireland final. “The final took place in Nash’s home court in Tuamgraney, Co. Clare, which added that extra edge to the game with Diarmaid wanting to win in front of his home crowd,” stated WPH correspondent David Walsh.”
McCarthy started the match as he had so many during his dominant streak, dictating play and taking the first game. Nash regrouped, taking control of the match in the second and racing to a 10-0 lead. “McCarthy held up and took a timeout hobbling out of the court,” stated Walsh. McCarthy would finish the game but concede the match after the second, making Nash the Irish Nationals champion on his home court.
Semifinals
McCarthy def Dunne 15-1, 15-7
Nash def Pet. Funchion 7-15, 15-8, 11-4
Final: Nash def McCarthy 9-15, 15-7, inj fft.
Ladies Open
Catriona Casey was sharp in her quest for two titles in eight days, allowing just one point in her quarterfinal clash with Leah Minogue and dispatching her WallBall vanquisher Eilise McCrory in impressive fashion in the semifinals to reach the final.
Current 40×20 All Ireland champion Ciana Ni Churraoin began her Irish Nationals campaign with a sweep against Balleydesmond’s Aishling O’Keeffe in the quarterfinals and a dominant two-game route against former WR48 #2 Fiona Tully in the semifinals.
Casey and Ni Churraoin met for the second time in eight days in the final, with Casey taking their clash at the Gloves last week, 15-1, 15-14.
Casey has seemed to relish in revenge matches, sending a message to each opponent who has defeated her in the last ten years. After losing to Ni Churraoin in the 2023 40×20 All Irelands, Casey defeated her in dominant fashion for the second time in a row, this time to claim the Irish Nationals.
The Owen Gloves sponsored Casey employed a tremendous power serve down the left and right in the final, striking the front wall just a foot from the ground and double-bouncing the back wall to earn first-strike opportunities. Casey’s backwall kill was precise, as was her always daunting anticipation that shrinks the court on all of her opponents.
Ni Churrain changed gears after losing the first, going to the ceiling and hitting the right-hand into the left corner, but the result was not impacted. Casey adjusted to all of Ni Churraoin’s tactics seamlessly, controlling the match from start to finish.
“Catriona is playing very well,” stated Walsh.
Semifinals
Casey def McCrory 15-5, 15-3
Ni Churraoin def Tully 15-5, 15-6
Final: Casey def Ni Churraoin 15-6, 15-7
2023/24 GAA Ranking Events
Golden Gloves Men’s Open Champion: Robbie McCarthy
Golden Gloves Women’s Open Champion: Catriona Casey
Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals Men’s Open Champion: Diarmaid Nash
Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals Women’s Open Champion: Catriona Casey
To watch the matches, go to the GAA Handball Facebook page HERE
For more on the GAA Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals 2023 visit GAA Handball HERE
Thank you to David Walsh for his thoughts from the 2023 Irish Nationals
Photos courtesy of Clare Handball on Facebook
Up next for your favorite Irish stars will be the Mick Kerr just before New Year’s. You know the WPH will have you covered from the Kerr!
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer