Mullan And Kerr Claim All Ireland Gold

Friday 13.10.2017

Club

Tyrone picked up their first gold medals of the 2017 All Ireland 60×30 championships when Ryan Mullan and Sean Kerr teamed up in brilliant style to defeat Kilkenny in the All Ireland under-21 doubles final in Kells last Saturday.
The talented Tyrone pair took control of the match early on and secured a 21-13 win in the opening game, before sealing a famous triumph in the second game, crushing the Kilkenny challenge on a scoreline of 21-6.
Ryan and Sean have linked up superbly in the ‘big alley’ this year and were impressive winners on Saturday, and it was a particularly sweet moment for Ryan who avenged his recent singles final defeat at the hands of Brian Mahon. For Sean, Tyrone’s most successful underage player ever, it was amazingly a first 60×30 All Ireland championship win since his under-14 days.
While Sean can go on and add to his haul of under-21 medals over the next couple of years, this was a fitting end to Ryan’s illustrious underage career.
“Yes, it was my last under-21 game,” smiled Ryan, “and this win means a lot as it has capped off my underage handball career with an All Ireland winner’s medal. Thankfully I played much better compared to the singles final!
“I was in last year’s big alley under-21 singles and doubles finals as well but I got beaten in both,” he reflected. “Winning this also means I’ve won a doubles All Ireland in every grade from U15 up to U21 in 40×20 and 60×30.
“Along with Johnny (Woods) I won the 40×20 U21 doubles title earlier this year, and two years ago I lost the U21 final alongside Paddy McCrory, so altogether in under-21 handball I’ve played in 6 All Ireland finals and won 2.”
“It was the first time for me to play doubles with Sean this year and we just clicked,” Ryan continued. “He’s very easy to play with and in the final especially we both covered the court well and played good shots to stay in control of the game.
“For the year ahead, It’ll get a bit tougher now that I’m playing in intermediate, but I plan on working hard with the aim of moving up to senior level and doing well in the world championships in the US next August,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, there was no joy for Tyrone in the curtain raiser in Kells on Saturday as Finbarr Fullen and Kenny Curran put up a gallant effort against Westmeath in the silver masters final before eventually suffering a 21-15, 21-13 defeat.
The Tyrone pair had also lost the 40×20 doubles final earlier in the year but can be proud of their efforts in both codes in 2017.
ALL IRELAND 60X30 FINALS 2017…All-Ireland 60×30 adult doubles championship finals…
Saturday 7th October at Kells:
U21D Tyrone (Sean Kerr & Ryan Mullan) beat Kilkenny (Brian Mahon & Emmet Landy) 21-13, 21-6
SMBD Westmeath (Joe Mulvanney & Mike Naughton) beat Tyrone (Kenny Curran & Finbarr Fullen) 21-15, 21-13