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THE first competition for many in 2023 took place this past Sunday the 8th of January in Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre.
The Munster grade D & G closed competition took place here. It was great to see so many Kerry players taking part and of course doing well in this competition.
Kerry had a total of 35 player on the day through both competitions.It was a very long day for those in attendance with singles, doubles and mixed being played in both grades throughout the day.
Kerry was very well represented in both grades with players from many different clubs here in Kerry taking part. In grade D, Deina Vesko had a very successful day winning both the singles and the ladies doubles.
She beat her ladies doubles partner Jo Murphy (Waterford) in a close singles final going all the way to 3 sets. 22-24,24-22,21-10. In the doubles final, Deina and Jo beat their opponents from Clare in 2 sets the second being very closely contested. 21-9, 25-23.
Joan Murphy & Deana Vesko Listowel Badminton Club on their way to winning the Munster Ladies Doubles Grade D Championship. Photo: Thomas Bradley
Deina and her partner Ethan Tritschler also made it to the semifinal of the mixed but were beaten here in 3 sets. 15-21, 21-12, 16-21.
In the same grade, Kelvin McNally was also in the mens singles final losing out in a very competitive game of 3 sets to Micheal O’Loughlin of Clare. 19-21,21-15,19-21.
In the grade G competition also being played on the same day, once again Kerry were very well represented.
In the ladies singles, Kerry had players in both semi finals but unfortunately both girls just missed out on getting to the final after playing well in their respective games.
Michael Belov Flannagan & Mike Reardon Listowel Badminton Club who were runners-up in Munster Grade G Mens Doubles Championships. Photo: Thomas Bradley
Then in the mens doubles, Mike Reardon and Micheal Belov Flanagan both from Listowel did very well and made it all the way to the final where they came up against a very strong pair in which they lost out in 2 sets. 21-10, 21-8.
Alvin Rahman Fahad and Rahad Rahman both of Killarney also did very well in the opposite side of the draw, losing out in a very competitive 3 set semifinal which unfortunately went against them in the end. 16-21, 26-24, 10-21.
Kerry was also well represented in the ladies doubles competition with Ava MacKay and Jessica O’Loughlin making it all the way to the final after beating 2 pairs of their Kerry counterparts in the process.
The girls lost out in the final after playing very well throughout the competition. 18-21, 17-21. Finally in the last competition of the day, the mixed doubles Kerry players were again unlucky not to be in the final with pairs in both semifinals.
Both pairs played very well on the day, Alvin Rahman Fahad and Sara Hayes played out a very close game but unfortunately lost out in 2 sets. 24-26, 13-21. Jessica Galvin also played very well on the day with her partner from (Waterford) but they also lost out in the other semifinal to a pair from Limerick. 18-21, 13-21.
Leah O’Donoghue & Donie Enright who took part in the Grade D Mixed Championships. Photo: Thomas Bradley
It was great to see everyone back playing again after the Christmas break with competitions on most weekends from now on. Well done to all players who played on the day.
The Intercounty competitions are now also coming up in early February the grades are now starting to train and pick teams for this competition so keep an eye out to find out when your grade announces training for this competition.
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