Kennedy hoping for handball double

Just a fortnight after he captured the Senior Singles Softball Handball title after beating Kilkenny legend Michael 'Ducksy' Walsh, Dublin's Eoin Kennedy is back searching for All-Ireland glory in the Handball centre at Croke Park tomorrow where he is paired with Egin Jensen in the Senior Doubles decider.

Should he and Jensen take honours, Kennedy will join John Ryan as only the second player ever to take the Big-Alley Grand Slam. The decorated Wexford man collected Senior 60 x30 Singles and Doubles titles in 1957, along with double hardball honours.

Already this season Kennedy has achieved Singles and Doubles hardball honours while a fortnight ago he secured the Senior Singles Softball crown.

Kennedy and Jensen go into this final as firm favourites against Dessie Keegan and Kevin Geraghy of Ballaghaderreen, with Geraghty a late replacement for former All-Ireland Intermediate Singles champion Joe McCann.

McCann received a blow during last weekend's Mayo SFC semi-final, where he lined out at full-back as champions Ballina Stephenites qualified for the decider. The Ballaghaderreen player was subsequently admitted to St. James' Hospital with a collapsed lung, however doctors have indicated that the two incidents may be unrelated.

Joe's team-mate Dessie Keegan is disappointed that his doubles partner will have to miss Saturday's decider.

"I'm really upset for Joe because I know how much he wanted this but I have to be selfish now and not carry baggage into the alley," Keegan said.

However he is satisfied that Kevin Geraghty is an excellent replacement.

'Kevin is fine player and I'll have to be on top of my game, but the target is still there - to go and win this final."

Jensen is once again looking forward to partnering Kennedy after the pair lined out together in the last two finals.

"It's great to be in another final. We had a tough game against Wexford in the semi and we expect this one will be even tougher," Jensen said.

The Meath native is confident of more silverware, having won a World Doubles title last year with 'Ducksy' Walsh.

"We're confident that we will win - you have to be. We're really looking forward to it and it's going to be some contest."

Tickets are still available for the triple-header of finals which begins at 3pm tomorrow.

Proceedings start with the Minor Doubles final where Limerick duo CJ Fitzpatrick and Seamus O'Carroll face Ciaran Neary and Keith Bourke. Meanwhile, the Intermediate Singles final pairs Paul Mullins of Tipperary against Mayo's Ollie Cassidy.