ALL-IRELAND 60×30 senior champion Robbie McCarthy puts his title on the line against former ‘big alley’ king Eoin Kennedy tomorrow in Williamstown, Co Galway in what is the most eagerly-anticipated match of the summer season.
And Mullingar man McCarthy, 27, is taking nothing for granted against the 34-year-old Dubliner, whose reign he ended in 2011.
“Everything has gone grand, it’s gone according to plan anyway. Eoin is a very tough player, I’m looking forward to playing him again but everything is tough with Eoin,” said McCarthy.
“I haven’t even thought about being favourite, as far as I’m concerned it’s just a game of handball and I’ll just take it whatever way it comes.
“I’ll play my own game and try and let him worry about what he’s going to do. I have no fear of anyone so I’ll let him think about that.”
Eight-time champion Kennedy, who won seven in a row before McCarthy gate-crashed the party two years ago, is a defensve master who relies on an inch-perfect lob serve and supreme control in front court. However, McCarthy’s fiery brand of power and attacking shots from all angles has seen him take over as the top 60×30 player in the game.
McCarthy is confident that he is in top shape.
“Brian Carroll [Meath] was sticky in the quarter-final and Ducksy [Kilkenny veteran Michael 'Ducksy Walsh] was there in the semi-final but I was really working hard on conditioning, in the last couple of weeks I’ve been in the court a lot and I think I am playing better than ever,” he said.
FIXTURES
M Donnelly All-Ireland 60×30 Minor Singles finals, Williamstown, Co GalwayP Quish (Limerick) v G Riordan (Wexford), 1pm
M Donelly All-Ireland 60×30 Intermediate Doubles final
Mayo (S Cooney/I McLoughlin) v Tipperary (D Hickey/F Collins), 2pm
M Donnelly All-Ireland 60×30 Senior Singles final
Westmeath (R McCarthy) v Dublin (E Kennedy), 3.30pm
