Last Saturday, 21st of March in Kingscourt, Cavan, Robert McCarthy, with a display of never-say-die handball, clinched back-to-back GAA Handball 40×20 senior singles championship titles by defeating Charlie Shanks of Armagh in a thrilling finish.
Trailing 16-20 in the final game, Robbie bounced back to win five great points and secure the title.
This was a title that Robert won the hard way having lost the opening game by 21-13, wining the second game by 21-5, and clinching the title with a 21-20 win in a nail-biting third game.
In the first game Shanks opened up a 5-0 lead but McCarthy upped the ante and turned the 5-0 deficit into a 6-5 lead.
The next few aces were traded between both players before Shanks hit a purple patch and opened up a lead of 14 aces to seven.
McCarthy kept plugging away and got within five of Shanks but then Shanks started a series of kill shots from the rear of the alley.
Shanks then went 18-10 in front, but McCarthy got it back to 18-12 before Shanks went on to seal the first game by 21-13.
ROBBIE SHOWS HIS SKILL
The second game was all about McCarthy. While the first few aces were traded by both players, McCarthy started to play the handball that everyone was used to seeing him play.
At 3-3 it looked as if Shanks was going to put it up to Robert but McCarthy with vintage handball opened up a 5-3 lead and from there until the end the outcome of this second game was inevitable.
McCarthy went 9-4 up and only allowed Shanks one more point before clinching the second game by a comprehensive 21-5 and bringing the final to a decisive third game.
In the third and final game McCarthy opened up a 3-0 lead before Shanks cut the gap to two aces.
McCarthy then went 4-2 up before Shanks turned on the power and opened up a 12-4 lead and at this stage it did look ominous for Robert.
McCARTHY FIGHTS BACK
But it was at this stage that McCarthy’s experience began to tell.
From 12-4 down Robert cut the gap to 12-9.
Shanks then won the next three aces, while McCarthy started to work the court and began to get a higher percentage of his first serves in.
It was 17-10 to Shanks and indeed many in the packed Kingscourt arena felt that it was only a matter of time before Charlie Shanks took the honours. But they did not count on the fact that McCarthy never knows when he is beaten.
The gap went to 19-14 in favour of Shanks who was just two aces shy of the title. McCarthy then really worked his socks off and brought the score back 19-16 in favour of Shanks.
EXCITING FINALE
The odds were still stacked in favour of Shanks who then went 20-16 in front and needed just one ace to win the title. McCarthy worked hard to win back the serve, but lost it, then he pressurised Shanks into making an error that handed the serve back.
It was then that the guile and experience of McCarthy paid off.
He hit a selection of kill and passing shots that had Shanks under pressure. Robert then utilised the full array of shots in his armoury including strong, precise and powerful roof shots.
He started to edge closer to Shanks and then it was 20-20 and the large crowd were on the edge of their seats.
Both players were playing precision shots in an effort to clinch the title and after an exciting rally McCarthy nailed the ball to the bottom of the front wall to take the title.
After his victory McCarthy was presented with the cup for the second year in succession. In his speech Robert thanked his father, Robert Snr, for his help, his family and his friends for their support. He also thanked Kingscourt club for hosting the championship finals, Westmeath GAA County Board for their support and Renault for their sponsorship of Westmeath GAA.
