McCavitt masters Doyle in Men’s Open Final

The Mullins Engineering Williamstown One Wall Men’s Open title is safely back in Armagh with young protégé Conall McCavitt taking the title from James Doyle (also Armagh) in a three game thriller in Williamstown.

In the searing heat of Williamstown over the weekend, the two finalists fought long and hard to reach the final with McCavitt turning over Peter Daveron, Paul Fitzpatrick and Vinny Moran en route to the final while Doyle beat Ian McLoughlin and local man Ollie Conway to gain his place in the decider. With the temperature rising both on and off the court the final started with great intensity and McCavitt was fast out of the blocks taking the first point with a fine kill. However as the progressed Doyle came back into the fray and slowed the game down to a pace which had McCavitt a bit perplexed. This seemed to work for Doyle who went onto take the first game on 15/12 score-line.

In the second game McCavitt took control early on and with his speed and agility dominated the play and went 8 points to 4 up after some long and bruising rallies. He didn’t relinquish his advantage and fired home some great kill shots to take the second game 15/3.

The third game started with some tense exchanges and no quarter was given from either side. Some excellent block shots from both players gained each some crucial points and with the scores locked at 4/4, it was finely hanging in the balance. However McCavitt’s youth and fitness showed in the final rallies of the third game and with some fine rallies going in favour of the youngster, he closed out the competition in fine style on a score-line of 15/7 to take the Mullin’s Engineering Men’s Open title for 2012.

“It was a tough game for me today, it was also my first open final placing and to win it is a dream come true for me” said the young man from Armagh.