All Ireland Club Gold for Moyvane
The Moyvane Divsion 3 Badminton Team who won the Kerry Mixed League, went on to win the Munster Division 3 Mixed title, and have now Won the All-Ireland Division 3 Mixed Final in Dublin Sunday, May. 8
That was the wonderful, fantastic, incredible story that emerged from Dublin on Sunday last where the All Ireland Badminton club finals were played off between two venues, Baldoyle and Terenure.
A total of up to 30 clubs from the Provinces of Leinster, Connacht and Munster would have qualified for these All Ireland series over a number of grades and the Moyvane club from Kerry had no less than three teams that qualified from Kerry and Munster to take part in the All Ireland series proper.
Moyvane had their Grade E team in Terenure whilst their Grade F and G teams were based in Baldoyle and it was that Grade F(division 3) team that brought ultimate gold to Moyvane, Kerry and Munster.
In this Grade F competition in round 1 Moyvane were pitted against Kilcullen of Kildare, the Leinster champions.
Moyvane certainly got off to the proverbial flying start by defeating the Leinster champions 6-1 with the Kerry wins by Niamh Flaherty at ladies singles; Timmy Noonan at mens singles; James Sheehan and John Mulvihill at mens doubles; Niamh Flaherty and James Sheehan in a thrilling 1st mixed doubles tie on the scoreline of 26-24 in a nail biting third set; Francine Collins and Timmy Noonan won the 2nd mixed with Helen Brown and Timmy Hanrahan winning the 3rd mixed, both mixed won in 2 sets.
The next game for Moyvane was against Ballina the Connacht champions who had been defeated by Kilcullen in round 2.
Moyvane knew that by winning 3 games they had the title won but like all Mayo sides Ballina proved to be game battlers but Moyvane were not to be denied and by winning the match 5-2 they done their club and Kerry proud by annexing the All Ireland crown.
The 5 vital games won by Moyvane were by Niamh Flaherty at ladies singles 21-19; 21-17; Timmy Noonan, mens singles 17-21;21-15;21-16; Francine Collins and Helen Brown, ladies doubles, 21-16; 21-18; Niamh Flaherty and James Sheehan at 1st mixed, 21-18; 19-21; 21-14 and Francine Collins and Timmy Noonan at 3rd mixed doubles, 21-17; 21-18.
What a wonderful 40th Anniversary birthday present this is for the Moyvane club as it was in 1976 that both the juvenile and senior badminton clubs were formed in the village in the old Marian Hall.
Due to the small size of the Marian Hall the game did not really get off the ground but the building of the Community Centre in 1984 has certainly given the club a new lease of life culminating with that All Ireland win on Sunday last and with such dedicated officers such as Chairman Michael Corridan and Secretary Eileen Roche one can only guess what the future holds for this outstanding club.
Team as follows; Niamh Flaherty Francine Collins Helen Browne Timmy Noonan James Sheehan John Mulvihill Timmy Hanrahan Chris McCarthy
Joint managers; Pat Kearney and Donnacha Moloney
Both of the other Moyvane teams did not share the glory of the F team but both battled hard.
The G team (division 4) had had a right opening battle against Mullingar the Westmeath and Leinster champions before going down by 4-3 with the Moyvane wins being at mens singles by Jamie Elliott who also won his 1st mixed tie with Denise Collins and the 2nd mixed game was won by Louise Behan and Padraig Kearney but in their second game, Moyvane were no match for Sligo the Connacht champions; Team as follows; Louise Behan Michelle Corridan Denise Collins Eileen McCarthy Jamie Elliott Padraig Kearney Timmy O’Flaherty John Newman Micheál Collins.
The Grade E team certainly had a story to tell. All clubs must nominate their team panels before the championships take place and just a few days before the event Moyvane were notified that their star man James O’Flaherty’s registration had not been processed which ruled him out of competing for his team.
Teenager Flaherty would have been the cornerstone of this team and his loss would be akin to Hamlet without the Prince but the team competed and put up a brave show in spite of their major loss.
Round 1 saw them up against Leinster champions Roundwood of Wicklow who overcame Moyvane 6-1 with Donnacha Moloney winning his singles. Indeed Roundwood went on to win the title. Round 2 saw Moyvane up against the Galway Lawn Tennis team, the Connacht champions Moyvane put up spirited battle before going down 4-2 with the Moyvane wins coming at mens singles by Timmy Duggan and Duggan again at 1st mixed being partnered by Jeanelle Griffin
Team as follows
Jeanelle Griffin Krystle Crowley Carmel Hudson Amanda Carmody Donnacha Moloney Pat Kearney Donie Enright Timmy Duggan.
A final reminder to all clubs that that County Rewards night social will take place at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on this coming Saturday night. Tickets can still be booked from club secretaries.
