The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Three-set set badminton county finals laced with drama
KILLARNEY sports and leisure centre played hosts to the CPC. ie sponsored Division 1, 3 and 5 Kerry Doubles Championships last Friday where all six finals were closely contested, but none more so than the Division 5 Men’s and Ladies and the Division 1 Ladies finals which all went to three exciting sets.
In Division 1 Ladies last year’s champions of Elaine Hudson (Moyvane) and Maeve Twomey (Killarney) took on the returning Kingdom Castleisland pairing of Edel Kenny and Miriam Rohan. The first set was 21-17 to the Castleisland pairing but the former champions were not to go down without a fight and won the second set 21-19. The third set produced some exceptional exhibitions of badminton for the watching crowd with long and exhausting rallies of drops, lifts, smashes and clears. The lead was exchanged multiple times throughout the set until the Kingdom pairing just got their noses in front for a 21-17 win and the championship title.
Division 1 men’s title went to Alan Nelligan (Kingdom Castleisland) and Fergal Hannon (Listowel), who defeated the Kingdom pairing of Tom Bourke and Eric Nelligan. Speaking after the game
Alan said it was nice to win a title from his brother after 8 attempts!
In Division 3 winners on the night were Evan Horan (Killarney) and Jack McElligott (Listowel) in the men’s section with the experienced pairing of Timmy Hanrahan and Jamie McElligott having to settle for silver for the fourth time in a row, surely the drive for five has started! Jack McElligott and Hanrahan had already faced off in the singles championships earlier in the month and Jack is now on course for the treble with two championships secured.
Similarly, in the Division 3 Ladies doubles it was Deina Vasko and her partner Jill Redmond who claimed the title for Listowel defeating Jaeb Workman (Killarney) and Grace Guiney (Listowel) in the final. Deina and Jaeb had also contested the singles final and Deina is on track for the treble now with just the mixed outstanding. Who can claim it!
The Division 5 finals on the night were hotly contested amongst the North Kerry club players with Ballyheigue, Ballybunion and Listowel all represented. The Ladies final was won by Danielle Noonan and Michelle Horgan (Ballybunion) who beat Molly McElligott (Listowel) and Michelle Corr (Ballyheigue) on a score line of 19-21, 21-13, 21-18.
The Division 5 men’s final was an all Ballyheigue affair and one of the matches of the night, keeping the crowd guessing right up to the end of the third set who would come out on top. Brian Hehir and his partner Patrick Brown took the first set 21-15, but Aidan Reidy (fresh off the back of his recent singles win) and his partner Alan O’Halloran fought back to take the second set 21-18. In the third set Aidan and Alan started strong and raced to an 8-3 lead, kicking into gear Brian and Pa brought the game back under control and were 11-10 up at the turn. The second half of the set was tit for tat with the team’s level all the way up to 19-19 when Brian and Pa through some excellent serving and long rallies came through to win 21-19 and took the title back to Ballyheigue.
Results
Division 1 Ladies: Edel Kenny and Miriam Rohan defeated Elaine Hudson and Maeve Twomey 21-17, 19-21, 21-17
Division 1 Men: Alan Nelligan and Fergal Hannon defeated Tom Bourke and Eric Nelligan 21-13, 21-14
Division 3 Ladies: Deina Vasko and Jill
Redmond defeated Jaeb Workman and Grace Guiney 21-13, 21-11
Division 3 Men: Evan Horan and Jack McElligott defeated Timmy Hanrahan and Jamie McElligott 21-19, 21-10
Division 5 Ladies: Danielle Noonan and Michelle Horgan defeated Molly McElligott and Michelle Corr 19-21, 21-13, 21-18
Division 5 Men: Brian Hehir and Patrick Brown defeated Aidan Reidy and Alan O’Halloran 2115, 18-21, 21-19
WHILE storm Dennis cancelled outdoor matches around the county Moyvane had great entries for their annual tournament last Sunday.
Results
Division 1/2: Edel Kenny (Kingdom Castleisland) and Timmy Noonan (Moyvane) defeated Karen Kennelly (Moyvane) and Mariusz Tusinski (Kingdom Castleisland)
Division 3: Denise Collins (Moyvane) and Jack McElligott (Listowel) defeated Ciara Hudson (Moyvane) and Timmy Flaher ty (Moyvane) Division 4: Adele O’Brien (Killarney) and Michael Collins (Moyvane) defeated Rita McCar thy (Listowel) and Mike O’Shea (Killarney) Division 5: Charlotte Quinn (Moyvane) and Aidan Reidy (Ballyheigue) defeated Aine Knightly (Annascaul) and Dan Browne (Moyvane)
THE next round of Kerry action is the Division 2 and 4 doubles championships which is on the 28th of February in Killarney. The Paddy Sugrue tournament will be held on March 1st in Tralee Sports Complex with all proceeds going to support the Chernobyl Children’s fund, Tralee and District. Any enquiries on the tournament please contact Tom Clear of Kingdom Castleisland club.