From left: John 'Bosco' Hurley, David Walsh (Southern Classic champion), Michael Jordan (who donated the cup), Robbie McCarthy (runner-up) and Brendan Fleming (The Sibly, sponsor).
By Paul Fitzpatrick
David Walsh was the hometown hero as the Mallow man claimed the first ranking title of 2025 – and his second in succession following his November win in the Golden Gloves in Belfast – at the Southern Classic last weekend.
The tournament was hosted by the Liscarroll and Mallow clubs and attracted a field of 24 elite players in the Men’s Open as well as 34 juveniles and 22 Masters players.
Walsh, 26, who made the semi-final of the oneills.com World Championships, repeated his quarter-final win over Robbie McCarthy from that event in the Southern Classic final.
In the final, the Westmeath man – who won the first two renewals of the event in 2023 and 2024 – took game one 15-13, having been 13-10 down. The scores were tied at 10-10 in the second before Walsh pulled away to win 15-10 and McCarthy unfortunately retired injured, with Walsh claiming the Michael Jordan Cup for the first time.
In an eventful weekend of action, world Over 40s champion Brendan Fleming had a fine run to the semis, defeating Rory Grace (Tipperary), Gavin Coyle (Monaghan) and Daniel Relihan (Cork) before finding Walsh too strong in the semi-final.
Gary McConnell of Meath produced a round-of-16 upset against Clare’s Diarmaid Nash (6-15, 15-1, 11-5) but fell to Kerry veteran Dominic Lynch, who was in terrific form before he lost out to McCarthy at the penultimate stage.
David Walsh in action.
Having picked up a second title in the space of a few months, Walsh has now ascended to the top spot in the national rankings but wasn’t getting carried away with his win.
“I just always aim to do as well as I can, win as many games as I can, that’s what I train for,” he said.
“It was nice to play in Mallow, the gallery was full of familiar faces. Great for them to see all the top players in the country.”
Asked what was the key to victory and what he was most happy with, Walsh said: “Just concentrating on each game and each point. Pleased with my fitness levels also.”
The other courts used for the tournament were Broadford, Co Limerick and Boherbue and Ballydesmond in Cork. The event was organised by a small committee of players and officials, namely Walsh, Fleming, Relihan, Tadgh Carroll and John Hurley.
“We were delighted how it went,” stated Hurley, the Cork county secretary who is more commonly known in handball circles as ‘Bosco’.
“We decided last summer we wanted to expand the tournament and make it bigger by adding more grades beyond just the Men’s Open Singles, we decided to include some juvenile and Masters doubles grades also to help people prepare for championship
“Overall, everyone was delighted with how the games went and how everything ran at the various venues. On behalf of myself and the organising committee, I’d like to thank all the clubs and volunteers involved, the players who travelled to take part as well and of course our sponsors – The Sibly were our main sponsor and Sigma Automation were our secondary sponsors.”
The event was originally scheduled for the last weekend in January but Storm Éowyn intervened.
Results
Men’s Open Singles: David Walsh (Mallow) dft Robbie McCarthy (Mullingar) 13-15, 15-10, inj. default
Minor: Macdara & Learaí Ó'Grádaigh (Mícheál Breathnachs) dft Ryan Linehan (Ballydesmond) & Will McElligott Egan (Liscarroll)
U16A: Sean Considine (Clooney-Quin) & Eoin Shanahan (Kilkishen) dft Bertie Donohue (Inis Mór) & Shane Doyle (Windap)
U16B: Tom & Jerry Goggins (New Ross) dft Cian Buckley & Conall O'Connor (Ballydesmond)
U14A: Tommy Walsh (Mallow) & Cian O'Connor (Boherbue) dft Tom & Mikey Goggins (New Ross)
O35A: Ciaran Neary (Talbots Inch) & Myles Carroll (Ballymore Eustace) dft Tomas Donegan (Galbally) & Paul Hedderman (Hospital)
O35B: Shane Walsh (Tuamgraney) & Mike Baker (Kilkishen) dft Ray Griffin (Macroom) & Niall Quinn (Silvermines)
O45B: Rory O'Sullivan & Martin Dennehy (Cullen) dft Mike Linehan & Denis Quinn (Ballydesmond)
