BADMINTON NOTES by Junior Griffin

The badminton programme of last weekend was dominated by  the end of season Munster competitions which were played in the UL Arena of Limerick and these included the rescheduled  Brewster Cup  competition on the Saturday and the Munster Club finals on the Sunday.

When the 21st millennium  commenced Kerry had a good run in the Brewster Cup competition winning in both 2001 and 2003 but since then the Kingdom have failed to capture this prestigious cup which was first played for in 1951.

Only 3 of the Munster Counties competed on Saturday last, namely Cork, Kerry and Tipperary with the Kingdom taking on the Premier County in round 1 but it was the Tipperary side that came good by winning 6-3. The Kerry wins in this match were Edel Broderick in the ladies singles; Maeve Twomey and Elaine Hudson at the second ladies doubles and Miriam Rohan with Fergal Hannon at first mixed doubles.

Unfortunately, on the same score-line Kerry suffered the same fate against Cork  with Edel Broderick again winning her singles and  then winning the first ladies doubles with  Miriam Rohan and Maeve Twomey and Elaine Hudson maintained their unbeaten  run by again winning the second ladies doubles tie.

On paper, with a full panel at their disposable,  the current Kerry squad would seem to have the talent to again regain  the Brewster Cup for Kerry but like any competition, it would take 100 per cent commitment and dedication from all concerned. Hopefully, that will be next year.

Club final day is no doubt the  biggest day on the Munster calendar and the Limerick Arena again saw a huge turnout on Sunday last where the league champions from each County at the different grades did battle to capture that elusive Munster Club title. Kerry were represented with 5 teams, 3 from Moyvane at grades  E,F & G ; Killarney at grade D and Kingdom, Castleisland at grade H.

The honours of the day from a Kerry perspective went to the  Moyvane grade E  team  who captured Munster honours by defeating  Roscrea the Tipperary champions by 4-0 in the semi-final and qualified to meet Kilmacthomas of Waterford  in the Munster final. Firing on all cylinders the Kerry side rose to the occasion and won the Munster title by 4-1.

One of the main talking points in this final was in the mens doubles decider where Donie Enright and Donnacha Moloney  represented the Kerry champions. The  Moyvane pair won the first set 21-11 but lost the second set but Moyvane set the pace in the final set .

In an enthralling game at  match point Moloney found himself flat on his back and the Waterford pair took advantage of this and smashed the shuttle twice at him as he lay on the floor but the brave Moloney not alone returned both shots but from somewhere he pulled out the match winning point at 21-17  with that second return.

Moyvane now go on to the All-Ireland series  which this year will be played in Limerick on May 13th. That Moyvane team is as follows; Amanda Carmody, Helen Brown, Denise Collins, Carmel Hudson, Timmy Noonan, Donnacha Moloney, Donie Enright, John Mulvihill.

The Killarney grade D team also put on a great performance over the day. In the Munster semi-final where they came up against Kilmacthomas, the Waterford champions. The sides were level at 2 games each but a great finish by the Kerry champions saw them come through by 4-2 but in the final they came up that bit short against Lakewood, the Cork champions and lost out by 4-2.

In grade F Moyvane reached another Munster decider when overcoming  Drum the Tipperary champions by 4-1  but fell to Corks Carrigaline on the same score-line in the final.

In grade G Moyvane lost out again  to Carrigaline of Cork in the semi-final stage  and went down by 5-2

In grade H representing Kerry were the young side from Castleisland who were playing  in a Munster club competition for the first time and in their opening encounter they went down to Effin, the Limerick champions but only just, 4-3 with Eibhlis Brosnan and Mairead O’Connell winning the ladies doubles; the mens doubles was captured by  Luke O’Loughlin and Dylan Browne and the second mixed doubles tie was won by Mairead O’Connell and Luke O’Loughlin, all 3 games won by this Castleisland side in two sets

So again best wishes again is extended to the Moyvane grade E who will be carrying the Kerry colours on May 13th.