Badminton mixed doubles league finals conclude
THE curtain came down on the CPC.IE sponsored mixed doubles County Badminton Leagues last week when the finals of the divisions 3, 4 and 5 competitions were played off.
Ballyheigue was the venue for both the division 3 and 5 finals on Tuesday and these finals had the unique distinction of seeing two clubs going for four in a row in their respective divisions. These were Killarney in division 5 and Moyvane in division 3 and both succeeded to reach that historic milestone.
In division 5 it was Killarney up against Kingdom, Castleisland and the East Kerry side got their four in a row with a 4-0 win but that scoreline does an injustice to a brave Castleisland side as the first three games on court had to go to the third set for decision and all three could have gone either way.
One of the linchpins of the Killarney side was long time stalwart John O’Halloran who will celebrate his 74th birthday this year. Great credit is due to the man for his dedication and commitment to the sport for so many years.
KILLARNEY: Elaina Galvin, Jessica Galvin, Leah Kelly, John O’Keeffe, Diam Fitzgerald, Navroop Johnston, John O’Halloran.
CASTLEISLAND: Eimear Horgan, Maire Bradley, Rachel O’Connor, Alan O’Connor, Daniel O’Connor, Daniel McCarthy, James Beazley.
The division 3 final which saw Moyvane take on Killarney and in this decider champions Moyvane set a hot pace as they won the first three games with the ladies doubles being a hard fought three set encounter. Killarney did pull one back as they captured the men’s doubles tie but the first mixed doubles pairing of Carmel Hudson and James Sheehan clinched the four in a row for Moyvane to the delight of the huge Moyvane following.
MOYVANE: Helen Brown, Carmel Hudson, Jeanelle Griffin, Fran Collins, Kevin Kennelly, John Mulvihill, James Sheehan, Timmy Noonan.
KILLARNEY: Samira Hayes, Marie O’Connor, Siobhan O’Donoghue, Suzanne Smith, Brendan Cassidy, Evan Horan, Danny Cronin, Paudie Horan.
Castleisland hosted the division 4 league final on Wednesday where champions Moyvane took on Killarney, and was in the third set of the seventh and final game before the issue was decided.
Both singles commenced proceedings and in these the sides were level as Killarney took the ladies and Moyvane captured the men’s. Like wise both doubles went on together and again there was stalemate with Moyvane winning the men’s doubles on a second set tie break but Killarney levelled the tie once again by taking a hard fought ladies doubles three set encounter.
With the three mixed doubles games left it was 2-2 and these three games commenced together on adjoining courts.
First blood went to Moyvane as they won the second mixed tie in two sets but a gallant Killarney third mixed pairing levelled the contest at 3-3 by winning a thrilling three-set classic.
It was now down to the first mixed pairing and this was a repeat of the recent division 4 mixed doubles championship final which saw Killarney’s Maria O’Connor and Kieron Crehan overcome Moyvane’s Krystal Crowley and Jamie Elliott.
Moyvane took the first set by 21-19 but the county champions showed championship form by taking the second set by 21-13.
In the final set Killarney were looking good when taking a 12-9 lead but Moyvane came back to lead at 17-14. The sides were level at 19-19 but then pendulum swung in favour of the county champions and O’Connor/ Crehan scored those vital two points to take the title to Killarney, 4 games to 3 in a memorable final.
KILLARNEY: Niamh Hickey, Maria O’Connor, Hylda Harman, Liam Barry (capt), Kieran Crehan, Ger O’Connor
MOYVANE: Krystal Crowley, Louise Behan, Denise Collins, Michelle Corridan, Jamie Elliott, Padraig Kearney, John
Newman.
As county champions each of the Kerry league winners will now represent their County in the Munster club finals due to be played in Limerick on Sunday, April 26.
KNOCKOUT CUP
FINALS
THE finals of the knock out Cup competitions will be played in the Presentation Gym, Tralee this Wednesday at 8pm.
The qualifying rounds for these competitions took place in Killarney some weeks ago which saw 14 teams taking part with 108 games played before the finalists came through which are: Division 3; Moyvane v County, Tralee; division 4; Moyvane v Kingdom, Castleisland; Division 5; Castleisland v Killarney.
ANNASCAUL TOURNAMENT
ANNASCAUL Badminton Club had sizeable entries for their annual Badminton tournaments last Sunday.
Division 5: Maire Bradley (Kingdom, Castleisland) and Paul Hayes (Listowel) defeated Susie Rice (County, Tralee) and Mike Donovan (Annascaul) 21-16, 21-12.
Division 4: Rachel O’Connor (Dingle) and Jamie Elliott (Moyvane) defeated Lorraine Hopkins (County) and Tom Bradley (Kingdom) 21-18; 21-13.
Division 2 & 3 combined: Catherine Murphy (Kingdom) and John Molloy (County) defeated Bríd Murphy (Kingdom) and Timmy Hanrahan (Moyvane) 19-21, 21-15, 21-11.