Preview: oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Singles quarter-finals
Westmeath handballer, Robbie McCarthy.
By Paul Fitzpatrick
The destination of the oneills.com All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Singles titles will be a lot clearer by tomorrow evening (Saturday), with the quarter-finals of the Men’s and Ladies championships down for decision at the National Handball Centre, Croke Park.
There are two former champions in contention in the Men’s grade in 2022 winner Diarmaid Nash of Clare, who meet’s Cork’s Michael Hedigan, and the decorated Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath, who takes on former minor and Intermediate winner Eoghan McGinnity of Monaghan.
Mullingar’s McCarthy indicated he was to retire last August after losing the Senior Softball Singles final but has jumped immediately back into the fray and has shown good form to date, comfortably defeating Clare’s Colin Crehan last time out.
McGinnity’s form on the tournament circuit was shakier but the Monaghan Harps youngster saw off Clare’s Colin Corbett last time in two close games and will be keen to make a splash in his first Senior Singles quarter-final.
Michael Hedigan came through to the last eight after a three-game win over Tipperary’s Rory Grace, who had competed in the USHA Collegiates in St Louis the previous week. He has pushed Nash before but the Tuamgraney man comes in as favourite, having contended strongly in the pre-championship weekend tournaments and turned back Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne 21-10, 21-10 in the round of 16.
Cork’s David Walsh, who enjoyed a break-out season in late 2024 and 2025, defeated Tyrone’s Caolán Daly last time out and will meet Gavin Coyle of Monaghan in a repeat of last year’s quarter-final, which Walsh won (21-15, 21-16).
The powerful Walsh shipped a couple of losses pre-championship but will be looking to peak in the coming weeks. Coyle, for his part, has had good wins over Sean Kerr and Cormac Finn and will come into this match full of confidence.
The final quarter-final sees Kilkenny’s Peter Funchion take on Cork’s Daniel Relihan. Funchion has been one of Kilkenny’s most successful players in recent years and has claimed major honours, including the All-Ireland Senior Doubles title alongside his brother Paddy and the Irish Nationals Senior Singles title last November.
Relihan, a smooth shot-maker, is an experienced senior competitor with Senior Doubles titles to his name in 4-Wall and hardball (alongside Hedigan) and he beat veteran Michael Gregan (21-7, 21-20) last time out. Both men will see this as a great opportunity to make the last four and possibly a first Senior Singles final thereafter.
Roscommon handballer, Fiona Tully.
The quarter-finals of the 2026 oneills.com 4-Wall All Ireland Senior Ladies Singles Championships will also be decided tomorrow, with Limerick’s Martina McMahon the big absentee.
The Treaty left-hander, who dominated the elite game for 18 months, conceded her round of 16 match to Cork youngster Carmel Kelleher. With Kelleher understandably opting to pursue the Intermediate Singles title, the unfortunate situation has arisen whereby Kildare’s Mollie Dagg has a walkover in her quarter-final.
Elsewhere, world champion Ciana Ní Churraoin of Galway faces Kilkenny rising star Amy Brennan. Ní Churraoin, a sports psychologist by trade, is well accustomed to competing at the latter stages of major championships and will enter this match as favourite against the talented Clogh right-hander.
Roscommon’s Fiona Tully, meanwhile, takes on Clarewoman Caitriona Millane. Tully has been a constant at the business end of major competitions in recent years; a win here would set up a semi-final with Dagg.
The tie of the round and probably of the day in general is the clash of Tyrone’s Eilise McCrory and Galway’s Niamh Heffernan.
McCrory has been in dazzling form of late, having taken her game to another level, but Heffernan has been equally impressive, competing very strongly in America.
Both players like to shoot the ball and it could come down to who finds their range on the day.
Matches on the show court will be streamed live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.
FIXTURES
2026 oneills.com 4-Wall All-Ireland Senior Singles Championships quarter-finals
Saturday, February 28th, 10am
Ciana Ní Churraoin (Galway) v Amy Brennan (Kilkenny)
Fiona Tully (Roscommon) v Caitriona Millane (Clare)
Mollie Dagg (Kildare) bye
Eilise McCrory (Tyrone) v Niamh Heffernan (Galway)
1pm
Diarmaid Nash (Clare) v Michael Hedigan (Cork)
Robbie McCarthy (Westmeath) v Eoghan McGinnity (Monaghan)
David Walsh (Cork) v Gavin Coyle (Monaghan)
Peter Funchion (Kilkenny) v Daniel Relihan (Cork)
