Sligo's Cormac Finn wins All-Ireland handball title on his 21st birthday
Once again this epic final went all the way to a tie-break third game, as did his All-Ireland semi-final against Caolan Daly of Tyrone. However and equally importantly, Cormac Finn emerged the victor in a high quality, energy-sapping contest with Jack Doyle of Kilkenny on an overall 21-8, 17-21, 11-4 scoreline.
The only other Sligo handballer to achieve senior status was Ballymote's Francis McCann, who defeated Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy in the Junior Singles final twenty-four years ago. Three year's later the Intermediate grade was introduced for the first time as another necessary step to senior grading status and many great handballers, including Paul Brady of Cavan, Dessie Keegan of Mayo in more recently Galway's Martin Mulkerrins successfully claimed that honour.
There was little doubt that Cormac Finn was well-prepared both mentally and physically for the career-defining task and he completely dominated proceedings in the opening game, reeling off ace after ace without reply to lead 11 aces to 5 and then 15 aces to 8 and that was as good as it got for Doyle as Finn took the opener in some style 21 aces to 8.
As the players returned for the second game the main question was could Cormac Finn sustain this incredible level of excellence against a seasoned competitor like Jack Doyle. Finn continued his domination of the contest and built a healthy lead at 14 aces to 8. However Doyle came much more into the match at this point and the sides were level for the first time at 15 aces all with everything to play for but it was Jack Doyle who secured it with a number of fine kill shots to add the necessary four aces to force to force the match to a tie-break third game.
This was a real test of character for Cormac Finn who now found himself in exactly the same situation as he did a week ago in this semi-final but Finn had learned much previous experiences of tie-break games to 11 aces and he once again dominated from the off as the Kilkenny challenge faded greatly. Finn led 6 aces to 1 early on and then 9 aces to 3. Jack Doyle still battled but at the fourth attempt, Cormac Finn deservedly secured the final two aces he needed for the title. The final was expertly refereed by another former intermediate singles All-Ireland winner, Michael Finnegan, who would also go on to achieve multiple senior All-Ireland titles, primarily with doubles partner Paul Brady of Cavan.
It has been known for some time in handball circles that Cormac Finn was something very special, a once in a generation handballer who hails from a county with a proud handball heritage that has craved success on the biggest stage in recent years. Minor and U21 titles in a three year period paved the way for Cormac Finn's epic moment.
It was a poignant occasion too for all who supported him on this journey, his coaches including Martin Golden and Francis McCann at the Ballymote club who gave him the belief as well did Paul Hedderman who worked tirelessly with him in more recent times and of course his father, Michael, and the family who followed him every step of the way. Next up for Finn is a chance to repeat Sunday's feat in the intermediate grade 60x30 or softball code. He will hope to put the loss in last year's final to Diarmuid Mulkerrins of Galway behind him and he can take much encouragement from this epic success, an all too rare intermediate singles title in 40x20 at the very first attempt on his 21st birthday.
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