WPH Press, Ireland, 1/22/21
GAA Handball held its first ranking events of 2024 and fourth men’s and women’s ranking events of the 2023/24 GAA season with the Ladies She’s Ace and the Men’s Southern Classic held in separate locations in Ireland.
She’s Ace Ladies Senior Singles
Catriona Casey entered the She’s Ace on the heels of winning her twenty-seventh WR48 title in St. Louis last weekend and would face a deep draw in her aim to win her seventh She’s Ace title. Casey advanced to the final with an impressive two-game sweep against WR48 #2 Eilise McCrory, as Catriona dictated play with her unmatched precision.
2024 WR48 Chapman Memorial finalist Ciana Ni Churraoin rallied from a one-game deficit against former WR48 #2 Fiona Tully to advance to the final, relying on her power and offense to defeat Tully in a tiebreaker for the second consecutive time.
Casey and Ni Churraoin met for the second weekend in a row in the final, with Casey defeating Ni Churraoin in two games four-thousand miles west in St. Louis on the previous weekend.
Casey rallied from a 10-12 deficit in game two of their St. Louis WR48 final last week but was never threatened in the She’s Ace final, taking charge of the match from start to finish to win her seventh She’s Ace title and the thirty-second GAA Senior title of her illustrious career.
“Catriona seemed to be playing well,” stated WR48 #2 Eilise McCrory. “As usual, solid defensive play and managed to put them extra few balls away. Moved Ciana around the court fairly well. Solid enough scoring from Ciana.. few hand errors and a few missed opportunities.”
Semifinals
Casey def McCrory 15-3, 15-11
Ni Churraoin def Tully 13-15, 15-11, 11-2
Final: Casey def Ni Churraoin 15-6, 15-7
Southern Classic Men’s Senior Singles
Robbie McCarthy and Diarmiad Nash traded titles to start the 2023/24 GAA season, with McCarthy winning the season opener against Nash in the final at the 2023 Golden Gloves and Nash defeating McCarthy in the final of the 2023 Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals in the season’s second event.
McCarthy defeated Gavin Coyle in the Southern Classic’s quarterfinals and defeated 2024 R48 Chapman MVP Daniel Relihan in two games in the semifinals, while Nash defeated Michael Hedigan in the quarterfinals and 2024 R48 Chapman ninth place winner David Walsh in two games in the semifinals to meet McCarthy in the final.
McCarthy prevailed by the slimmest of margins in both games to win his second GAA ranking event of the season, including an improbable rally from a 7-14 deficit in the second game.
“A great tournament from start to finish in Mallow and Liscarroll Handball Clubs,” stated Race 4 Eight pro and WPH Ireland correspondent David Walsh. “The draw saw a deep field with some very tough first round matches. Following two exciting semifinals, the familiar final pairing of McCarthy and Nash were set to battle again. McCarthy took the first game 15-13 in what was an intriguing contest with the clash of styles present. In the second game it looked as though we were going to a third game with Nash 14-7 up. What followed, nobody seemed to have expected, McCarthy clawed his way back to 14-14 and took the Southern Classic title for the second year in a row with a lunging re-kill.”
“Great match,” exclaimed SR48 pro Chris “Waddy Dog” Watkins. “Two contrasting styles of play. Diarmaid has such a high work rate to get himself in position on every shot. Robbie has the ability to change the speed of the ball from touch paddles to rocket kills and passes like no other. So fun to watch!”
Semifinals
Nash def Walsh 15-10, 15-7
McCarthy def Relihan 15-10, 15-3
Final: McCarthy def Nash 15-13, 15-14
Watch the 2024 Southern Classic final HERE
2023/24 GAA Ranking Events
2023 Golden Gloves Men’s Open Champion: Robbie McCarthy
2023 Golden Gloves Women’s Open Champion: Catriona Casey
WPH GAA Golden Gloves recap HERE
2023 Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals Men’s Open Champion: Diarmaid Nash
2023 Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals Women’s Open Champion: Catriona Casey
WPH GAA Irish Nationals recap HERE
2023 Mick Kerr Men’s Open Champion: Killian Carroll
2023 Mick Kerr Women’s Open Champion: Catriona Casey
WPH GAA Mick Kerr recap HERE
2024 Southern Classic Men’s Open Champion: Robbie McCarthy
2024 She’s Ace Women’s Open Champion: Catriona Casey
To watch the matches, go to the GAA Handball Facebook page HERE
For more on the 2024 GAA She’s Ace and Southern Classic visit GAA Handball HERE
Thank you to Eilise McCrory and David Walsh for updates from the 2024 She’s Ace and 2024 Southern Classic.
Photos courtesy of GAA Handball
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer