Teenagers take titles at county singles championship

THE Killarney Sports and Leisure centre hosted the CPC.IE sponsored Kerry Associations singles championships for divisions 2 and 4 for both ladies and men.

In the men’s department two teenagers captured ultimate honours in both finals. The division 4 decider was an all Annascaul confrontation between 15-year old Cillian Falvey, under-17 County championship winner last week, and his club colleague Colm Moriarty. Falvey edged the first set 21-19, and despite a valiant effort by Moriarty in the second, Falvey was full of confidence and took his first adult title on the second set scoreline of 2116. Falvey retained a title won by another Annascaul teenager last year, Brendan McGovern, and McGovern won the division 3 title a few weeks ago.

The second teenager to hold centre stage was Jonathan Keane of the Kingdom Club of Castleisland and in the opposing corner of this division 2 men’s doubles final was last year’s finalist Donie Enright of the Moyvane club. Enright set the pace in the first set and captured it by 21-16. It was a different Keane in the second set and he won it 21-14 to level the match. The third set was almost a carbon copy of the second and despite Enright’s gallant effort it was Keane’s division 2 singles title on a 21-8 scoreline.

Killarney’s Sinead Galvin and Moyvane’s Sorcha Fitzgerald contested the ladies division 2 decider with Galvin taking the first set 2116. The second set followed the same pattern as Galvin captured her fifth title at this grade, her first being back in 2001.

The ladies division 4 final was a contest between Christine Quirke of the Iveragh club and Moyvane’s Denise Collins. Quirke soared to a 20-15 lead with just one point needed to clinch the set but Collins fought back to level at 20-all. From 21 to 23-all they were still dead-locked but Collins clinched it by 25-23.

There was little between them in the opening phases of the second set, but Collins then pulled away and captured her title winning the set 21-16.

The ladies and men’s doubles county championships start this Friday for divisions 1, 3 and 5. All players are requested to be on call from 7.45.

IRISH JUNIOR CUP

GALWAY hosted the annual Badminton Irish Junior Cup competitions last Sunday with the Kingdom Club of Castleisland in the Grade C section.

On Saturday they defeated Galway Lawn Tennis Club 7-0 and then met the Dublin side, Old Bawn, who they defeated by 5-2. The semi-final on Sunday saw Castleisland beat Kilkenny’s Johnswell by 5-2.

On the other side of the draw the famed Dublin Club Aylesbury came through to set up another Dublin/Kerry classic with the best of seven games to decide the issue. They were level at 2 and 3 games each but the Dublin side clinched the vital mixed doubles encounter by 21-16, 21-17.

The Castleisland side were Tom Bourke, Eric Nelligan, Michael Crossan, Fergal Hannon, Edel Broderick, Miriam Rohan Maeve Twomey and guest player, Celine Connors (Tipperary).

The Inter-county series (Grade C and E) continue next Sunday in Cork and Waterford and Kerry compete in both. The Grade C section will be a straight playoff between Cork and Kerry in Drumtariffe, county Cork.

The Kerry Grade E team travel to Waterford to do battle with Waterford, Cork,and Tipperary. This squad has trained diligently under the stewardship of joint managers, Marion O’Neill and Catherine Hanrahan. The Kerry Grade E panel is Brid Murphy, Ruth Concannon, Sorcha Fitzgerald, Mairead O’Regan, Helen Browne, Donie Enright, Jonathan Keane, Donnacha Moloney Timmy Noonan and Aidan McCarthy.

BALLYHEIGUE ANNUAL TOURNAMENT

BALLYHEIGUE stage their annual tournaments for Kerry divisions 3, 4 and 5. There is no doubt but the seaside village will have a large influx of players from throughout the county on Sunday next with Division 5 at 11.45am; division 4 at 2.30pm and division 3 at 5pm.

The county raffle will take on Sunday March 19 so all sold cards should be returned to clubs as soon as possible.