WPH Press, Co. Tyrone, IRE, 12/30/22
The second annual Mick Kerr Memorial attracted 32 of Ireland’s top men’s and women’s players in the GAA’s second ranking event of the 2022/23 season at the Breacach Handball Club in Co. Tyrone. Robbie McCarthy (not entered in the Mick Kerr) won the season’s first men’s ranking event at the Golden Gloves, while Catriona Casey won the first women’s ranking event of the season at the Gloves. (2022 GAA Golden Gloves recap HERE)
Men’s Singles
The men’s draw featured top seed and current All Ireland and USHA 4-Wall national champion Diarmaid Nash, second-seeded Colin Crehan, third-seeded Conor Walsh, and fourth-seeded R48 #3 and current R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins.
Top-seeded Diarmaid Nash advanced to the final with a two-game sweep against Shane Dunne in the quarterfinals and a come-from-behind win against current R48 #3 Martin Mulkerrins in the semifinals.
Nash’s county doubles partner and two-handed juggernaut Colin Crehan defeated Gavin Buggy in a tiebreaker in the quarterfinals and Dominick Lynch in two games in the semifinals to meet Nash in the final.
Crehan started well against Nash in the final, placing the current All Ireland champion in a one-game hole on the heels of a strong first game that saw Double C controlling the action against the world’s hottest player. Crehan appeared on the verge of an upset, taking 5-0 and 8-3 leads in game two before Nash took over, scoring 12 of the final 13 points of the game to force a third. Nash maintained the hot hand in the third, outscoring Crehan 23-1 in the last 24 points of the match to take the Kerr.
“Crehan won the first and was leading the second, seemed to be going all his way,” stated WPH Ireland correspondent and R48 pro David Walsh.” As said in commentary by Conor McElduff and Martin Mulkerrins ‘in typical Diarmuid Nash fashion’ he was able to grind it out when nothing seemed to be working for him. He took the second and went on to stamp his authority in the tiebreaker winning 11-0, a really entertaining final! Next up on the calendar in Ireland for the Elite Men is the Southern Classic Jan 20-22nd.”
Quarterfinals
Nash def S. Dunne 15-4, 15-8
Crehan def Buggy 15-9, 12-15, 11-6
Lynch def C. Walsh 15-11, 15-7
Mulkerrins def Mullan 15-5, 15-6
Semifinals
Nash def Mulkerrins 10-15, 15-8, 11-6
Crehan def Lynch 15-6, 15-8
Final: Nash def Crehan 10-15, 15-9, 11-0
Women’s Singles
The women’s draw featured the world’s three best 4-Wall stars, as top-seeded and 23-time WR48 champion Catriona Casey headlined the eight-player field that included second-seeded 2018 world champion Martina McMahon and third-seeded WR48 #2 Fiona Tully.
After being tied at 10 in game one against Ciana Ni Churraoin, Casey demonstrated why she is the world’s best, scoring the final 20 points of the match to advance to the final.
Martina McMahon was dominant in her two matches en route to the final, allowing just 11 points in four games to face her greatest rival in the final.
Casey was in control in game one of the final, not allowing McMahon to unleash her offensive attack. McMahon rallied, taking a close second game to force a tiebreaker and once again prevailing in a razor close game to take the Kerr.
“There proved to be very little between the two ladies in this final, both hitting amazing shots throughout,” stated Walsh. “Catriona led 8-5 in the tiebreaker but Martina clawed it back, winning six points in a row to close it out 11-8. Both will now turn their attention to She’s Ace Ranking Event in three weeks in Cork.”
Quarterfinals
Casey def Finn 15-0, 15-2
McMahon def O’Duill 15-1, 15-1
Tully def Munroe 15-2, 15-2
Ni Churraoin def Dagg 15-4, 15-14
Semifinals
Casey def Ni Churraoin 15-10, 15-0
McMahon def Tully 15-6, 15-3
Final: McMahon def Casey 6-15, 15-12, 11-8
Thank you to WPH Ireland correspondent David Walsh for reporting from the 2022 Mick Kerr Memorial
Photos courtesy of GAA Handball
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Mick Kerr Memorial Facebook page HERE
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David Fink
WPH Senior Writer