New year means badminton action gets serious

FROM a badminton perspective one can say that the shadow boxing is well and truly over with, and the real events now are about to take centre stage. Pre-Christmas badminton is mostly dominated by fringe events such as tournaments, etc but the real world post-Christmas sees all action from January to May with major issues like Inter-county events, Kerry championships and Kerry leagues to be decided.

The first competitions that may concern Kerry players are the Munster individual championships for Grades F, G & H to be held at the Limerick UL Sports Arena this Sunday and no doubt many Kerry challengers will be making their way to Limerick in an effort to seek Munster glory.

Three nights later, Wednesday, January 10 will see the first competitions played within Kerry in 2018. These will be the finals of the ladies and men’s leagues competitions, for Divisions 3 and 4, which commenced last October and will culminate in the Presentation Gym Hall in Tralee on Wednesday, to commence at 8pm. The ladies league has been sponsored by Agro Auto Parts, of Tralee and Listowel, whilst the men’s league has been sponsored by Speedy’s Bar, Moyvane. Indeed, the Kerry Badminton Association owe a deep debt of thanks to both firms for their continued support of these leagues.

Again, the action on Wednesday next will be dominated by both the Moyvane and Killarney clubs with the Listowel Division 4 ladies team and the Ballyheigue Division 4 men’s team being the only other clubs that endevours to break the domination of the big two.

In this Division 4 ladies final Listowel take on the defending champions Moyvane who broke the three in a row ambitions of Ballyheigue in last year’s decider and both of these near rivals are sure to deliver a battle royale.

What an absolute spectacle the Division 3 ladies decider between Moyvane and Killarney proved to be last year and if this year’s final follows the same pattern, badminton enthusiasts are certainly in for an early New Year feast. Last year it was Moyvane that were going for the treble in this ladies final but at the end of the night both sides finished level on three wins each but it was Killarney that captured the glory on the count back of sets by just the one set, 8 to 7, yes it was that close and it would be a brave pundit who would forecast this years outcome.

In last year’s Division 3 men’s final Killarney were looking good when leading Castleisland by 2-1 but in a rousing finish it was the brave Castleisland side who finished in a blaze of glory by winning the last three games and were eventual winners by 4-2. Killarney are back in the final again and are hoping that they have learnt their lesson from last year as they take on a talented Moyvane side. Another mouth watering clash promised here.

In last year’s Division 4 men’s final Moyvane scaled the heights when they captured three in a row in that division by overcoming a gallant Annascaul side by 4-1. Can the North Kerry side do the four in a row? No doubt but they can achieve this goal but standing on the sideline is a formidable Ballyheigue side who seem to have the raw talent to thwart the Moyvane dream..

KERRY SCHOOLS

WHILST all of the above four adult league finals will be played in Tralee on Wednesday, January 10, the Killarney Sports Arena will play host to the Kerry Schools competitions the following day, Thursday. The age groups for both girls and boys in these events are under 14, under 16 and under 19.

Up to Monday last, New Year’s Day, 26 entries had been received from schools throughout the county. Tarbert Comprehensive have the highest number of teams entered with a team entered in each section, which is a great achievement by the North Kerry school.

Elsewhere, Presentation Tralee, Tralee CBS, and Presentation Killarney have three teams entered, there are two teams each from Mercy Mounthawk, Presentation Listowel, Castleisland Community College, Presentation Miltown, and Killarney Community College, while Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne has one team entered. The competitions start at 10am.

LISTOWEL TOURNAMENTS

THE following weekend of January 13/14 will see the Listowel Club host their annual weekend tournaments. This will be the 47th annual Listowel tournament and is the longest running club tournament in Ireland.

The Saturday tournament is open to all division 1 and 2 players and also the Masters tournament for those over 45 years of age. Sunday’s programme caters for Kerry divisions 3, 4 and 5 only. Entry forms have been distributed to all Kerry clubs.