County Mayo, IRE, WPH Press, 2/17/20- Robbie McCarthy and Martina McMahon successfully defended their GAA Irish National titles, with both GAA #1’s overcoming two of the game’s giants en route to their title defenses.
McCarthy drew five-time world champion Paul Brady in the semifinals in Brady’s return to GAA singles competition for the first time in more than five years. McCarthy took game one before Brady was forced to withdraw with an injury. McCarthy then scored his third consecutive win against R48 #7 Martin Mulkerrins on the 2019/20 GAA season, defeating the current R48 Tucson Memorial champion in two games to take the title. McCarthy dominated the weekend, winning the title without dropping a game.
Final: McCarthy def Mulkerrins 15-8, 15-7
Martina McMahon was equally dominant in defending her Irish Nationals title, defeating two-time world champion Aisling Reilly in the final. The current world champion was at her best against the 2012 and 2015 world champion, blasting the corners and keeping Reilly on the back foot throughout much of the final. Like McCarthy, McMahon did not drop a game during her title run.
Final: McMahon def Reilly 15-9, 15-11
Pictures courtesy of GAA Handball
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David Fink
WPH Senior Writer