Updated: Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 4:47pm

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Stars and stripes for Sheridan and Walsh

by Jimmy Geoghegan

US Nationals Open Doubles champions Michael "Duxie" Walsh (left) and Meath's Tom Sheridan.

Just two weeks after claiming the All-Ireland Masters Hardball title, Meath's Tom Sheridan added another trophy to his collection when he won the US National Open Doubles title at the USHA National Four-Wall championships.

Sheridan was partnered with Kilkenny legend Michael 'Duxie' Walsh and they combined well to defeat the formidable US pair of Luis Moreno and Sean Lenning on a comprehensive 21-6, 21-12 scoreline to claim the crown.

The Meath player didn't make the best of starts to the week when he suffered an unfortunate 17-21, 21-14, 4-11 defeat to Forida's Jonathan Iglesias in the Open Singles which was eventually won by Cavan's Paul Brady, the current world number one.

However, this defeat for Sheridan meant he could concentrate solely on the doubles.

Walsh and Sheridan, who are both in their 40s and have over 70 senior All-Ireland titles between them, had a convincing quarter-final victory over David Fink and Abraham Montijo, 21-9, 21-0.

Next up they overcame Allan Garner and Tyler Hammel 21-16, 21-18 in the semi-final in a gruelling encounter.

Their final opponents came in the shape of Moreno and Lenning, two of the top players in the United States. Sheridan, a natural left-hander, and Walsh combined to completely out-play the American pair.

Meath were also represented in the juvenile ranks by Evan Sheridan and Robert Fox. The two players contested the 13 and under singles competition and also entered the 15 and under grade.

In the 13s division Fox easily dispatched Taylor Schmitt, 21-6, 21-3 in the semi-final. Sheridan had a harder match losing the first game, but winning the second 21-16 and the tie break 11-10. The club-mates then faced-off in the final where Fox just clinched victory, 21-20, 21-17.

The two clearly have bright futures ahead of them, and further testament to that is that the pair won a game in the next grade up, the 15 and under before suffering narrow defeats.

Back on home soil, Kells player Jimmy Reilly suffered a defeat at the hands of Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy in the Silver Masters singles losing, 12- 21, 16-21.

Peter Flanagan and Eugene O'Reilly received a first round walkover in the Junior B doubles while Joe Cummins and Michael Gaynor lost out in the same division 12-21, 17-21 on Saturday night to Noel Holohan and Peter Hughes from Wexford.

This week Peter Flanagan continues his quest for Leinster Junior B singles glory as he takes on Wexford's JR Finn in Arklow on Wednesday, 8.0.

Sheridan will be in action in the Masters Singles this Thursday against John Ryan from Carlow in the Na Fianna club in Dublin, 8.0. Also on Thursday, Carl Browne and Walter O'Connor take on Dublin's Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jensen in the senior doubles in Mullingar, 7.30.

Sheridan will be in action again in the Leinster Senior Doubles Championship as he partners Brian Carroll. They take on Wexford's Barry Gough and Colin Keeling in Kells on Saturday, 6.30.