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National title for Shanks
Date: 21 Jul 2010 / Category: Handball / Views: 80
Following report is from Armagh GAA Website.
On the afternoon of Sunday 4th July in a crowded Keith Wood Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, it was time for the main event – the Mens Open One Wall Nationals Final. Clann Eireann’s Charly Shanks had annexed two out of the previous three titles and he was back with only one thing in mind - to collect his third.
Earlier in the year, the Irish OneWall ball was changed to make it more like the American Big Blue ball which is used in all international events. This will leave Irish players who will travel out of the country to compete at less of a disadvantage. Many people throughout the country also thought that when Shanks’ famous ‘spin serve’ would be removed that he may just be an average player – how wrong they were!
I had the privilege of travelling to Italy in late 2008 to witness Shanks and his long term partner - St. Killian’s handball star James Doyle compete against the best Onewaller on the planet - the charismatic New York’s John ‘Rookie’ Wright and partner Roland Brown. Played with the American Big Blue, the Irish lads tested their American counterparts all the way and the final scoreline read 21-18.
Charly came into the Nationals in peak condition – and was very fresh for someone who had just returned home a few days previous from the U.S. 40x20 Nationals. 
He advanced through the opening round against Cavan’s Paul Fitzpatrick with relative ease and likewise with Mayo’s Joe McCann – with six minutes remaining on the clock in the Quarter final!
He was tested however in the semi-final against South Armagh’s Doyle – probably two of the best exponents of the Onewall code in Ireland. Doyle had eased his way passed Cork’s Colm Jordan on a scoreline of 31-6 and in the Quarter Final easily accounted for recenlty crowned Williamstown Onewall Champion, Tyrone’s Ruairi Kelly on a 31-10 scoreline with over 5minutes left on the clock!
Shanks and Doyle know each other’s game inside out and it was nip and tuck for a lot of the game – however the Lurgan man appeared to rattle the veteran at different stages and Doyle’s failing to regain immediate composure proved to be the few points difference at the end of the game.
At the other side of the draw, No.3 seed – Westmeath’s young gun Robbie McCarthy advanced, accounting for Tyrone’s Daragh Daly and England No 1 seed Pete Cohen en-route.
The proud Armagh man took off like a rocket in the first game and competely blew away McCarthy.
His serving was superb – spin excluded. Shanks played the first game with such intensity and ferocity – it was a real Onewall handball lesson for everyone in attendance. 15-3 was the scoreline. It looked as though Shanks may dish out the treatment he had done in last years final against Dessie Keegan from Mayo (15-2, 15-0) – however young McCarthy was a different test - it proved more difficult for Charly to keep the momentum going and he let the second game slip to McCarthy’s advantage – 13-15.
Time to re-group in their own heads before taking to the court for a tie-break finish. The two finalists chased each other all over the court and their retrievals were top-class. McCarthy crept into a 7-5 lead – but he looked exhausted – he had thrown everything he had at the Armagh man. After a time-out, Shanks soon found himself in serving and totted up a few scores against the tiring Westmeath man and found himself 9-7 up. Robbie appeared to fall very awkwardly behind the orchard man and required an injury time out – during such time, Shanks remained composed and on the re-start, he took a slow determined walk into the shortline and taking two deep breaths, he served two magic serves to seal the victory – 2010 NATIONAL ONEWALL CHAMPION – CHARLY SHANKS!!!!