BADMINTON

Sunday last saw the commencement of the Kerry on court playing badminton season with the action ranging from the Munster Butterfield Cup competition which was played in Bishopstown County Cork and the Kerry Knockout Cup club competition which took centre stage in the magnificent Killarney Sports Arena and what a fantastic, magnificent turnout there proved to be at the Killarney venue.

No less than 15 teams representing all the affiliated clubs in Kerry contested the 3 competitions for Kerry divisions 3,4 and 5 which took a full seven and a half hours to complete

At the outset, the Club of the day proved to be the Kingdom club of Castleisland who journeyed home with no less than 2 titles under their belt.

The first honours of the day by Castleisland who captured the Gold medals was the division 5 title where their very youthful protégés,backboned by many teenagers, were Lord of all they surveyed in their section as they finished top of the pile on the scoreline of 23 sets with Killarney edging in front of Moyvane to take the silver medals on 18 points

The division 3 competition saw defending champions Moyvane take on contenders Killarney and Castleisland and In this round robin played event it was point for point but at days end it was Castleisland who garnished title number two by pipping Killarney by just the one point,16 to 15 in an absorbing contest.

The div 4 competition saw 5 clubs battle for supremacy and title holders Listowel looked to be in trouble when they lost their opening match to Iveragh by just the one set but the defending champions edged out both Killarney and Ballyheigue in successive encounters to qualify for the decider where once again their opponents were none other that Iveragh who in turn had disposed of Moyvane.

This final was a nail biting contest where each rally was fought as if life itself depended on it and going into the deciding mixed doubles encounter it was the North Kerry side who were a point in front by 7 to 6..

With 2 points on offer the title would be South bound if the Iveragh side came out on top in this final decider but it was not to be for the South as it was the defending champions who won this vital decider and came out on top by 9 points to 6, but what a wonderful start Sunday last proved to be for the new Badminton season.

Butterfield Cup.
Kerry travelled to Bishopstown , County Cork on Sunday last to take part in the annual Munster Council Butterfield Cup competition where just the 3 Counties competed, namely Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

The draw saw Cork take on Waterford in the opening tie with the the Rebels come out on top on the scoreline of 6 games to 3 so round 2 saw Kerry take on Waterford.

Normally the Kingdom would be raging hot favourites to oust the Decies, but possibly the Waterford side having the benefit of an opening game and had got acclimatized to the surroundings shocked the Kingdom by 5 games to 4 where the Kerry wins were at first mens;& second ladies doubles and at both the 1st and 2nd mixed doubles encounters.

There was certainly a mountain for Kerry to climb now if the Kingdom had any hopes of regaining the Butterfield Cup as all the advantages lay with the home side but led by the Kerry ladies the Kingdom did put in a fighting performance as they captured all of the 3 ladies ties, namely ladies singles and both ladies doubles, but those same mens games went to the Rebels even though in the first mens doubles encounter the Kerry pairing only lost out in the third and final set by 26-24 in a torrid encounter.

Kerry went on to win the 1st mixed doubles game but lost overall by another 5-4 so it must be “Whats another Year” for Kerry Badminton as far as the Butterfield Cup is concerned.
November Handicaps.

The next 2 Sundays are two of the biggest days in Kerry Badminton as far as the domestic programme is concerned as both of these days are the only time of the whole season that the players of all Kerry divisions will be in action on the same day.

Sunday next is November Handicap day and players of all divisions are requested to check their entry form to note the starting time that applies to them with the overall programme due to commence at 1 pm. All of these Kerry events will take place in the 8 court Killarney sports centre.

This coming Saturday will also see the start of the Kerry juvenile badminton programme with a series of tournaments to cater for all four age groups, namely Under 11/13/15/17. These juvenile tournaments are due to commence at 11 am, players are requested to sign in by 10.45 am

The ladies and mens leagues are now in progress and all clubs are requested to adhere to the time table as set out for each round .