BADMINTON NEWS
Sunday last at the Killarney Sports Arena saw the commencement of both the senior and juvenile Kerry Badminton County Championships which are once again kindly sponsored by CPC.IE, ltd.
Senior Championships;
For a singles championships the entries received for all 3 divisions on show (divisions 1,3 &5)was a repeat of last years hectic decider which saw 10 times champion Castleislands Tom Bourke fall in 3 sets to teenage sensation James Flaherty of Moyvane. Amazingly, last Sundays decider was almost a carbon copy of last seasons final.
The sides were level 5 times in the opening set but it was Bourke who took it by 21-19. The second set was fought with the same intensity but it was Flaherty that took control and won by 21-16. Despite the best efforts of the former champion it was Flaherty that took control of set number 3 and retained his crown again on the score of 21-16.
Last year in the ladies decider Castleislands Edel Broderick surrendered her title to Moyvane teenager Niamh Flaherty. Ms Broderick was back in the final frame on Sunday last where her opponent was Killarneys Sinead Galvin and the Castleisland club lady made no mistake winning in 2 straight sets 21-9; 21-14.
A hard fought division 3 ladies final saw Listowels Michelle Kearney who faced up to Moyvanes Amanda Carmody, It was the Moyvane lady who came out on top in two close sets 21-11;21-17. It was, indeed, a tremendous achievement by Ms Carmody to capture this singles title when one realises she won her first badminton County title in 1985, 33 years ago. Some dedication to the sport.
The mens division 3 semi-finals saw 2 wonderful 3 set contests with Castleislands Jebin John defeating his club colleague David Graham and the all Moyvane semi-final saw Kevin Kennelly overcoming Timmy Hanrahan, but it was the Castleisland man, John, that earned the plaudits and the county title in 2 sets by 21-10; 21-15
The division 5 mens final was a confrontation between Killarney and Castleisland with Daniel O’Connor of the Killarney Club just edging out Castleislands talented Dylan Browne in a 3 set final; 19-21;21-17; 21 – 13.
The first competition to be completed on the day was the ladies division 5 championship and this was a Moyvane v Listowel confrontation. This was a hard fought encounter with the sides level in the opening set no less than six times from 6 all to 17 all but it was Listowels Karen Lawlor who just edged in front when it mattered most at 21-19
The second set was another close encounter with the sides again level at 7 each but Miss Lawlor seemed to be in control when going 17-14 in front but the talented Moyvane girl, Aoife Bowler, never buckled and fought back to level the match at 18 all but once again the pendulum swung the Listowel way and the title was Listowel bound with Miss Lawlor just coming out in front by 21-18.
The old adage advises that “You can’t beat breeding “and how true this proved to be in this contest as Miss Lawler’s father, Leo, playing out of Ballyheigue won the division 5 singles title in 1985, but her mother, Anne, was victorious the previous year,1984, in the ladies division 5 doubles final with Anne O’Halloran so talent does run through families
Juvenile Championships
L/R,: Evan McCarthy, Maura Burke, Tomas O’Sullivan, Ella Ava Liston, Liam Newsome, Ava McKay, Nikoli O’Callaghan, Deina Vesko, Eddie Healy, Madison Carter at the Munster Juvenile Inter County Badminton Competition held UL Limerick Sunday 28 January.
Saturday last at the Killarney sports centre was, indeed. a sight to behold. It was the Kerry juvenile badminton doubles County Championships day for both girls and boys and the total number of entries received went over the 180 mark. When one considers that this would be on par of 15 gaelic teams or over 16 soccer teams one can see the strength of the sport of badminton within the County Kerry bounds in this year of 2018.
It proved to be a good day for the Listowel juvenile club who were represented in 6 out of the 7 finals contested and mounted the winner’s podium no less than 5 occasions and collected the silver medals also in two of these deciders. A fitting tribute indeed to their excellent coaching team of Roly Chute and Norma Leane
Overall results as follows;
U11 Girls Aoife Newstead and Stephanie Reid Annascaul defeated Grace McGovern Castleisland and Saoirse McHugh Milltown 15/8, 15/2
U13 Girls Ava MacKay and Ellie Ava Liston Listowel defeated Molly O’Donoghue and Pia Hickey Killarney 21/8, 21/9
U15 Girls Ciara Knightly Annascaul and Madison Carter Listowel defeated Adele O’Brien and Laura O’Connor Killarney 21/17, 21/18
U17 Girls Ciara Hudson Moyvane and Valerie Guiney Listowel defeated Molly McElligott Listowel and Aoife Bowler Moyvane 21/13, 21/4
U11 Boys Ruadhan Donovan and Jack Lyne Annascaul defeated Oscar McElligott and Ben McElligott Listowel 15/8, 15/9
U13 Boys Eddie Healy and Tomas O’Sullivan Listowel defeated Evan McCarthy and Thomas Ashe Annascaul 21/13, 21/18
U15 Boys Sean O’Mahony Listowel and Christopher O’Donoghue Moyvane defeated Cathal Donovan Annascaul and Seamus Bradley Castleisland 22/20, 21/18
The Killarney Sports Arena will again be the hive of Badminton activity on Sunday next where the Kerry Association will host the Munster Senior 2 and the Graduates championships. These events are to be hosted by the Kerry Badminton Association.
The singles championships will continue on Friday night, February 9th with divisions 2 and 4 to be decided in both ladies and men to commence at 7.30. Entry forms are now with all clubs.
All in Kerry Badminton are requested to note that the annual table quiz which was fixed for this Friday night has been cancelled due to a prior booking but will go ahead in the same venue, McDonalds Bar, Tralee, 2 weeks later, February 16th.