McCarthy edges out Kennedy in cracker

Westmeath’s defending champion, Robbie McCarthy, has retained his All-Ireland Softball (60x30) Men’s Open Senior Singles title, defeating second-ranked Eoin Kennedy (St. Brigid’s, Blanchardstown), in two games at Abbeylara in Co. Longford.

Kennedy, who claimed seven successive titles from 2004 to 2010, returned to top class handball earlier this year and Saturday’s match-up has been well anticipated.

It didn’t disappoint. In the first game, McCarthy Jnr began explosively, storming into a commanding 10-1 lead. Things were looking ominous for Kennedy, but he dug in, and amazingly levelled at 11-11.