What a varied weekend of Badminton last weekend proved to be with the action switching from Killarney to Castleisland, to Cork and on to Waterford which included Kerry County Championships and Munster Inter County League competition.
The action commenced last Friday night in the Killarney Presentation School Gym with the CPC,IE sponsored ladies and Mens doubles for division 1 and 3.
The mens division 1 semi finals saw some wonderful badminton beingplayed, more especially in the encounter between the defending champions Tom Bourke and Eric Nelligan from the Castleisland Kingdom Club who were opposed by the talented pair of teenagers, Jonathan Keane, also of Castleisland and Moyvane’s James Flaherty.
This was a rip roaring contest which saw the champions being pushed the full way by the teenagers but it was the experience of Bourke and Nelligan that told in two wonderful sets by 21-19; 21-19.
The second second semi final saw Kingdom’s Michael Crossan and Gio Gaudino take on Listowel’s Fergal Hannon and James Leane and in a hard fought 3 set battle it was the Listowel pair that qualified for the decider,
In that final, despite the best efforts of the Listowel pair, the champions were always in control and they won their 4th title as a partnership 21-13; 21-12.
Likewise in the ladies division 1 championships the defending champions, Ciara O’Connor of Dingle and Edel Broderick reigned supreme and in the decider they overcame Sinead Galvin (Killarney) and Miriam Rohan (Kingdom) in two sets by 21-17; 21-15.
Edel Broderick (Kingdom) & Ciara O’Connor (Dingle) on their way to winning the Division 1 Ladies Kerry Doubles Badminton Championship.
The ladies division 3 decider saw 3 players from the Moyvane club on court. Fifteen year old Niamh Flaherty teamed up with Listowel’s Michelle Kearney and they were opposed by Fran Collins and Helen Brown,who incidentally defeated Miss Kearney in the recent singles final.The first set saw the Moyvane/ Listowel partnership take an early lead and they made no mistake winning the set by 21-6.
Set number two was much closer and the Moyvane pairing certainly made a game battle of it all the way but the game of badminton in this decider witnessed a rising star in Miss O’Flaherty as she excelled in this final and she and Miss Kearney won the title by 21-16. Indeed , this final saw Miss Kearney retain her title as she won last year with Annascaul’s Lisa Sayers.
The mens division 3 final followed the same pattern as the ladies final with 3 Moyvane players on court. Defending champion, James Sheehan this year paired up with Tralee County club member MariuszTusinski and they were opposed by John Mulvihill and Timmy Noonan.
This final proved to be another close battle with the sides level on several occasions but it was the Tusinski/Sheehan partnership who finished both sets with confidence winning by 21-15; 21-17. In this decider James Sheehan had the unusual experience of winning this division 3 title for the third time with 3 different partners, previously with his Moyvane club members, Declan Kennelly and Donnacha Moloney
Sunday saw the the action switch to the Castleisland Community Centre where the ladies and mens division 5 County championships were played off, again sponsored by CPC.IE.
The ladies division 5 final saw the talented Killarney pair of teenage Elaine and Jessica Galvin take on the Annascaul pairing of Aine Knightly and Rita Knightly.The Killarney pair were always in control of the first set winning by 21-7 but fair pair to the Knightly’s, they rose to the occasion in the second set and made a game battle of it but it proved to be Killarney’s title by winning the set by 21-16.
It was glory for the Ballyheigue Club in the mens division 5 final where Colm Carroll and Colm Griffin took on Moyvanes Liam Greaney and Oliver Carmody. This was a good spirited contest which saw the Ballyheigue pair win the first set by 21-13 but the second set proved to be much closer.
The Moyvane pairing certainly raised their game which saw the sides level at 15 all and 17 all but Ballyheigue finished the better and won the set and title by 21-17.
Following those championships over the weekend with the mixed double to go, 3 players are now on line to complete the coveted treble of 3 titles within the same division. These are Ciara O’Connor and Tom Bourke at division 1 and Killarney’s Elaine Galvin at division 5.
The championships continue at the Killarney Sports Centre this Friday night where the division 2 and 4 ladies and mens doubles will take place to commence at 7.30. All players and court helpers are requested to report on time
Munster Inter Counties.
Kerry had two County teams doing battle in Munster Inter County competitions on Sunday last, the Grade C team were in Bishopstown County Cork whilst the Grade E team were doing battle in Cappoquin County Waterford.
It proved to be so near for the Grade C team In Bishopstown where Counties Cork Tipperary, Limerick did battle. Round 1 saw Cork defeat Limerick 9-0 and Kerry defeated Tipperary 5-4.
Round 2 saw Cork defeat Tipperary 6-3 and Kerry overcame Limerick by 8-1. Kerry knew to win the title they would have to defeat Cork by 6-3 and what a battle royal it proved to be. Kerry did overcome the Rebels by 5-4. Edel Broderick won ladies single and also won the 1st ladies playing with Ciara O’Connor; The 2nd ladies was won by Miriam Rohan and Maeve Twomey.
The first mixed doubles was won by Ciara O’Connor and Eric Nelligan with the 3rd mixed doubles going to Miriam Rohan with Fergal Hannon. This however put Kerry on 18 points but Cork finished up on 19 points despite Kerry having won all their 3 matches and this sees Cork going through to the All Ireland series proper.
The Kerry team as follows: Ciara O’Connor, Edel Broderick, Miriam Rohan, Jennifer Keane, Maeve Twomey, Eric Nelligan (player/manager), Gio Gaudino, James Flaherty, Fergal Hannon and Mike Crossan.
Cork also proved to be the Kerry nemesis in Cappoquin where Cork, Kerry and the home team, Waterford competed. Both Cork and Kerry defeated Waterford 5-4 but in the vital decider it was Cork that reached the magical 5 games first winning by 5-3.
The Kerry squad as follows: Peggy Horan, Brid Murphy, Sinead Galvin, Mairead Regan, Niamh Flaherty, Donie Enright, Donnacha Moloney, Timmy Duggan, Paudie Horan andJames Leane. Joint managers: Marion O’Neill and Catherine Murphy
BREWSTER CUP:
The prestegious Munster Brewster Cup competition takes place in Bishopstown County Cork on Sunday next. Kerry went so close to winning this trophy in Killarney last year, being pipped by Cork in the final games.It is not known at the time of writing what Counties are taking part but on the grapevine it is felt that Counties Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Limerick and Tipperary will be competing.
Kerry manager Billy Lacey has selected a promising team that is blended with youth and experience and there is high hopes that this Kerry team could bring the Brewster Cup back to Kerry ffor the first time since 2003
The Kerry panel is as follows: Edel Broderick, Miriam Rohan, Sinead Galvin, Maeve Twomey, Catherine Murphy, Michael Crossan, Fergal Hannon, Jonathan Keane, James Flaherty, Donie Enright.
Manager: Billy Lacey
