Tom Sheridan ends his career on a winning note

Irish handball legend Tom Sheridan bowed out of the senior game on a high note when he claimed the All-Ireland Senior Doubles 60x30 title in Abbeylara on Saturday evening with Brian Carroll. Sheridan teamed up with Carroll as the duo collected a third doubles crown in five years, but Sheridan was also setting a new record by winning his 13th senior doubles accolade. Mayo's Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann provided the opposition for Sheridan and Carroll and raced into an early 3-0 lead. Then the Meath men broke to take a grip on proceedings with two super Sheridan corner kills and a sensational back wall left hand roll-out from Carroll setting the tone for the remainder. The duo kicked on to lead by 14-7 and despite a brief rally by the Mayo men, Sheridan and Carroll held out to win the first game 21-12. A sensational start to the second game by the Meath men saw them open up an unassailable 11-0 lead. Keegan and McCann found it difficult to assert themselves and although they went on to grab six aces, it was the Meath pair who went on to claim the title with a 21-6 win in the final game. "We knew that if Dessie and Joe were on form we were going to have to be at our best to win. A few shots went our way though and Brian delivered some incredible roll-outs to give us an edge. From there we seemed to take control and the lads I don't think really got going. Its fantastic to win back the senior crown and this is my last senior championship game so it makes it that bit special," said Sheridan. "I have been lucky and enjoyed a long career and won a few titles along the way. I won a Leinster Convention Cup with Brian's father back in 1986 and have now won three senior doubles All-Irelands with Brian himself, so I think I better retire when I'm ahead or I'll be looking to play with Brian's son next," he concluded.