The Division 2 Kerry Mixed Doubles Championships took place Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre Friday 23 March. Pictured; Saoirse Fitzgerald & Donnacha Moloney Moyvane in action and went on to win the Div 2 Mixed Doubles Final. Photo by Thomas Bradley
Kerry Badminton News from Junior Griffin
Friday night last, March 23rd, 2018 saw the final stages of the closing programme of another Kerry Badminton Association, CPC.IE sponsored, County Championships at the Killarney Sports Arena and on the night it was the divisions 2 &4 mixed doubles championships that took to the courts.
In division 4 alone there were no less that 24 pairs competing and what a wonderful competition this proved to be
On the previous Monday night in Killarney also the ladies and mens doubles for the same 2 divisions held court in the refixed championships following the early March snowfall and in the div 4 mens doubles it was the Killarney pairing of Liam Barry and Ger O’Connor that scaled the heights to win that title and on Friday night last it was the same Ger O’Connor that collected County title number 2 within 5 days after failing no less than 3 times in the past to garnish that coveted County crown.
O’Connor was partnered on Friday last with Listowels Jill Redmond who was herself competing in her first County final and their opposition were the talented Causeway pairing of Fiona Casey and James O’Mahony. In a close first set it was the Listowel/Killarney pairing that came out on top by 21-17.
Set number 2 saw the Causeway pairing take command from the outset and led at one stage by 12-4 and it was they who went to set point at 20-17 and it looked like that the third set would be the decider but Redmond/O’Connor never yielded and in no time at all the set was all square at 20 each and amazingly they went on to win the set and County title by 22-20 after that trail blazing finish
Though playing out of Killarney the gallant O’Connor is a Valentia native and makes that long journey for training to Killarney at least twice a week that would cover over 100 miles per trip. Surely such dedication to any sport like that is worthy of a County All Star selection.
The division 2 decider proved to be an all Moyvane confrontation which saw Sorcha Fitzgerald and Donnacha Moloney take on Elaine Hudson and Donie Enright.
Like O’Connor in the division 4 decider the brave Moloney also won his second County title within the 5 days as he had captured the division 2 mens title , also with a Listowel partner, James Leane whilst Ms Fitzgerald was a finalist in the ladies div 2 final the previous Monday. In a close 2 setter Fitzgerald/Moloney came good over Hudson/Enright by 21-17; 21-17
The Ladies & Mens division 5 finals sponsored by the Sea Lodge Restaurant, Waterville, plus the Masters tournaments, sponsored by Ashes Bar, Glenbeigh, finals were played in Moyvane on Thursday night last and a large crowd witnessed some fine badminton.
In the ladies div 5 decider it was an all Moyvane confrontation with the A side having the better of the B side. In the mens decider it was victory for Annascaul over Moyvane.
In the ladies Masters the combined Listowel/Moyvane under the stewardship of Jeanelle Griffin overcame the Kathleen Gilbride Ballyheigue selection after the sides finished level at 5 games each but the Listowel/Moyvane combination came good on the count back of aces by 192 to 185
In the Mens Masters the William Flaherty Moyvane selection overcame the Listowel James Sheehan’s side by 5-3
Forthcoming events include the County Masters tournaments, over 40, to take place in the Killarney Presentation Gym on Friday night next march 30th to commence at 8 pm. All interested are reminded to enter not later than this Wednesday,
The County leagues which commenced in November are now nearing completion. The div 3 league had just the three clubs competing, namely Castleisland, Killarney and Moyvane and this was played on the home and away round robin basis and it was Moyvane who came out on top there.
The division 2 league campaign is running behind time and no clear picture has emerged as who will qualify.
The division 4 final will see Ballyheigue do battle with Moyvane whilst in div 5 Moyvane are once again in another decider where their opponents will be Castleisland.
These finals will take place over 2 nights on April 3rd & 4th with venues to be decided.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Paddy Sugrue, former Tralee County Club chairman and president and also former Kerry President, former County Club members will revive the Paddy Sugrue tournaments to be played on Sunday April 8th at the Tralee Sports Centre.
Entry fee will be €10 per player with all proceeds to be donated to the Tralee and District Chernobyl Childrens Fund who are doing such wonderful work since 1993 , so badminton players from throughout the County are requested to support these tournaments.
Whether playing or otherwise your presence and support for this worthy cause would be much appreciated. Entry forms are now with each club.
The Munster singles and doubles winners finals took place in the UL , Limerick on Sunday last and there were notable successes for Kerry players.
At Grade C which would be the senior Grade, Moyvanes James Flaherty won out the mens singles section whilst in the ladies Grade C section Castleislands Edel Broderick and Miriam Rohan captured the ladies doubles title with Tom Bourke and Eric Nelligan runners up in the mens doubles final.
Grade D saw Killarneys Maeve Twomey and Moyvanes Elaine Hudson win out the ladies Grade D doubles final with Sinead Galvin of Killarney being the ladies singles runner up. In the Grade E doubles decider Brendan McGovern and Aidan McCarthy of the Castleisland Club were worthy winners of the mens doubles title.
The Grade G competition saw double gold coming to Kerry. The ladies doubles title was captured by the Moyvane/Ballyheigue combination of Ciara Hudson and Paula O’Sullivan and this grade also saw the mixed doubles title being won by Listowels Jill Redmond and Ger O’Connor representing the Killarney Club. All in all, a most rewarding day for Kerry Badminton
Juvenile Badminton
Kerry Juvenile Mixed Doubles Championships Saturday 24 March at Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre. Pictured, from left; Winners of the Un 15 Mixed Doubles Championships, Christopher O’Donoghue Moyvane & Adele O’Brien Killarney along with Runners Up, Ciara Knightley & Cathal Donovan Annascaul. Photo by Thomas Bradley
Saturday last in the Killarney Centre saw the close of the Kerry Badminton juvenile season where well over one hundred girls and boys competed in the mixed doubles championships for the age groups of under 11/13/15/17. Results as follows;
U11 Stephanie Reid and Ruadhan Donovan Annascaul defeated Darina Ellen Burke and Diarmuid Quirke Milltown 15/12, 15/10
U13 Ava MacKay and Tomas O’Sullivan Listowel defeated Mary Casey and Liam Newsome Annascaul 21/11, 21/11
U15 Adele O’Brien Killarney and Christopher O’Donoghue Moyvane defeated Ciara Knightly and Cathal Donovan Annascaul 21/14, 21/7
U17 Aoife Bowler Moyvane and Niall O’Brien Killarney defeated Ciara Hudson Moyvane and Luke O’Loughlin Castleisland 19/21, 21/15, 21/9
U11 Plate Megan Brosnan and Jack Lyne Annascaul defeated Grace McGovern and Jack Burke Castleisland
U13 Plate Ellie Ava Liston Listowel and Jack O’Keeffe Killarney defeated Molly O’Donoghue and Abir Kazir Killarney
u15 Plate Deina Vesko Listowel and Navansh Johnson Killarney defeated Ella Galvin and Darragh Crehan Killarney
U17 Plate Fiona Galvin and Oisin Moran Killarney defeated Olivia Wesolowska and Dara Lawlor Killarney
