WPH Press, Dublin, IRE, 3/8/23
The GAA All Ireland 4-Wall Championships concluded on the first weekend in March, as the two-month-long event concluded with Catriona Casey facing Ciana Ni Churraoin in the Women’s Senior Final and Robbie McCarthy facing defending champion Diarmaid Nash in the Men’s Senior Final for the most prestigious 4-Wall title in Irish handball.
Women’s Senior Final
Having won just two games in ten years of tournament competition against Catriona Casey, Ciana Ni Churraoin stunned the WR48#1 in the final, seizing a one-game lead by scoring the final thirteen points of the game after trailing 8-12, nearly winning the second after rallying from a 12-18 deficit to lose 21-19, and dominating the tiebreaker to defeat Casey for the first time.
“It was clear from the get-go that Ciana’s game plan was to serve and shoot and that’s what she did,” stated WPH Ireland correspondent David Walsh. “It looked as though Ciana may win the title in two straight games but Catriona showed what a true champion she is and battled back and took the second 21-19. But it was to be Ciana’s day hitting a right corner flat kill to win the tiebreaker.”
“The game was over and back from start to finish, very competitive and there were moments when each one of us went five or six points ahead in each game, but the other was able to bring it back each time,” stated Ni Churraoin. “I played really well. That was probably the most complete performance I have had in a major final. I was clinical and I felt calm and controlled. I played offensively and was moving well. I have put a lot of work in off the court in terms of strength and conditioning work and I felt good going into the final stages of the game. It feels amazing to be an All-Ireland Champion. This is something I have worked towards for the best part of 20 years. I have lost many finals to Catriona, but I have always believed that I could get over the line.”
Final: Ni Churraoin def Casey 21-12, 19-21, 11-3
Men’s Senior Final
Robbie McCarthy continued his dominance on the 2022/23 GAA season in the All Ireland final against the 2022 All Ireland champion Diarmaid Nash, sweeping the stylish lefty in two games to clinch his fifth All Ireland title and third consecutive tournament win since December.
“Robbie seemed to be in control throughout,” stated WPH Ireland correspondent David Walsh. “Robbie raced to a 10-1 lead in game one with impressive serving and shot selection, McCarthy took the first 21-10. In game two, Robbie carried on where he left off in game one and won the second 21-12 closing it out with an overhand spike kill shot to complete an undefeated 4-Wall season. Sunday’s victory was McCarthy’s sixteenth Senior All-Ireland Senior title, his fifth senior singles 4-Wall title, while he has won nine 60×30 softball and two 60×30 hardball titles.”
Final: McCarthy def Nash 21-10, 21-12
Read the 2023 GAA All Ireland 4-Wall Championships recap courtesy of Paul Fitzpatrick HERE
For more on the 2023 GAA All Ireland 4-Wall Championships, visit GAA Handball HERE
To watch the 2023 GAA All Ireland 4-Wall Championships, visit the GAA Handball Facebook page HERE
Photos courtesy of GAA Handball
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer