Legends final tomorrow evening at St. Josephs
Legends doubles final – Jim Bergin/Mick Flood v Ger McWilliams/Mick McGrath
After playing six matches each, with and against different players, we now know the finalists in the inaugural Legends of the Game doubles competition organised by GAA Handball Wexford. This takes place tomorrow (Monday) evening at St. Josephs Handball Centre at 6.30pm.
Table topper and favourite to win out is Jim Bergin from the St. Martins GAA club in Piercestown, who has looked a class apart in all of his games to date. He got through his six matches with the loss of only two points out of a possible 18 and his 16 points tally left him well clear of most of the field. In the final he will renew his partnership with second place finisher Mick Flood from St. Mary’s Handball Club in Wexford town and having already played together three times while in the same group, they will have built up a good understanding to go with their 100% record. Flood gathered 9 of his 12 points while partnering Bergin and is a very consistent performer in his own right. With a combined age of 132 they will enjoy a 16 year advantage over their opponents.
In the opposite corner will be Ger McWilliams and Mick McGrath, two of the most respected figures in the game and still going strong at a combined age of 148. McWilliams won the All Ireland EMBD title with the aforementioned Jim Bergin back in 2010 and has been Honorary President of Wexford Handball Board for many years. Two of his sons Barry and Fergal take part in county and intercounty handball as does his grandson Danny. McGrath goes back to his long-term residence in America on Tuesday having graced the handball scene in Wexford for the past number of months. He is a man who retains a huge interest in the game and he will be sorely missed until he returns ‘home’ to these shores again. Amongst his achievements was the winning of the World Open Doubles title with the legendary Pat Kirby in addition to a plethora of other titles and tournaments.
A great game is in store for sure and while the outcome is largely irrelevant to the rest of us, these men simply did not get to where they are by being uncompetitive. Irrespective of who wins though, our lives have been enriched by these great handball men and we can but thank them for their contribution and wish them many more years of health and handball.