Paul Brady of Kingscourt, Cavan, in action in the Men's Open round of 32 during day four of the O'Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
By Paul Fitzpatrick
After two hectic days of action in the Men’s Open Singles division at the oneills.com World 4-Wall Handball Championships, the field has been whittled down to 16.
There were no major upsets to report in the early rounds, although one of the top seeds – Mexican Luis Cordova – was pushed all the way by Corkman Tadhg Carroll today (Tuesday), the Juarez native advancing in a tiebreaker.
Elsewhere, the big guns all limbered up nicely with commanding wins. Martin Mulkerrins, Paul Brady, Robbie McCarthy, Diarmaid Nash and Killian Carroll all cruised their opening matches against Niall O’Connor (Kildare), Loren Collado (San Francisco), Stephen Cooney (Mayo via California), Jerome Santerre (Quebec) and Caolán Daly (Tyrone) respectively.
In the other games, David Walsh from Mallow, who reached the semi-final of the All-Ireland Senior Singles this year, took down towering American Max Langmack – a talented up and comer who, at 6ft 8, is the tallest player to compete on the Race4Eigh Tour Stateside – in straight games.
Ray Ure (22), regarded as the rising star in America, came from well behind to snatch the first game 15-14 against Kildare citeog Kevin Diggins before winning the second comfortably while Kilkenny’s Peter Funchion had a good win American Erik Torres.
Corkman Michael Hedigan, an All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Doubles medallist earlier this year, powered his way to one of the best wins of the day as he defeated highly-rated young American Sam Esser (15-4, 15-5).
Eric Torres of USA in action against Peter Funchion of Kells, Kilkenny, in the Open Men's round of 32 during day three of the O'Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile.
However, it wasn’t all good news for the Irish as Canadian Ivan Burgos enjoying an eye-catching 15-2, 15-9 win over Galway’s Diarmuid Mulkerrins and Los Angeles power-hitter Braulio Ruiz used his trademark spin shots to great effect as he battled past Monaghan’s Gavin Coyle in a tiebreaker.
Carroll’s brother Killian, who has been a superstar on the American professional circuit in the last decade since relocating to Boston, swept past Tyrone’s Daly in straight sets, with Cork’s Daniel Relihan, Hedigan’s doubles partner and a supreme shotmaker known for his spectacular tomahawk kills, seeing off a Californian of Irish parentage in youngster Coleman McGrath (15-2, 15-14).
The round of 16 is down for decision tomorrow (Wednesday).
Mulkerrins is up first as he takes on the dangerous Ruiz, with a number of intriguing battles lined up including the meeting of 2022 All-Ireland champion Nash and young sensation Ure.
Brothers Luis and Daniel Cordova, known as ‘The Flying Cordovas’ on the American pro circuit, will take on Cork’s Daniel Relihan and Kilkenny’s Peter Funchion respectively, with Brady taking on Liscarroll clubman Hedigan.
In the Over 40s Singles, Brendan Fleming of Ballydesmond, Co Cork defeated Wicklow’s Michael Gregan (Coolboy) in the final in a tiebreaker. The pair traded one-sided games before the tenacious Fleming claimed the first gold medal of the week in the deciding set.
Elsewhere, the Ladies Open Singles serves off tomorrow (Wednesday). All matches are being streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.
Draws and schedules are live at knowthescore.ie.