Kennedy rolls back the years to stun McCarthy

Eoin Kennedy’s legacy as one of the greatest handballers in the history of the sport has long been secured but the manner of his extraordinary win over Robbie McCarthy last Saturday may nudge him up a spot or two in the all-time rankings.

Written off in the build-up and trounced in the opening set, 35-year-old Kennedy conjured up some of the old magic to complete a fairytale comeback against champion McCarthy in a magnificent M Donnelly All-Ireland 60x30 senior singles final in Abbeylara, Co. Longford.

The win marked a ninth title for Kennedy (35), but first since 2010, and he went into the match as heavy underdog against the four-in-a-row-seeking Westmeath man.