The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry players win All-Ireland Grade D badminton medals
THE main badminton activity of last weekend was the Munster Grade E team event which took place in Waterford on Sunday last.
Originally, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford had entered but the host county withdrew on Saturday evening which left it a three-team contest. The opening tie saw Cork convincing 7-2 winners over Tipperary, so for round 2 it was Kerry against Waterford.
The ladies certainly put the Kingdom into the driving seat when they won both ladies doubles, but the Tipperary men were on top in their encounters and drew level at 2-2. After that it was a Kerry take away; Tipperary did win the first mixed doubles tie but Kerry finished up as 6-3 winners.
It was now winner takes all as Kerry took on Cork in the Munster decider and what an enthralling start there was to this final with the four doubles being divided. Kerry captured the first ladies and second men’s games but Cork took the first men’s and the second ladies to level the match. That second ladies encounter was mesmerising with the intensity that it was played in. In the Kerry corner Samira Hayes from Killarney and Michelle Beasley from Castleisland were representing their county at this level for the first time and this three-set encounter was a baptism of fire for both. At the end they did lose out but it was by 27-25 in that engrossing third set.
The singles were divided with Cork taking the men’s but Killarney’s Niamh Hickey again levelled for Kerry when she came good in another three-set battle.
It was now 3-3 with the three mixed doubles ties left to see who would represent Munster in the All-Ireland series proper, but inexplicably the Kerry bubble burst and the dreams of possible All-Ireland honours had to be put on ice for another year.
Cork captured all three mixed games to forge a 6-3 victory but the second and third ties had to go to the third set for decision and considering that the second ladies doubles was just a heartbeat away, it was a gallant performance from Kerry and will give hope to all for the future.
ALL-IRELAND GRADE D
THE All-Ireland Grade D championships were played in Dublin last Sunday and there was notable success for Kerry players who won gold and silver medals. Recent Munster ladies Junior doubles winners Maeve Twomey (Killarney) and Elaine Hudson (Moyvane) battled their way to the ladies final but lost out in a close battle but they did bring home the silver medals.
The gold was captured by Fergal Hannon (Listowel) who played with Cork’s Ben Mortlock and this was a notable achievement with the Cork man going on to win the treble on the day.
FIXTURES
THIS weekend promises to be another busy one with Killarney and Tipperary being the main focus of attention.
The second phase of the even doubles CPC.IE sponsored Kerry County Championships will take place in the Killarney Sports Arena this Friday, which sees ladies and men’s doubles take the floor for divisions 2 and 4, and if the action is anything near to that wonderful day two weeks ago when divisions 1, 3 and 5 gave an exhibition, then badminton enthusiasts are indeed in for a treat. The starting time is 7.30.
The following day, Saturday, the Killarney Arena will host the future of Kerry Badminton when the juvenile committee host their second round of club tournaments for under-11/13/15/17. Starting time is 11 am and all concerned are to check in not later than 10.45am.
Roscrea will host the Munster Brewster Cup on Sunday next, which is open to all Munster counties and starts at 10am. This competition commenced in 1951 with Kerry losing to Cork in that first final but the Kingdom’s first success came two years later on March 7 in 1953 and, incidentally, the last Kerry success was 50 years later in 2003.
The start of the century saw Kerry having a good run in this very prestigious event. The Kingdom garnished ultimate honours in 2001 under the management of Conor McGuire, a former Killarney club member. Even though all of that team was ineligible to play Brewster for the following three years, a Kerry team under the management of Listowel’s Tom McElligott was back in the winners enclosure in 2003, when Castleisland Club man Billy Lacey won that vital singles encounter to ensure victory for Kerry. Lacey manages the Kingdom on Sunday next.
Hopefully, that 15-year gap will be bridged on Sunday. In the years between 1953 and 2003, Kerry were also successful in 1962, 1984 and 2001
The Kerry team for Sunday is Edel Broderick, Maeve Twomey, Elaine Hudson, Sinead Galvin, Miriam Rohan, James O’Flaherty, Jonathan Keane, Michael Crossan, Fergal Hannon, Donie Enright.