Niamah Flaherty (Moyvane) on her way to winning the Division 1 final.
BADMINTON
County Championship Titles!!!
The mention of those three simple words to any sportsman, or woman, raises the blood levels and fills every athlete with inspiration and enthusiasm as they battle to reach their own holy grail.
There is no doubt but the CPC.IE sponsored Kerry Badminton Singles County Championships for divisions 1,3 and 5 played at the Killarney Sports Centre on Sunday last saw some of the finest badminton played in the Kerry Championships for quite some time and in the process at the division 1 level another bit of Kerry badminton history was made by the O’Flaherty family of Moyvane as the teenager brother and sister , James and Niamh both won the senior titles for the very first time.
Indeed, Niamh at 16 years of age is as far as the known records are known is the first ever player to win the ladies crown at such a tender age.
In the opposing corner on Sunday last was former title holder from the Kingdom Club of Castleisland, Edel Broderick. From the outset Miss Broderick did not know what hit her as the bubbling teenager chased every shuttle as if life itself depended on it and despite the best efforts of the former champion Miss O’Flaherty edged home by 21-18.
The second set was almost a carbon of the first with youthful exuberance being the telling factor and the top prize for ladies badminton in Kerry was garnished by Miss O’Flaherty on the second set score of 21-16.
The mens division 1 decider was a repeat of last years final which saw champion Tom Bourke just edge out teenager James O’Flaherty in 3 sets and those who witnessed that match last year felt the quality would never be surpassed but what an exhilarating,absolutely classic final the huge attendance witnessed on Sunday last.
In one corner was the 10 time champion within the last eleven years, Tom Bourke and once again in the other corner was the pretender to the throne, eighteen year old James Flaherty of Moyvane.
Both players threw everything at each other in that nail biting first set of 21 points, and the sides were level with each other at 20 all with whoever would get a two point lead would take that opening set. But they were still tied at 21 each, at 22 each and 23 each but those years of experience at this juncture served Bourke well and he clinched the set by 25-23.
The second set was tentative as both players sought the opening but they were still level at 4 points each.
Both led at different times but again they were all square at 12 points each but it was the teenager who slowly stole a point or two in front at the critical point of the set which he eventually the match by clinching that second set by 21-18.
It was now all systems go for that match winning third set which saw the defending champion lead by 2 nil and 4-2 but at the changes of sides it was O’Flaherty that led at 11-9 and he was never again headed as he kept his nose in front at 13-10, at 17-14 and at 19-16.
A brief rally by the defending champion saw him come within two points of the teenager at 20-18 but after another heart warming rally James O’Flaherty captured his first ever senior singles Kerry title as he clinched victory by 21-18
It was some victory by the 18 year old but spare a thought for the outgoing champion. Tom Bourke has been an outstanding servant to Kerry and Munster badminton and has been a wonderful ambassador for the sport throughout his career, but like Roger Federer a few hours earlier, don’t write him off yet.
There is no doubt but there is badminton talent in abundance between these O’Flaherty siblings and the mind boggles at what they could possibly achieve on the Kerry Badminton circuit and beyond over the next 30 years or so.
The division 5 singles events which ran in conjunction with the senior championships saw more exciting contests with the division 5 ladies decider between Moyvane’s Marie Kennelly and the Causeway Club secretary Josie Gilbert.
It was the Causeway lady who came good in the opening set by 21-14 and that was the same scoreline in set number 2 but this time it was the Moyvane lady who came out on top. The impetus was now with Miss Kennelly and she made no mistake and took the set and title by 21-12.
The division 5 mens final saw Causeway take on Annascaul and it was the top seeded Brendan Carroll of Causeway that upheld his rating by overcoming Annascaul’s Donnacha O’ Foghlu in two straight sets by 21-8; 21-11 to give the Causeway following a great boost.
The mens division 3 decider saw another Annascaul representive in the personage of Brendan McGovern who took on the Castleisland Club player Jebin John. Strange to relate in the recent mens division 3 league final both of these players were on the same winning team as McGovern was on loan to Castleisland but on Sunday last the West Kerry teenager was representing his own club and the title was his in two sets by 21-17 in a close first set and winning the second by 21-12.
This is a wonderful success story by McGovern as last season he was the division 4 winner and it is a rarity for players to be successful in different divisions in successive years.
The last final of the day was the division 3 decider and this proved to be an all Killarney confrontation which saw Samira Hayes take on Niamh Hickey. What a wonderful contest this final proved to be with just seven points between the sides over the three thrilling sets.
It was Miss Hayes who took the opener by 21-18 but in both the remaining sets it was score for score but it was Miss Hickey who edged in front on the same score in both sets by 21-19.
So ended the first day of the 2017 championships with the div. 2 & 4 championships also in Killarney on Sunday February 19th. All players are requested to enter in time, entry forms are now with club secretaries.
This coming Friday will see the Kerry Badminton Association hold their annual quiz in O’Donnell’s Bar, Mounthawk, Tralee.. All clubs are requested to support this quiz and more especially, all those players who are selected on Kerry team squads.
All teams cost the County Association a lot of money, so adult team members as well as the parents of the juvenile team players are invited to support the quiz or sponsor a table.
MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIPS
Munster Badminton returns to the Killarney Sports Centre on Sunday next where the Munster senior 2 and the Munster Graduates championships will be played off with both events to be hosted by the Kerry Association. Many ask the question who is eligible to compete in the graduates?
From a Kerry perspective any player who has not played at a high level for their County would be eligible. in fact Kerry players up to division 3 should consider playing, such competition from outside players can only help ones game. Details if required from Jennifer Keane at 083 3347228. Hope Kerry will be well represented at these events on Sunday next
