The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Division 2 and 4 mixed doubles county titles decided
FRIDAY last saw the final stages of the closing programme of another Kerry Badminton Association, CPC.IE sponsored, County Championships at the Killarney Sports Arena with the Divisions 2 and 4 mixed doubles championships decided, with 24 pairs competing in Division 4 alone.
The previous Monday the ladies and men’s doubles for the same two divisions held court in the re-fixed Championships, and in the Division 4 men’s doubles the Killarney pair of Liam Barry and Ger O’Connor scaled the heights to win that title. Last Friday the same Ger O’Connor collected county title no.2 within five days after failing three times in the past to garnish that coveted county crown.
O’Connor was partnered with Listowel’s Jill Redmond who was competing in her first county final and their opposition was the talented Causeway pair of Fiona Casey and James O’Mahony. The Listowel / Killarney pair won the first set 21-17, and the secured the title with a brilliant 22-20 win in the second. O’Connor is a Valentia native and travels to Killarney at least twice a week for training. Surely such dedication is worthy of a County All Star selection.
The Division 2 decider was an all Moyvane affair with Sorcha Fitzgerald and Donnacha Moloney taking on Elaine Hudson and Donie Enright. Moloney won his second county title within five days as he had captured the Division 2 title with Listowel’s James Leane, whilst Fitzgerald was a finalist in the ladies division 2 final the previous Monday. In a close two-setter Fitzgerald / Moloney came good over Hudson / Enright by 21-17, 21-17.
The Ladies and Men’s Division 5 finals sponsored by the Sea Lodge Restaurant, Waterville, plus the Masters tournaments, sponsored by Ashes Bar, Glenbeigh, finals were played in Moyvane on Thursday last. In the ladies Division 5 decider it was an all Moyvane tie with the A side having the better of the B side. In the men’s decider it was victory for Annascaul over Moyvane.
In the ladies Masters the combined Listowel / Moyvane under the stewardship of Jeanelle Griffin overcame the Kathleen Gilbride’s Ballyheigue selection after the sides finished level at five games each, but Listowel / Moyvane came good on the count back of aces by 192 to 185.
In the Men’s Masters the William Flaherty, Moyvane, selection overcame the Listowel James Sheehan’s side by 5-3.
Forthcoming events include the County Over-40 Masters Tournaments in the Killarney Presentation Gym this Friday at 8pm.
The County leagues which commenced in November are now nearing completion. The Division 3 league had just Castleisland, Killarney and Moyvane competing played on the home and away round robin basis, with Moyvane coming out on top. The Division 2 league campaign is running behind time and no clear picture has emerged as who will qualify.
The Division 4 final will see Ballyheigue do battle with Moyvane, whilst in Division 5 Moyvane are in another decider against Castleisland. These finals will take place on April 3 and 4 at venues to be decided.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Paddy Sugrue, former Tralee County Club chairman and president and former Kerry President, former County Club members will revive the Paddy Sugrue Tournaments on Sunday April 8 at the Tralee Sports Centre. Entry fee is €10 per player with all proceeds to the Tralee and District Chernobyl Children’s Fund who are doing wonderful work since 1993, so badminton players from throughout the county are requested to support these tournaments. Entry forms are now with each club.
The Munster singles and doubles winners finals took place in UL, Limerick last Sunday and there were notable successes for Kerry players. At Grade C which would be the senior Grade, Moyvane’s James Flaherty won the mens’ singles section whilst in the ladies Grade C section Castleisland’s Edel Broderick and Miriam Rohan captured the doubles title with Tom Bourke and Eric Nelligan runners-up in the mens’ doubles final.
Grade D saw Killarney’s Maeve Twomey and Moyvane’s Elaine Hudson win out the ladies Grade D doubles final with Sinead Galvin of Killarney being the ladies singles runner up.
In the Grade E doubles decider Brendan McGovern and Aidan McCarthy of the Castleisland Club were winners of the doubles title.
The Grade G competition saw double gold coming to Kerry. The ladies doubles title was captured by the Moyvane / Ballyheigue combination of Ciara Hudson and Paula O’Sullivan and the mixed doubles title was won by Listowel’s Jill Redmond and Ger O’Connor representing the Killarney Club.
Juvenile Badminton
SATURDAY last in the Killarney Centre saw the close of the Kerry Badminton juvenile season where well over one hundred girls and boys competed in the mixed doubles championships for the age groups of U-11/13/15/17.
Results
U-11 Stephanie Reid and Ruadhan Donovan Annascaul defeated Darina Ellen Burke and Diarmuid Quirke Milltown 15-12, 15-10
U-13 Ava MacKay and Tomas O’Sullivan Listowel defeated Mary Casey and Liam Newsome Annascaul 21-11, 21-11 U-15 Adele O’Brien Killarney and Christopher O’Donoghue Moyvane defeated Ciara Knightly and Cathal Donovan Annascaul 21-14, 21-7
U-17 Aoife Bowler Moyvane and Niall O’Brien Killarney defeated Ciara Hudson Moyvane and Luke O’Loughlin Castleisland 19-21, 21-15, 21-9
U-11 Plate Megan Brosnan and Jack Lyne Annascaul defeated Grace McGovern and Jack Burke Castleisland U-13 Plate Ellie Ava Liston Listowel and Jack O’Keeffe Killarney defeated Molly O’Donoghue and Abir Kazir Killarney u-15 Plate Deina Vesko Listowel and Navansh Johnson Killarney defeated Ella Galvin and Darragh Crehan Killarney U-17 Plate Fiona Galvin and Oisin Moran Killarney defeated Olivia Wesolowska and Dara Lawlor Killarney