Kerry players show up well at Munster finals in Limerick
LIMERICK’S UL Arena was the centre of attention for Munster Badminton enthusiasts on Sunday last where the individual championships tor Grades F.G and H were played off and from a Kerry view point it was not a bad day at all, especially in the Grade F events.
There was no Kerry finalist in either the Grade G& H competitions but of the 5 finals played in grade F, Kerry players contested 3 of these with outright success coming in one event which was the mixed doubles decider.
In this event Moyvane’s Timmy Hanrahan teamed up with Killarney club player Leab Workman and they really gelled well together to forge an excellent two set victory. The first set was hard fought and extremely close before the Kerry pair came out on top by just the three points, 21-18 but it was all Kerry in set number 2 as they took an early command and came out winners by 21-13.
The game Hanrahan was also involved in the men’s doubles final where he was partnered by his club colleague Jamie Elliott. Their final opponents were the local UL club pairing of Wilbert Sison and Tony O’Connor. This proved to be a hard fought 3 set battle with the Kerry pair coming out on top in the first set by 21-11 but the Limerick pair found their rhythm in the second set and won it by 21-16 and went on to capture the title in the third and final set by 21-14 despite the best efforts of the Kerry pair.
The third decider with a Kerry involvement was the men’s singles final which saw Brendan McGovern of Annascaul do battle with Limerick’s Tony O’Connor.The Kerry youth in a close first set went down by 21-17 but he really showed his class and talent in the second set which he won by 21-15.
The third set, however, was the one who settled the better in that third and final set as he built up an 18-11 lead but McGovern showing typical West Kerry fighting spirit slowly narrowed the gap and amidst tremendous excitement he levelled the set at 19-19. What a wonderful come back but it was not to be as O’Connor regained his composure just at the brink of defeat and he closed out those vital 2 points to edge out the wonderful McGovern by 21-19 in that classic third set but overall it was not a bad day for the Kerry contingent.
Munster Juvenile Championships
The UL Arena will again be the focus of Munster badminton on Sunday next where the Munster close under-11 and under-15 juvenile championships will be played.
Kerry will have many entrants for these events and best wishes are extended to all.
The Kerry ladies and men’s division 3 and 4 leagues, both sponsored by Speedy’s Bar, Moyvane are nearing completion with the finals fixed for the Tralee Presentation Gym on January 11. The state of play at the moment is: Division 3 ladies: Moyvane have won their 3 games and are awaiting the winners from the Killarney v Kingdom, Castleisland encounter
Division 3 men: Killarney have won their 3 games and await either Moyvane or Kingdom
Division 4 Ladies: Moyvane have won section 1 with Ballyheigue coming out on top in section 2.
Division 4 Men: In section 1 Moyvane B have 4 games whilst Annascaul have won five matches with one game left to play. In section 2 Moyvane have won 4 games. Both Listowel and Ballyheigue have won two games each with two games left to play.
All outstanding games to be completed before Christmas.
All Ireland rewards
Badminton Ireland will host their annual reward and presentation night in Dublin this coming Saturday . This in Badminton is akin to the All Star night on the GAA front and is usually a gala and glitzy affair and there could be a Kerry success story on the night.
One of the main features on this night is the Club of the year award and out of almost 300 clubs in the country the short list has boiled down to just 3 and one of those is a Kerry club, namely Moyvane from North Kerry.
The Moyvane citation for the season just gone by is indeed a healthy and a formidable one. In the Kerry championships they garnished many titles but it was on the league front that they really blazed their trail. In Kerry they captured the division 2, 3 and 4 league titles and these three teams also went the full way in the Munster title race and the crowning glory came in Dublin on May 8 last where their Grade F team captured All Ireland glory by winning through for National honours.
Blocking the Moyvane quest for glory are Oranmore from Galway and the Fair Play Club from Dublin, but all badminton followers are hoping that another All Ireland title will wing its way to Moyvane and Kerry on Saturday next.