Kerry Badminton Association News

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Bishopstown, County Cork and Ballyheigue, County Kerry were the focus of all Kerry Badminton followers on Sunday last.

The Munster senior 1 and Junior championships were held in the Cork venue whilst in Ballyheigue the local club played host to all Kerry div. 3,4 and 5 players as they ran off their annual club tournaments for those 3 divisions.

There was at least one  success story from a Kerry perspective that   emerged from the Cork venue and that was in the junior ladies doubles final

This was achieved by Killarney’s Maeve Twomey and Elaine Hudson who faced the Cork pairing of Trish Herlihy and Elaine Sheridan ,

The first set was a classic hard fought encounter with both pairs scoring point for point. It was the Cork pair who went to set point at 20-19 but a brave Kerry come back saw them level at 20 all. The sides were again level at 21 all but the never say die spirit of the Kerry pairing saw them score those two vital points to ensure the set victory by 23-21.

After that confidence booster of winning the first set the Kerry pair were always in control set number 2 and despite the best efforts of the Cork pairing the Munster title was Kerry bound on the score line of 21-12. For Miss Twomey it was second successive doubles title as last year she came good with her Killarney club member, Sinead Galvin.

These championships commenced at 10 am on Sunday and this ladies final concluded gone midnight, over 15 hours later with the mixed doubles semi-finals still to come but it is known that Kerry will have some representation in the mixed final but at what hour that will be decided this writer has no idea. Trying to play two major competitions on the one day in a four court hall just does not work out.

In the senior mens singles Kerry’s Tom Bourke, holder of 6 Munster singles titles, played some wonderful badminton  to contest the Munster final once again but it was not to be “Lucky seven” for the Castleisland  club man as he fell in 2 sets to the talented Waterford  player Azi Syed.

But Bourke would be kicking himself for letting that second set slip away as he seemed to be in the driver’s seat when leading at 16-15 but a missed  net shot  cost him dearly and he paid the ultimate penalty.

The junior ladies singles saw Killarney’s Sinead Galvin battle her way to the semi-final stage where she fell in two sets to the eventful winner Corks Laura Murphy. Indeed it was an all Cork final here as Ms Murphy defeated her Cork colleague Trish O ‘Herlihy in two sets. Incidentally,

Miss O ‘Herlihy has a Kerry link as she is now domiciled in Listowel  and is a member of the local club but has paid her affiliation through Cork

Whilst the Munster championships did battle in Bishopstown  there was no shortage of excitement in Ballyheigue with many encounters every bit as enthralling and exciting  as was served up in Cork and great credit to the home club for catering for the three divisions on view

Ballyheigue Annual Badminton Tournament took place Commuity Centre Ballyheigue Sunday. Photo shows the winners of the Division 5 Competition. From left: Paula O’Sullivan Ballyheigue Club presenting Mairead O’Connell Castleisland, and Christy Deane, Annascaul with their winning trophies along with Runners Up Erin Stack Moyvane, and Con O’Regan Ballyheigue. Photo by Tom Bradley

Overall results as follows;

Div 5

Winners Mairead O’Connor (Castleisland) and Christy Deane (Annascaul)

R-up Erin Stack (Moyvane) and Cathal O Regan (Ballyheigue)

Scores 19/21 and 17/21

Div 4

Winners Josie Gilbert (Causeway) and John McDonald (Ballyheigue)

R-up Paula O Sullivan (Ballyheigue) and Tom Rice (Listowel)

Scores 7/21 and 6/21

Div 3 round robin

Winners Jeab Workman (Killarney) and Philip Thomas (Listowel)

R-up Michelle Beazley ( Castleisland) and Tim Griffin (Ballyheigue)

County Championships

In most sports, the ultimate aim of the ordinary club player is to seek the Holy Grail of capturing that elusive County title.

In Kerry Badminton that quest for County Championship glory will commence on Sunday next at the magnificent Killarney sports Centre where the singles championships for divisions 1,3 and 5, again sponsored by C.P.C.IE,Tralee, will open the Kerry programme for the 2017-2018 season.

Divisions 1 and 5 will commence proceedings at 1 pm to be followed by division 3 at 2.30 pm. Court helpers to be on caal 20 minutes before start time and all players are requested to sign in at least 15 minutes before the allotted times.

All  travelling on Sunday next are advised to make allowance for possible  traffic congestion and delays due to the National League Kerry v Donegal football encounter

The Munster Schools finals will be played in the Limerick UL arena this Thursday and representing the  Kerry schools as follows;

Girls

Under 14; St. Bridget’s Presentation, Killarney; under 16; Presentation Convent, Listowel; under 19; Presentation Convent, Listowel

Boys;

Under 14;  Mercy  Mounthawk, Tralee;  under 16; St. Michaels College, Listowel. Under 19; Pobascoil Chorca Dhuibhne

Every good wish to all schools concerned

It is indeed a busy weekend for all those concerned in Kerry juvenile badminton. On Saturday the Killarney Arena will play host to the Kerry juvenile doubles championships for both boys and girls at the 4 age groups, namely under 11/13/15/17 and a full house is guaranteed.

The following day, January 28th will see round 1 of the Munster Inter County competitions take place for the same 4 age groups and Kerry, under the supervision of coach Billy Lacey and  juvenile secretary Ms Carmel Hudson will line out a team in each of the age groups so there will be many shuttlecocks served back and forth over the weekend.

All involved in Kerry badminton, adults as well as juveniles, are requested to note and support the forth coming fund raising exercises organised  by the Kerry Association.

The sport of badminton does not have the luxury of charging entrance fees like the field games and yet the expenses such as hall hire, shuttlecocks, etc.  are very costly to both County and Club. The Kerry Association will host their annual table quiz at O’Donnell’s Bar, Mounthawk Tralee on Friday February 2nd and the support of players, parents and members would be much appreciated.

Each table of 4 will cost €40 but subscribers who may not be able to attend can donate through their clubs. The Kerry  annual raffle is now in full swing with each member being allotted cards at €10 each.

Each County team member are encouraged to dispose of five cards as the fund raised is ploughed back into County and team management so all are requested to help their Association

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