Preview: oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Doubles semi-finals

By Paul Fitzpatrick

The oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Doubles semi-finals are down for decision on Saturday at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park, with a couple of compelling contests in store.

In the men’s draw, holders Peter and Patrick Funchion bid to move a step closer to retaining the title they captured last year, a landmark success which marked the first Kilkenny victory in the grade in 27 years. The Kells brothers were impressive again on their way to the last four, accounting for Mayo’s Paddy Murphy and Dessie Keegan (21-6, 21-19) before easing past Eoghan McGinnity, a former two-time minor champion, and Ramunas Ramanauskas in the quarter-final (21-8, 21-9).

They now face one of the stories of this year’s championship in Antrim’s Jordan O’Neill and Mark Rainey. Former Intermediate champions, O’Neill and Rainey have become the first Antrim pairing in over 20 years to reach a Senior Doubles semi-final and arrive in Croke Park with momentum after a standout tie-break victory over Mallow duo Tadhg O’Neill and David Walsh, recovering from the loss of the opening game to win 18-21, 21-10, 11-3. Their athleticism and confidence make them dangerous opponents but they will need another step up to unsettle the experienced Funchions.

The other men’s semi-final pits Clare’s Diarmaid Nash and Colin Crehan, one of the most decorated partnerships still in contention, against Cork’s former winners Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan in what promises to be a high-quality rematch of the 2024 final. Nash and Crehan are three-time champions and have also been beaten in two finals. They advanced with composed wins over Galway’s Oisín Ó Cualáin and Conor Noone, 21-8, 21-10, before accounting for Wicklow’s Michael Gregan and Jerome Willoughby, 21-13, 21-6.

Relihan and Hedigan, from Liscarroll, edged that dramatic 2024 decider in an 11-10 tie-breaker and have again shown strong form this season. They opened with victory over Clare pair Colin Corbett and Niall Bolton and followed up with an authoritative win against former champions Gary McConnell and Brian Carroll of Meath, prevailing 21-16, 21-8. With recent final history between the sides and both partnerships well matched stylistically, this tie has the potential to be the stand-out contest of the afternoon.

In the ladies championship, Galway’s Ciana Ní Churraoin and Niamh Heffernan enter as strong favourites to retain their title. Representing the Michael Breathnachs and Claregalway clubs respectively, the reigning champions have established themselves as the leading pairing in the game and will be expected to bring their trademark control and power to bear again.

Their opponents are Cork’s Carmel Kelleher and Aishling O’Keeffe, a vastly experienced doubles operator who won 17 senior All-Ireland medals alongside Catriona Casey across both 40x20 and 60x30. O’Keeffe’s strength on the right side remains a key asset, while Kelleher arrives in excellent form after recently claiming the Intermediate Singles crown. If they can impose themselves early, the Cork pair have the tools to test the champions but Galway are deserved favourites.

The second ladies semi-final sees sisters Mollie and Hannah Dagg from Leixlip take on Clare duo Caitríona Millane and Leah Minogue. Mollie Dagg has emerged as one of the leading senior players while Hannah, a stand-out underage player, is stepping up to the top level.

Millane and Minogue bring strong recent credentials. Minogue captured the All-Ireland Intermediate Singles title in 2025 while Millane reached the quarter-finals of this year’s Senior Singles Championship before losing to Fiona Tully, evidence of the level she is operating at individually.

Action throws in at 2pm at Croke Park, with the matches streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.