By Paul Fitzpatrick at Croke Park

The All-Ireland Senior Softball Men’s and Ladies Doubles titles were retained by Meath and Cork respectively but they were made to fight all the way in Saturday’s finals at Croke Park.

The Royals’ Gary McConnell and Brian Carroll won the first game 21-16 but dropped the second 14-21 against Dublin’s Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne before they closed it out 11-5.

A tiebreaker was also needed in the ladies final as Kilkenny’s Ciara Mahon and Amy Brennan won the opener 21-15 against Cork’s dominant pair Catriona Casey and Aishling O’Keeffe but the Rebels came roaring back to win 21-19, 11-1.

In winning their fourth title in the softball code as a partnership (they also have one 40x20 Senior Doubles while Carroll now has an astonishing 11 Senior Doubles title in the ‘big alley’, the Meathmen affirmed their position as the leading softball doubles pair in the men’s game.

They did it the hard way, too. Kennedy was superb in particular in the first game, shooting from all angles and making spectacular kills, but Meath dug deep, with McConnell's power and Carroll's speed to the fore.

The champions led 9-3 but were overhauled at 12. Meath regained the advantage and stretched it to 18-13 but the Dubs again rallied to 16, Browne showcasing his deft fly shots, before a pinpoint two-wall pass from Carroll, a back wall kill from McConnell and a close-range Carroll kill closed it out.

Dublin were excellent at the start of the second game and opened a 14-3 lead; Meath clawed it back but dropped game two 21-14. The sides were level at 5-5 in the deciding set but Meath pulled out some cracking kills and closed out another huge win.

“They’re all special, you never know when it’s your last one so you have to enjoy them when they come,” Carroll said.

“We were pushed all the way, the two Dublin lads really pushed us, they had such a game plan and it nearly worked, it was definitely working and you have to admire them for that determination and focus.

“We were just lucky, we just dug it out in the end.”

Earlier, the ladies final was a thriller, with underdogs Mahon and Brennan almost pulling off what would have been a sensational upset only for the Cork women to claim their 11^th senior title together in the big court.

Cork settled well in the early running but Kilkenny, noticeably improved on last year, played brilliantly to open a 13-2 lead, which they extended to 15-9. Mahon was outstanding, dictating the tempo and ending rallies aggressively, as Kilkenny withstand a Cork comeback to take game one.

In the second, Cork went 4-0 up but again, the Cats hit back to lead 12-7. However, the peerless Casey was coming into the contest; the teams were level at 15, Kilkenny led 18-15 but Cork came roaring back.

A nerveless Casey roll-out in the left corner took them to 20 and they finished it out and, in the tiebreaker, made no mistake as Kilkenny tired and O’Keeffe came up with some big shots in the front court.

“We won our first one (senior title) in 2013 in here so it’s great to be back,” commented an emotional O’Keeffe after the match.

It was a bold effort from the Clogh HC duo, who will surely contend strongly again, but on this occasion, Cork’s experience just about made the difference in an exceptional decider.

In the Minor Ladies final, Tyrone’s Laura Duff and Caislin Tracey also came through in a tiebreaker against Kilkenny’s Katie Brennan and Holly Byrne in what was a superb match.