BADMINTON NOTES
This photograph shows the Team as follows :- L/R:- Marian O’Neill, Manager, Mairead O’Regan, Donnacha Moloney, Brid Murphy, Timmy Noonan, Sameira Hayes, Donie Enright, Niamh Hickey, Brendan McGovern, Michelle Beazley, Aidan McCarthy, Catherine Hanrahan, Manager. PHOTO: Tom Bradley
The main badminton activity of last weekend was the Munster Grade E team event which took place in Waterford on Sunday last.
Originally, 4 Counties had entered, namely Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford but the home County withdrew on Saturday evening which left it a 3 tier contest. The opening tie saw Cork being convincing 7-2 winners over Tipperary, so for round 2 it was the Kingdom taking on the Premier County.
The Kerry ladies certainly put the Kingdom into the driver’s seat when they won both ladies doubles, however the Tipperary men were on top in their encounters and drew level at 2 games all, but 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 take all as Kerry took on the Rebels in the Munster decider and what an enthralling start there was to this final with the four doubles being divided.
Kerry captured both the first ladies and second mens games but Cork took both the first mens and the second ladies to level the match but that second ladies encounter was absolutely mesmerising with the intensity that it was played in.
In the Kerry corner was Samira Hayes from Killarney and Michelle Beasley from Castleisland who were representing their County at this level for the first time and this 3 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 mens but Killarneys Niamh Hickey again levelled for Kerry when she came good in another 3 set battle.
It was now 3 games all with the 3 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 3 mixed games to forge a 6-3 victory but both 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 indeed a gallant performance from Kerry and will surely give hope to all for the future.
All Ireland Grade D
The All Ireland Grade D championships were played in Dublin on Sunday last and there was notable success for Kerry players as both gold and silver medals winged their way back to the Kingdom.
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
Forthcoming Fixtures
This coming weekend promises to be another busy one on the badminton front 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 on this Friday night which sees both ladies and mens doubles take the floor for both divisions 2 &4.
And if the action and excitement that will be provided is anything near to that wonderful day of two weeks ago when divisions 1,3 &5 gave an exhibition of all that is good in the game of badminton then the shuttlecock enthusiasts are indeed in for a treat.
Please note that the starting time is 7.30 sharp.
On the following day, Saturday 3rd the Killarney Arena will again see another huge turnout of what is hoped to be the future of Kerry Badminton when the juvenile committee will host their 2nd round of club tournaments which will cater for all four age groups played within the County, namely under 11/13]15/17.
Commencement time here is 11 am and all concerned are requested to check in not later than 10.45 am.
The Tipperary town of Roscrea will be the venue for the Munster Brewster Cup competition on Sunday next which is open to all 6 Munster Counties and is due to commence at 10am
This competition commenced in 1951 with Kerry losing out to Cork in that first final but the Kingdoms first success came just two years later on March 7th in 1953 and, incidentally, the last Kerry success was 50 years later in 2003
The commencement of the 21st 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 and even though all of that team were ineligible to play Brewster for the following 3 years, but a Kerry team under the management of Listowels Tom McElligott were back in the winners enclosure in 2003 when Castleisland Club man, Billy Lacey won that vital singles encounter to ensure victory for Kerry, and strange to relate, it is that same Billy Lacey who manages the Kingdom on Sunday next.
Hopefully, that 15 year old gap will be bridged on Sunday . In the intervening years between 1953 and 2003 Kerry were also successful in 1962, 1984 as well as 2001
The Kerry team for Sunday next is as follows; Edel Broderick, Maeve Twomey, Elaine Hudson, Sinead Galvin, Miriam Rohan, James O’Flaherty, Jonathan Keane, Michael Crossan, Fergal Hannon, Donie Enright