Carroll set for CityWest World Championships

The coming weeks and months promise to be busy for Kells handballer Brian Carroll as he prepares for the World Championships in CityWest next October. Carroll booked his place in the World Championships after he enjoyed one of his finest days in the 40x20 arena when he, along with playing partner Robbie McCarthy from Westmeath, defeated Cavan duo Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan at Kingscourt. In early April Carroll, along with club colleague Tom Sheridan, was defeated in the All-Ireland doubles final, losing out to Brady and Michael Finnegan 20-21 in the third game. However, they exacted revenge The speedy Carroll was undeniably the most consistent player at the World senior doubles trials at Kingscourt and he certainly played his part that he, and McCarthy, will represent Ireland at the expense of the Cavan duo. After losing the opener to the experienced Breffni combination by a 12-point margin, 9-21, things looked like playing out according to plan for Ireland's most prevailing partnership, Brady and Finnegan. Trailing 5-0 in game two, few would have given the younger combination of Carroll and McCarthy much hope but they began to curb the Cavan threat while getting into their groove and suddenly they led 17-8. Carroll's skills and experience in the doubles helped them get the better of the sturdy Brady and Finnegan combination. The former 19 and under USA doubles victors and the 2009 World senior finalists in Portland, McCarthy and Carroll, then closed out game two 21-15. The tiebreaker was intense throughout but McCarthy and Carroll held their nerve to take the spoils 11-9. "It was great to get a win against Paul and Michael. It wasn't looking good for us after the first game, they seemed to be in control and they had us on the back foot from the start," commented Carroll who also lost out to Brady in the All-Ireland singles championship. "The World Championships are going to be a fantastic event in the City West arena and to represent Ireland at this event will make it even more special for me."