Top seed Healy proves too good for Kennedy

CORK’S Tony Healy cemented his place as top seed when defeating Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy to take his third consecutive senior men’s crown at the Envirogreen Resource Nationals in Kilkenny yesterday.

Kennedy sustained an injury to his quad during what was a heated semi-final victory over Antrim’s Ricky McCann.

But he battled through the pain barrier and took the opening game 21-17.

Despite a courageous battle from the Dubliner, the Ballydesmond ace sealed a 21-10 victory in the second game to seal his third title in-a-row.

Healy will now turn his attention to the Dalkia Senior Singles Championship, where he faces Antrim’s Ricky McCann in the last eight.

Meanwhile, Antrim teenager Aisling Reilly sensationally defeated world champion Fiona Shannon to claim her first Irish senior title.

The 19-year-old, who last month received an Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star award, produced a stunning performance to emerge victorious 21-17, 21-12.

The win was somewhat bittersweet as Shannon has been Reilly’s long-term playing partner and mentor.

Reilly has swept the board in juvenile handball in recent years and already has an All-Ireland Senior Doubles title to her name along with junior, US and collegiate titles.

In the Masters (40+) A final, legendary Kilkenny handballer, Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh (Talbot’s Inch) added yet another title to his haul when he defeated Meath veteran, Tom Sheridan (Kells) in a thrilling final over three games on a scoreline of 21-19, 16-21, 11-5.

In the Men’s A final, Mayo’s Vinny Moran (Ballaghaderreen) defeated Tyrone’s Darragh Daly (Carrickmore) over two games on scoreline of 21-12, 21-8.

In the underage categories, there were wins for Tyrone’s Pádraig McGlinchey (Carrickmore) in the Boy’s 19 and Under final overKilkenny’s Nicholas Anthony (Mullinavat), 19-21, 21-9, 21-9, and for the USA’s Tyree Bastidas (New York) in the Boys 17 and Under final over Cork’s Shane Hedigan (Liscarroll), 21-19, 21-13.

In the Girls 17 And Under final, there was victory for Roscommon’s Leona Doolin (St. Coman’s, Roscommon Town) over Wicklow’s Shauna Hilley (Coolboy), 21-4, 21-18.

Finally, in the Girls’ 15 and Under final, Cork’s Catriona Casey (Ballydesmond) defeated Mayo’s Amy Corrigan (Ballaghaderreen), 21-17, 13-21, 11-7.