Sligo's Corman Finn secures brilliant semi-final win
Eleven All-Ireland 40x20 semi-finals, in which Connacht winners faced off against Ulster opposition, were hosted at the Haddington Road venue over three courts on Sunday. Ballymote club junior ladies handballer, Laura Finn, lined out against Limerick's Noelle Dowling for a place in next weekend's decider and the talented Connaught Champion got off to an excellent start as she won the opening game in style on a 21-13 scoreline. However, she lost the second on a 21 aces to 10 scoreline and had her chances in the tie-break third before losing it 11 aces to 6.
Later that same afternoon, Cormac Finn lined out against the All-Ireland Intermediate doubles All-Ireland champion, the experienced Caolan Daly from Tyrone, in a career defining contest and a place in the All-Ireland Intermediate singles final. Finn totally dominated the early proceeding in the opening game with a combination of powerful kills and passing shots to lead 11 aces to 3 at one stage, Daly did narrow the gap to four aces at 15-11 but that was as close at it got for the Tyrone man as Finn wrapped up the opening game with a excellent trade-mark kill to seal it 21-15.
Finn totally dominated the second game and looked set to seal his place in the final when he led 18 aces to 11 at one stage. However, in a remarkable turnaround, Daly levelled matters at 18 a piece and forced the contest to a tie-break third by winning this one 21 aces to 19. This turnaround in a match previously dominated by the Sligo man was most concerning, however, it was still all to play for in the tie-break. This was as much about true grit and character as anything else and as he has done so often, Finn started well to lead 4 aces to one before falling heavily in his attempt to retrieve the ball. Following a lengthy injury time-out, Finn was back on his feet and he took control despite Daly's spirited efforts to lead 8 aces to 6 and complete the task with three trade-mark kills to seal his place in his first final on an 11 aces to 6 scoreline. A remarkable result over all for Cormac Finn who now faces Kilkenny's Jack Dowling, who had a 21-14, 21-14 semi-final win over Rory Grace of Tipperary in his semi-final, on Sunday at Headquarters.
Cavan's Paul Brady secured yet another senior singles title in dramatic fashion at Headquarters on Saturday afternoon against Cork's David Walsh on a 21-20, 13-21, 11-9 scoreline despite a serious leg injury in the tie-break third game. Brady announced that it was to be his last game in Irish competition, which didn't really come as a surprise to any one, although he did not rule out one more appearance in the US Open in a few weeks' time.
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