By Paul Fitzpatrick
The opening round of the oneills.com All-Ireland Men’s Senior Singles takes centre stage this evening, Friday, with ties scheduled at venues around the country.
One of the headline clashes sees Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne face Meath’s Gary McConnell in Ballymore Eustace. McConnell has long been associated with doubles success but signalled his arrival as a singles force last year when he claimed the Senior Softball Singles crown for the first time last year. Dunne, a former Senior Singles champion in hardball, will be aiming to contest the senior title in 4-wall – he is a former USHA Collegiates champion from his time studying in Minnesota – and mount a serious push this season.
The same venue also stages a meeting between Peter Funchion and Brian Carroll. Funchion enjoyed a stellar 2025 campaign, capturing the All-Ireland Senior Doubles title alongside his brother Paddy in 4-wall, Kilkenny’s first triumph in that grade in 27 years, before adding the Irish Nationals singles title in November, the biggest of his career. Carroll’s experience makes him a dangerous opponent and he will be keen to halt the momentum of one of the game’s in-form players.
At St Brigid’s in Dublin, Cork’s Michael Hedigan takes on Antrim’s Jordan O’Neill. Hedigan, a former senior doubles champion with proven class, is likely to start as favourite against the smooth Belfast man, who returns after an injury lay-off.
Tipperary’s Rory Grace meets Waterford’s Anthony Fitzgerald in Kells, Kilkenny. The Lahorna clubman, a former All-Ireland U21 champion, comes into the championship following a narrow loss to Kyle Jordan in the Irish Collegiate final while Fitzgerald, also returning from injury, steps up to the senior grade.
Jordan, incidentally, heads a strong Irish delegation heading to the USHA Collegiates in St Louis, Missouri.
An all-Cork contest in Boherbue sees Daniel Relihan up against Conor Walsh. Relihan reached the decider of the Golden Gloves, the season’s first ranking event, in St Paul’s, Belfast last November and is regarded as a smooth, creative shotmaker. Walsh, back after time spent travelling, will be eager to assert himself at senior level.
Crinkle in Offaly hosts a double bill. Wicklow veteran Michael Gregan, fresh from an eye-catching victory at the Kingscourt Shoot-Out, faces Claremorris stylist Paddy Murphy, who alongside Niall Joyce holds the Senior Hardball Doubles title. Joyce is also in action, taking on Cork’s Shane Hedigan in what promises to be a tightly fought encounter.
In Collooney, Tyrone’s Caolán Daly, a former Red Hand U21 footballer, meets Mayo’s Ian McLoughlin, while Monaghan Harps’ Eoghan McGinnity, a two-time Minor Singles winner, takes on another Mayo man in Lorcan Conlon.
St Mellan’s in Monaghan stages an Ulster derby between Bawn’s Gavin Coyle and Tyrone’s Sean Kerr of Breacach, a tie that may hinge as much on work-rate and intensity as pure shot selection.
Meanwhile, the historic St Coman’s in Roscommon provides the backdrop for Monaghan’s Oran Kiernan, a former Farney hurler, against Clare’s Colin Crehan, an aggressive scorer who also excelled as an underage hurler and boasts several major titles.
The round concludes in Cullohill, where Kildare left-hander Niall O’Connor, who gained experience on the US pro tour while based in Canada, meets Clare’s Colin Corbett as he looks to convert that exposure into a sustained championship run.
Awaiting the winners in the last 16 are Diarmaid Nash, Robbie McCarthy and David Walsh.
The ladies championship had its grading round last weekend and had one major story emerge; Martina McMahon of Limerick, the defending champion, is out after conceding her match to Cork youngster Carmel Kelleher.
The ladies quarter-finals take place on February 28.