Phase two of the CPC.IE sponsored Kerry singles Badminton championships took place at the Killarney Sports Centre on Friday last with the ladies and mens championships for divisions 2 and 4.
The fare served up, the buzz that consistently reverberated around the hall and the glorious uncertainty of most of the high class contests played made the action on Friday night last one of the greatest spectacles that ever graced the badminton courts of Kerry.
Even though the standard throughout was of a high calibre one of the most pleasing aspects of the night from a Kerry Badminton Association viewpoint was the amount of teenagers that competed and indeed were successful in three out of the four competitions played.
In the mens division 2 competition both semi finals were classics. In the opening one last weeks division 1 runner up James Flaherty of Moyvane took on his Munster under 17 partner Jonathan Keane of Castleisland and what a semi final this proved to be. Playing beautiful controlled Badminton the Castleisland youth took the first set but the Moyvane man settled into his task and took the two remaining sets to book his final place.
The second all Moyvane semi final saw Donnacha Moloney take on Donie Enright and in a marathon match it was Enright who ousted the gallant Moloney in another 3 setter.
It was now Donie Enright up against his club colleague, James Flaherty and from the outset it was teenager Flaherty that dominated the match and despite the best efforts of Enright it was Flaherty’s title in two sets by 21-11; 21-9.
The ladies division 2 contest was equally exciting. Killarney’s Sinead Galvin went into this competition rated as top seed following her Munster junior singles title win the previous Sunday but what a fright she got from 15 year old Niamh Flaherty of Moyvane, sister o mens singles winner, James.
This teenager has talent in abundance and pushed Mrs Galvin the full way in a wonderful 3 set encounter but it was the Killarney ladies power and experience that brought her to victory in a heart stopping contest.
The second semi final saw Castleisland’s Catherine Murphy take on last weeks division 3 singles winner Helen Brown of Moyvane and it was the Castleisland lady who won her way to contest the decider
What a close encounter this final proved to be. Nearing the close of the first set the sides were level at both 17 and 18 each but it was Ms. Murphy that closed out that set winning by 21-18.
The second set saw Murphy take a 3-1 lead but Galvin led at 10-8 but Murphy levelled at 12 all and never looked back after that winning the set and title by 21-17.
The ladies div 4 final was the only 3 set final of the night and this saw last years division 5 winner, Dingle’s Rachel O’Connor take on Aoife Moloney representing the Listowel club. It was teenager O’Connor who set the pace in the first set which she won by 21-15 but it was a battling Moloney that came out for the second set which saw her win by 21-17.
The third and final set was a cracker with Moloney leading early on but it was O’Connor who edged her way in front at the break by 11-9 but these two game battlers were again level at 16 all, 18 all and 19 all.
It was the Listowel girl who went to match point at 20-19 but the brave O’Connor who battled back to level again at 20 all with the tie break for 2 called and it was the Dingle girl who seized the initiative and got those two vital tie break points to win the title by 22-20.
The mens division 4 final was an all West Kerry confrontation battle between two more teenagers, Dingle’s Brian O’Connor and Annascaul’s Brendan McGovern.
The old adage of “You have to lose one, to win one” certainly bore fruit in this West Kerry battle. Last season Annascaul’s McGovern lost out in the County division 5 decider but what a fine player he has now blossomed into.
The winner of the Division 4 Mens Singles Title Brendan McGovern (Annascaul) which took place Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre on Friday.
His defeat of top seed and raging hot favourite, Moyvane’s Jamie Elliott in an epic 3 set quarter final encounter lifted the Annascaul youth to a new level and in the decider he was always in command over the brave O’Connor and took his first senior title in 2 hard fought sets by 21-17; 21-14.
The next round of the Kerry championships will be the doubles to be held in Killarney on Friday night February 26th (election night). Entry forms now with club secretaries.
Before the commencement of the singles championships last Friday night in Killarney the Kerry Association hosted a very pleasant function to mark the recent retirement of County secretary Mrs. Peggy Horan.
The Association had decided to commission a new silver cup to be played for in the division 2 singles championships and this cup was launched on Friday last and named as the “Peggy Horan Perpetual Trophy”
County Chairman Mr. J. Griffin, Listowel spoke on Mrs Horans contribution to both club and County since 1979.
Vice-Chairman Mr Michael Corridan also contributed as did Tralee’s Mr. Tom Clear on behalf of the players and the President of the Killarney Club, Mr. John O’Halloran also spoke on Mrs. Horan’s input to the Killarney Club for many years.
Mrs Horan spoke herself and thanked all concerned for this great honour bestowed on her and spoke on the great bond and friendships that the sport of Badminton generates at all levels.
BUTTERFIELD CUP:
Kerry relinquished their hold on the Munster Butterfield Cup in Cappoquin on Sunday last but what a dramatic competition it proved to be.
With 5 Counties competing Kerry’s first match was in the preliminary round against Limerick. The Kingdom won this one 9-0 but the scores suggest that it was not easy as four of the ties had to go to the third set for decision. So that put the holders into the semi final against the home County.
The Kingdom went 2-0 up and were looking good but a brave Waterford fight back saw them level the match at 3 games all and the sides were again level at four games all so in this titanic struggle the berth for the place in the final depended on the third and final mixed.
This match saw Waterford’s Tanya and Colin Morrissey do battle for Waterford and Jennifer Keane and Fergal Hannon do battle for Kerry. It was the Kerry duo that took the first set and it was looking good for Kerry but the home support got behind their charges in fine style and the Decies pairing certainly responded as they took set number two to level the match.
One set to go for a Butterfield final appearance and it was the home pair who were now on fire and after a brave performance from the Kerry pair it was Waterford who took the set by 21-13.
The other semi final saw Tipperary shock Cork and this Waterford/Tipperary was the first final since 1998 that neither Cork or Kerry were represented and it was the home County that captured their first Butterfield Cup in over 20 years by defeating the Premier County side but again for the Kingdom, it was so very close.
TABLE QUIZ:
The Kerry Association will hold their Annual Table Quiz in O’Donnell’s Bar, Tralee on this Friday night to commence at 8.30 with a table of 4 being €40. All clubs are requested to support the quiz with as many tables as possible.
In recent times sports halls, shuttlecocks,etc. have increased in price and as the sport of badminton does not have the benefit of admission charges as the field sports do every fund raising activity is vital. Parents who have children playing Badminton are invited to attend the quiz or sponsor a table or part table. There will be many spot prizes on offer during the night
MUNSTER INTER COUNTY:
Kerry will have a double representation at the Munster Adult Inter County Competitions to be played in the UL Arena, Limerick on Sunday next. The Kerry teams will take part in Grade F (Div.3) and Grade F (Div.4). Both squads have trained extensively in recent times and best wishes are extended to both.
The Kerry F squad is as follows; Mariuz Tusnski (Capt), Cian Liston,Kieran Crehan,Timmy Noonan,Danny Cronin, Niamh Flaherty, Carmel Hudson,Helen Browne,Michelle Kearney, Marion McSweeney. Manager; Pat Kearney (Moyvane)
The Grader G squad as follows; Christina Quirke, Paula O Sullivan ,Aoife Moloney, Marie O Connor, Louise Behan, Brendan McGovern ,Jamie Elliot, Ger O Connor, Aidan Evans, Alan Falvey.
Manager; Jennifer Keane (Killarney)
JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Over 120 players took part in the Kerry juvenile singles championships played in Killarney on Saturday last and what a competition it proved to be.
Pride of place must go to Rachel O’Connor who won the Kerry division 4 title on Friday night and brought off a notable double on Saturday by winning the under 17 title
Listowel players captured 3 titles whilst clubs Killarney,Dingle,Kingdom,Annascaul and County captured 1 each which gave a great spread throughout the County.
Results as follows;
U11 Girls: Pia Hickey Killarney defeated Ava McGovern Kingdom (Castleisland) 21/11,21/17
U11 Girls: Plate Molly O’Donoghue Killarney defeated Lauren Costello Listowel 21/8
U13 Girls: Deina Vesko Listowel defeated Katelyn Reid Annascaul 23/21, 18/21, 21/13
U13 Girls: Plate Lucy O’Leary Killarney defeated Jessica Bell Killarney 21/18
U15 Girls: Valerie Guiney Listowel defeated Ciara Hudson Moyvane 21/10, 21/17
U15 Girls Plate: Aoife Bowler Moyvane defeated Molly McElligott 21/16
U17 Girls: Rachel O’Connor Dingle defeated Elaina Galvin Killarney 21/12, 21/16
U11 Boys: Eddy Healy Listowel defeated Ayrton Burke Kingdom 21/17, 22/20
U11 Boys Plate: Mint O’Connor Kingdom defeated Liam Newsome Annascaul 21/18
U13 Boys: Seamus Bradley Kingdom defeated Peter Burke Kingdom 21/10, 21/16
U13 Boys Plate: Jack McGovern Kingdom defeated Kieran O’Donoghue 21/12
U15 Boys: Killian Falvey Annascaul defeated Colm Moriarty Annascaul 21/16, 21/15
U17 Boys: Jebin John County (Tralee) defeated Joe Kennedy Annascaul 21/17, 21/19
