Irish Dominate US Nationals

Defending champion and No. 1 seed, Cavan star Paul Brady (Kingscourt), claimed an incredible sixth consecutive Men’s Open Singles title, when he easily defeated US. No. 1 seed, Missouri’s David Chapman, in a gritty final, over two games, at this year’s USHA Four-Wall National Championships, at the University Of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA, on Saturday.

The Cavan man, who is also the current World Men’s Open Singles champion, had been in devastating form in the earlier rounds and continued this form into Saturday’s final, once more underlining his complete dominance of the small or international (40X20) court scene and confirming his status as World No. 1 seed.

In the first game, Brady stormed into commanding leads of 9-2 and then 16-5, before Chapman pulled two points back. Brady began to display his full array of lethal kill shots and silken passing shots, allied to his trademark “rocket-like” serve and with the score at 17-7, he was in the driving-seat. The American could only muster one more point, as the Cavan man forged ahead, to close out, on an emphatic scoreline of 21-8.

The second game followed a similar pattern, with Brady racing into daunting leads of 11-2 and then 14-3. Chapman then hit a purple patch and began to produce his own armoury of pinpoint kill shots and smooth passing shots, allied to some explosive serving, pointing six times in succession, to narrow the gap to 14-9. But that was as close as the American got, as the Breffni maestro edged tenaciously ahead, to seal victory, on a decisive scoreline of 21-9.

In the Women’s Open Singles final, yesterday (Sunday), Antrim star, Aisling Reilly (St. Paul’s, Belfast), easily defeated Jennifer Schmitt of Texas, over two games, on an emphatic scoreline of 21-2, 21-7, to claim her inaugural title.

In the Men’s Open Doubles final, yesterday (Sunday), legendary Kilkenny handballer, Michael “Ducksy” Walsh (Talbot’s Inch), partnered ace Meath veteran, Tom Sheridan (Kells), to defeat American duo, Luis Moreno (Arizona) and Sean Lenning (Washington State), over two games, on a decisive scoreline of 21-6, 21-12.

It was a case of “double-delight” for Walsh, as he bagged the Men’s Masters (40+) crown, on Saturday, defeating California’s Mike
McDonald, in the final, over two games, on a convincing scoreline of 21-9, 21-9. Young Kilkenny ace, Ciaran Neary (Talbot’s Inch), extended his county’s good fortune, on Saturday, when he claimed the Men’s “B” Singles title, defeating Christian Torres of Illinois, in the final, over two games, on an impressive scoreline of 21-15, 21-7.

In the underage categories, young Kilkenny ace, Peter Funchion (Kells), bagged the Boys 17 & Under Singles crown, yesterday (Sunday),
defeating Mexican  Daniel Cordova, in a gritty final, over three games, on a scoreline of 21-5, 20-21, 11-1. Finally, young Meath ace,
Robert Fox (Kells), netted the Boys 13 & Under Siingles title, yesterday (Sunday), defeating ace clubmate, Evan Sheridan, in a
thrilling final, over two games, on a slender scoreline of 21-20, 21-17.

USHA Four-Wall National Championships Irish Results:
At: University Of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA:

Men’s Open Singles Final:
P. Brady (IRL/Cavan) df D. Chapman (USA/Missoiuri) 21-8 , 21-9.

Men’s Open Doubles Final:
M. Walsh (IRL/Kilkenny) & T. Sheridan (IRL/Meath) bt L. Moreno (USA/Arizona) & S. Lenning (USA/Washington State) 21-6, 21-12

Women’s Open Singles Final:
A. Reilly (IRL/Antrim) bt J. Schmitt (USA/Texas) 21-2, 21-7

Women’s Open Doubles Final:
A. Reilly (IRL/Antrim) & J. Hinman (USA/Oregon) bt J. Schmitt & A.Roberts (USA/Texas) 21-3, 21-5.

Boys 17 & Under Singles Final:
Peter Funchion ((IRL/Kilkenny) bt D. Cordova (Mexico/Chihuahua) 21-5, 20-21, 11-1.

Boys 13 & Under Singles Final:
R. Fox (IRL/Meath) bt E. Sheridan (IRL/Meath) 21-20, 21-17.