The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
County badminton titles for Hickey, Enright, O’Brien and McCarthy
THE second phase of the County Singles Championships programme took place in Killarney last Friday for divisions 2 & 4 in ladies and men’s. In the ladies Division 2 only five entries were received, but the action was of the highest quality. The ladies Division 2 final saw Moyvane’s Amanda Carmody, the recent division 3 singles winner, take on Killarney’s Niamh Hickey with the latter winning the first set 21-17.
The second set saw Hickey have the dream start and she took a 19-6 lead but just as it looked all over for her, Carmody broke serve and began to score ace after ace to get within four points of Carmody, 19-15, but that is where the fairytale ended as Hickey claimed the county title with a 21-15 win in the second.
The men’s division 2 decider was an all Moyvane match between Donie Enright and Donnacha Moloney. Enright, the defeated Munster graduates singles finalist the previous Sunday, won the first set 21-16. Moloney reached set point, 20-18, in the second set but Enright levelled at 20 each and then pushed on to claim the title with a 25-23 win.
The men’s division 4 contest was between the experienced Timmy Flaherty of Moyvane and 17-year old Killarney teenager Niall O’Brien, who is only in his second year of adult competition. Despite the gallant effort of Flaherty, youth had its triumph as young O’Brien captured his first adult title in two sets by 21-19; 21-11.
The ladies division 4 final was the only three-set final which saw Moyvane’s Bridget McCarthy taking on Christine Quirke of the Iveragh club. McCarthy captured the first set by 21-19 while Quirke came good in the second by 2110, but McCarthy won another tight set by 21-17 to win her first county success at any level.
Inter-Counties Series
THE Munster Badminton Association hosted the Inter-Counties Series for Grades B/D/F/G in the Limerick UL Arena on Sunday last and Kerry had teams involved in the latter three grades. In Grade D, which in Kerry would include division 1 & 2 players, Kerry lost 4-5 to Tipperary in round 1. Cork had defeated Waterford in round 1 so it was Cork next for Kerry. One of the highlights was the victory by the Kerry mixed doubles pairing of Maeve Twomey and Jonathan Keane who were led in the third set by their Cork opponents 17-6, but fought back to win 21-19, which in no small way helped their team to a 5-4 win over Cork. In round 3 Kerry beat Waterford 6-3, but the final table saw Cork with 17 points; Kerry 15 points; Waterford 12 points and Tipperary on 10 points, so Cork will represent Munster in the All-Ireland series.
In Grade G with all six counties competing the series was divided in two pools, with Kerry facing Cork and Limerick. Showing that their hard training over recent weeks had paid off Kerry beat Cork 5-4 and Limerick 6-3. Tipperary came good in the second pool and the honours went to the Premier county, but in the three games Tipperary won, Kerry lost out in three-set encounters.
In the Grade F competition Kerry played Cork, Limerick and Tipperary. From the results in recent individual and the Munster Graduate competitions both Cork and Limerick players were very much to the fore for ultimate honours and that’s the way it turned out here with Cork edging out Limerick for Munster glory.
For all three teams on duty last Sunday there is no doubt that the extra training put in by their managers and selectors in recent weeks has increased the enthusiasm and commitment amongst all the squads and that in time should reap rich dividends.
Next on the badminton championship scene will be the doubles campaign in Killarney on Sunday where the divisions 1, 3 and 5 ladies and men’s doubles will take place at 1pm.
THIS Friday the Kerry Badminton Association will hold their annual table quiz. Patrons are requested to note that the venue has been changed to the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee with the start time of 8pm. Kerry Badminton President, Johnny Brosnan wishes to advise all members that the county annual raffle will take place this Sunday in Killarney so all cards to be returned to him in good time.
Juvenile Singles County Championships
THE juvenile singles county championships in Killarney last Saturday for boys and girls for the four relevant age groups. Up to 150 players competed and no doubt the future looks bright for Kerry badminton. Great credit is due to the main organisers, Carmel Hudson and Billy Lacey, for the time and effort they give to the promotion of badminton in Kerry. Last Saturday’s programme alone took over 6 hours to complete.