Sport

Brady makes it number eight

HANDBALL: PAUL BRADY confirmed his status at the best 40x20 player to ever grace the courts of Ireland when he saw off the challenge…

Mon Apr 18 2011 - 01:00

HANDBALL:PAUL BRADY confirmed his status at the best 40x20 player to ever grace the courts of Ireland when he saw off the challenge of Armagh's Charly Shanks to claim his eighth All-Ireland Senior Singles title yesterday afternoon in Abbeylara, Longford.

In claiming another crown, Brady set an Irish record, having equalled that of Kilkenny legend Michael Ducksy Walsh in 2010.

“I’ve been training for this day for 12 or 13 years; it was a long-term goal and words really can’t describe what it means to me,” said an emotional Brady.

The Cavan player, who had his broken finger heavily strapped, looked off the pace early on as Shanks surged into an early 9-1. At 12-3 down, questions were really being asked of the defending champion, but he came up with the answers and battled back into contention to level matters at 16.

READ MORE

Brady pulled off some incredible finishes to take the first game 21-17, much to the delight of his supporters in the packed venue.

“I really can’t remember much about the scores in the first game; I was just concentrating on ace after ace and thankfully, following a bit of a shaky start, things began to go right for me.”

In the second game, the world number one produced one of the most dominant performances of his career as he brushed aside the challenge of the talented Armagh man 21-3.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster this week and up until today, I really wasn’t sure I was going to be able to play with my finger, but I had great medical people looking after me,” said Brady. “But I’m thrilled with the victory. It’s a special one.”

Meanwhile, in a hugely entertaining women’s 40x20 All-Ireland Senior Doubles Final, Kerry’s Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville defeated Antrim stars Fiona Shannon and Sibeal McKenna after a three-game tussle. Antrim won the first 21-20, but the Kerry pair pushed into top gear in the second and third, to retain the crown they won in 2010 with a 21-8 victory in the third.

In the Minor 40x20 final, Cork’s Killian Carroll collected his county’s first honours since Tony Healy won the title in 1996. Carroll produced an awesome display to overcome Kildare’s Niall O’Connor 21-7, 21-5.