Martin Mulkerrins storms to success
Galway's Martin Mulkerrins impressed in the US Nationals.
By Paul Fitzpatrick
Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins put the disappointment of losing a number of finals behind him as he stormed to success in the prestigious US Nationals in Springfield, Missouri yesterday (Sunday).
The 32-year-old Moycullen clubman, who lives in Texas where he teaches at Texas A&M University and coaches the college handball team as well as competing on the Race4Eight Tour, took top honours at the 74th US Nationals for the second time in three years with a commanding win in the final against Illinois man Ray Ure (22).
Mulkerrins, who was in tremendous form all tournament, defeated Texan Taylor Schmitt (21-6, 21-5), Cork’s David Walsh (21-10, 21-11) and Arizona man Leo Canales (21-13, 21-6) to set up the final against rising star Ure.
Serving well and consistently killing off both hands, Mulkerrins ran out a 21-10, 21-14 victor in the final.
“I know it's hard to put it in words, it does mean everything really. That was my seventh final, four in a row and six out of the last seven years. I won it in 2023 but it's tough to put so much into it and, yeah...” stated an emotional Mulkerrins after the final.
“In some ways, it was a lot of pressure in the last year, it's harder when you get to the number one ranking, to hold on to it, everybody is coming for you. The Race4Eight season had a difficult end, Luis (Cordova, Mexico) played so well in the latter half of the season.
“But in some ways, as disappointing as it was, it did fuel me. I knew I was there or thereabouts, I played race4Eight stops this year, I was in all eight finals, I won five of them.
“I got to the semi-final of the Worlds, I think there was only tournament that I entered this season where I wasn't in the final.”
Mulkerrins was beaten in the season finale on the pro tour but felt that allowed him to come into the Nationals under the radar. With Paul Brady sensationally exiting at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Canales (21-8, 17-21, 11-5), Mulkerrins was fancied to go all the way and he delivered in style.
“Maybe a few weeks ago, losing there and Paul being the All-Ireland champion and world champion and Luis coming in as number one seed, maybe it took a little bit of the pressure off, gave me that motivation to push on,” he said.
“I think I got in that zone for all four rounds this week and we're over the line.”
Mulkerrins will play in the Open Doubles final alongside his brother Diarmuid later today.
Elsewhere, Kilkenny’s Aoife Holden also enjoyed an outstanding tournament, reaching the final of the Women’s Open Singles where she lost out to top American Mikaela Esser.