What an action packed Badminton week it was, the final week of competition in the Kerry Badminton Association programme in the 2015/2016 season. Four league finals were decided plus the last instalment of the Kerry Championships which were the the mixed doubles championships for divisions 2 and 4 with both the league and championship competitions sponsored by CPC.IE
CHAMPIONSHIPS;
In the Badminton report last week it featured 3 pairs of players who had won the double treble, that is for two players to win the treble within the same division in the same season. You can now make that 4 pairs of winners of the double treble as James Flaherty of Moyvane and Maeve Twomey of Killarney did this rare achievement also, in division 3, just two years ago in 2014. In the mens doubles in 2014 James Flaherty was partnered by Jonathan Keane, Castleisland and in the ladies doubles Maeve Twomey was partnered by Lisa Sayers of Annascaul.
After some hectic play and long rallies throughout this huge competition the division 4 final on Friday night was contested by the Killarney pairing of Hylda Harman and Liam Barry and they were opposed by the Castleisland/Moyvane pairing Michelle Beazley and Jamie Elliott. With Miss Beazley busy as a bee and foraging around the net with great effect coupled by the very talented Elliott who policed the rear of the court in fine style the Castleisland/Moyvane pairing were always in command of both sets despite the gallant effort of the Killarney pairing and captured the title by 21-10; 21-14.
LEAGUE FINALS
The Ballyheigue Club hosted the division 3 and 5 league finals on Tuesday night last before a large attendance and it was Moyvane against Killarney in both events. Extraordinary, both clubs were going for five in a row in these two divisions, and more extraordinary still, both clubs achieved this fantastic goal.
Killarney; Rebecca Murphy, Jessica Galvin, Elaina Galvin, Diam Fitzgerald (capt), Daniel O’Connor, Jordan O’Connor
The action switched to the Community Centre Castleisland the following night Wednesday April 6th for the division 2 and 4 League finals.The division 2 decider was between Killarney and Moyvane whilst the div. 4 decider once again saw Moyvane in contention, this time against the South Kerry standard bearers, Iveragh.
The opening match in the division 2 final was the ladies singles and what a wonderful 3 set encounter this proved to be with Killarney’s Sinead Galvin, the current Munster junior champion, taking on 15 year old Niamh Flaherty. The Killarney lady won by 13-21; 22-20; 21-14 but that’s as good as it got for Killarney as a classy Moyvane side reeled in the next 4 games to give them a 4-1 victory.
Killarney; Sinead Galvin; Maeve Twomey, Jennifer Keane, Peggy Horan (capt) John O’Brien, Paudie Horan, Evan Horan , Kieron Crehan
The play in the division 4 final was almost a carbon copy of the division 2 decider. The ladies singles game between Moyvane’s Louise Behan and Christine Quirke of Iveragh was a close hard fought match with the Iveragh lady coming from behind in the second set to clinch victory by 21-9; 21-17, but like the division 2 final a talented Moyvane side took over and they captured the next 4 games to forge a 4-1 victory.
Iveragh; Christine Quirke, Sue Weatherill, Susan O’Connell, Mike Reardon (capt), Joe Daly, Sean Bradley
The overall League programme saw a Moyvane domination once again with the club capturing the divisions 2,3 and 4 titles and Killarney retaining the division 5 crown. All 4 teams will represent Kerry in the Munster Club finals to be played in Limerick on Sunday next April 17th and best wishes is extended to each player of all 4 reams.
MUNSTER DOUBLES FINALS
In the Grade C section Tom Bourke and Eric Nelligan won silver, pipped by 1 point for the gold in Grade D, Fergal Hannon and James Leane won the gold; and also in Grade D Elaine Hudson and Maeve Twomey captured silver in the Ladies doubles.
Tickets can now be booked through club secretaries and patrons are requested to book in time as final numbers must be known by 2 weeks before the event
JUVENILES
The Kerry Badminton juvenile programme also concluded last weekend with the mixed doubles for all age groups with another large entry competing
Results as follows
U11 Mixed
Ellie Ava Liston and Eddie Healy Listowel defeated Pia Hickey Killarney and Ruadhan Donovan Annascaul 21/15, 21/16
U11 Plate
Mary Casey and Padraig Moriarty Annascaul defeated Stephanie Reid and Aidan Fahy Annascaul
U13 Mixed
Adele O’Brien Killarney and Christopher O’Donoghue Moyvane defeated Deina Vesko and Jack McElligott Listowel 21/8, 21/11
U13 Plate
Ciara Knightly and Tom Hoare Annascaul defeated Holly Sayers Annascaul and Philip Healy Listowel
U15 Mixed
Jemi John County (Tralee) and Niall O’Brien Killarney defeated Ciara Hudson Moyvane and Kevin Keane Kingdom (Castleisland) 11/21, 21/14, 21/15
U15 Plate
Eva Browne Moyvane and Max Walsh Killarney defeated Aoife Bowler and Greg Horan Moyvane
U17 Mixed
Niamh Flaherty Moyvane and Jebin John, County defeated Rachel O’Connor and Brian O’Connor Dingle 21/18, 21/8
Juvenile Art Competition
The Kerry Badminton juvenile committee held their art competition again this year which is based on a Badminton theme and overall there was a good entry
Results as follows
Overall and under 13 winner;
Deina Vesko, Listowel; Under 13, 2nd place; Konrad Kloskowski, Kingdom, Castleisland
Under 11, Girls;
1st place; Aidan Fahy, Annascaul; 2nd Place; Fionn Spillane, Annascaul; ; 3rd Place; Aidan McSweeney, Kingdom, Castleisland
Under 15 Girls;
1st place; Ciara Hudson, Moyvane
Under 17 Winner;