WPH Press, 1/30/22 (pictures provided by GAA Handball)
Belfast played host to the 2022 GAA Irish 4-Wall Nationals, with 24 of the top GAA men’s stars and the top Irish women in action. Martin Mulkerrins, winner of the recent Mick Kerr Memorial (HERE) headlined the men’s field that also included former R48 #1 Charly Shanks, form
er R48 finalist Diarmaid Nash, Colin Crehan, Sean Kerr, and David Walsh. The women’s field was headlined by 20-time WR48 champion Catriona Casey, who was joined by former world champion Aisling Reilly, Ciana Ni Churraoin, Fiona Tully, Megan McCann and Elise McCrory.
Men’s Singles
The 2022 GAA Irish 4-Wall Nationals saw Colin Crehan make the breakthrough that many have expected of the rising star. The stylish shot maker overcame an extremely talented field, knocking out Mulkerrins conqueror Peter Funchion in three games in the semifinals and winning another tiebreaker in the final against his doubles partner Diarmaid Nash to take the biggest singles title of his career. Crehan’s two-handed attack that saw him become the youngest qualifier in R48 history has now carried him to the Irish national title.
Quarterfinals
Funchion def Mulkerrins 15-9, 2-15, 11-9
Crehan def McKenna 15-8, 15-8
Nash def N. O’Connor 15-8, 15-5
Shanks def O’Neill 15-13, 15-3
Semifinals
Crehan def P. Funchion 15-9, 10-15, 11-5
Nash def Shanks 3-15, 15-14, 11-10
Final: Crehan def Nash 15-11, 2-15, 11-6
Women’s Singles
In the words of 20-time WR48 champion and 2022 Irish Nationals champion Catriona Casey:
“The Nationals had one of the deepest ladies open draws in recent memory.
Yesterday, I met my long-standing doubles partner and good friend Aishling O’Keeffe in the quarterfinal. She had won through her preliminary round in an 11-10 tiebreaker- the first of many tie-breakers to be seen on the day!
This morning, I faced Aisling Reilly in the semifinal. Obviously, I know what she is capable of, and was conscious of how close she pushed me in the second game of the Golden Gloves final in November, so I wanted to maintain a good intensity throughout. Aisling had been pushed to a tiebreaker by Eilise McCrory in their quarter final match-up yesterday in one of the matches of the tournament!
In the other semi-final, Megan McCann and Fiona Tully fought out another serious battle- with Megan winning 15-14 in both.
Again, going into the final, I knew that Megan was a dangerous player when she gets momentum going, so I focused on getting off to a good start, and kept the pressure on from there. I was happy with my performances overall this weekend.
Another highlight of the tournament was seeing Ciana Ní Churraoin back competing on Irish soil. It’s shaping up to be a really competitive All-Ireland Championship in March!”
Quarterfinals
Casey def O’Keeffe 15-2, 15-3
Reilly def McCrory 11-15, 15-12, 11-2
McCann def Dagg 15-2, 12-15, 11-7
Tully def Ni Churraoin 10-15, 15-8, 15-5
Semifinals
Casey def Reilly 15-3, 15-3
McCann def Tully 15-14, 15-14
Final: Casey def McCann 15-3, 15-0
Photos courtesy of GAA Handball
Watch matches from the 2022 GAA Irish 4-Wall Nationals on the GAA Handball Facebook page HERE
For more on the 2022 GAA Irish 4-Wall Nationals, visit GAA Handball HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer