MAGICAL. Momentous. Astounding. Historic.
One can use every superlative the mind can conjure but all would pale into insignificance when one would reflect on the wonderful achievements attained by the Moyvane Badminton Club at the Munster Inter Club finals day at the UL Sports Arena, Limerick on Sunday last.
This is Munster’s biggest Badminton day where the winners of each grade within their own County meet up to combat for the title of Munster champion. Kerry had 4 teams taking part, Moyvane in divisions 2,3 and 4 and Killarney in division 5.
In all, well over 20 clubs competed on the day over the 6 grades and at days end Kerry’s Moyvane Club had done the unbelievable of winning all 3 grades open to them.
The Munster Club Badminton Finals took place UL Limerick Sunday 17 April. Pictured are the Moyvane Club Teams (and their supporters) Grades E, F, & G who represented Kerry in these finals and were successful. They will now go forward as Munster Champions to play in All-Ireland. Photo: Thomas Bradley
Since the inception of these club competitions in the 1988/1989 season it is the first time that a single club won 3 Munster titles on the day, a fact alluded to by the President of the Munster Badminton Association, Mr. John Feeney, Cork, at the presentation ceremony afterwards.
It was the Grade E (division 2) team that paved the way for the Moyvane success story. In the semi final they had a convincing 4-0 winner over Country Club, the Tipperary champions and their final opponents were Kilmacthomas, the Waterford champions.
In this decider Moyvane won the opening 3 games but the Waterford champions took the ladies doubles defeating Moyvane’s Carmel Hudson and Janelle Griffin 22-20 in a nail biting 3 set encounter.
But Mrs Hudson did have her say in the destination of the Grade E title as teaming up with teenager James Flaherty at first mixed doubles they won the first title of the for Moyvane when winning in 2 sets, 21-14; 21-12, to make the final scoreline 4-1 in Moyvane’s favour
Moyvane; Niamh Flaherty, Elaine Hudson, Jeanelle Griffin, Carmel Hudson, James Flaherty, Timmy Duggan (capt), Donnacha Moloney, Donie Enright.
Like their grade E side, the Moyvane Grade F (division 3) team won their semi final 4-0 against Limerick champions UL.
The final saw them pitted against Tipperary champions Country Club and again Moyvane had a dream start by winning the first 3 games, Niamh Flaherty won her singles 21-12; 21-11 and in the mens singles Timmy Noonan did likewise but this was a thrilling 3 set encounter with young Noonan coming through on the tie break third set; 19-21; 21- 19; 22-20.
But the Premier County side fought back to take the next 2 games, the mens doubles and the 1st mixed tie to make the scoreline 3-2 but the Moyvane second mixed pairing of Francine Collins and Timmy Noonan won title number 2 for Moyvane when winning in 2 sets 21-15; 21-15.
Moyvane; Niamh Flaherty, Helen Brown, Fran Collins (capt) Carmel Hudson, Timmy Noonan,James Sheehan,John Mulvihill, Chris McCarthy.
In their Grade G (division 4) competition the Moyvane team continued their 4-0 winning semi final trend, this time against the Cork champions Carrigtwohill and this win pitted them against Templemore the Tipperary champions.
The Premier County side certainly put it up to the Kerry champions from the very start by winning both singles encounters but the Kerry ladies doubles pairing of Michelle Corridon and Denise Collins steadied the Moyvane ship when winning their tie in a breath taking 3 set encounter by 16-21; 21- 17;21-19.
Taking a leaf from their ladies book, the Moyvane mens doubles pairing of Timmy Flaherty and team captain Padraig Kearney settled into their task from the start and levelled the tie at 2 games all by winning in two sets 21-14;21-19.
All now depended on the mixed doubles ties and Moyvane’s Denise Collins and Jamie Elliott made it 3-2 for Kerry when winning in 3 sets 14-21; 21-16; 21-9.
Meanwhile the 2nd mixed pairing of Louise Behan and Padraig Kearney were fighting the Moyvane cause and it was they that put the icing on the very large Moyvane plate as they clinched Munster title number 3 on the day for the North Kerry club when winning in 2 sets by 21-17;21-18.
Moyvane; Louise Behan, Michelle Corridan, Denise Collins, Eileen McCarthy, Jamie Elliott, Padraig Kearney (capt), Timmy Flaherty, John Newman.
What an accomplishment this is for Moyvane, unparalled in Munster badminton and they now qualify for All Ireland glory on May 8th at probably a Dublin venue.
Whilst the ecstasy and elation on the day was very evident for Moyvane, lest not forget the other club who was fighting the Kerry cause.
In grade H (division 5) it was Killarney that was representing Kerry and their quarter final opponents were Waterford champions Kilmacthomas.
Rebecca Murphy set the ball rolling for Killarney by taking the ladies singles followed by the ladies doubles pairing of Elaina Galvin and Jessica Galvin . Diam Fitzgerald kept the Killarney flag by taking the mens singles and Jessica Galvin and Daniel O’Connor won at first mixed to give the Kerry side a deserved 4-2 victory.
The semi final saw another Kerry v Cork confrontation with St. Marys wearing the Rebels colours. This was so close for the Kerry champions as they again won the ladies singles and ladies doubles followed by a good win at first mixed but, unfortunately, that is as good as it got for Killarney as St. Marys fought back to secure a 4-3 win and later they went on to win the Munster crown. It was that near a perfect day for Kerry Badminton.
Killarney; Rebecca Murphy, Jessica Galvin, Elaina Galvin, Diam Fitzgerald (capt), Daniel O’Connor, Colm Hickey, Michael Shannon.
ANNASCAUL TOURNAMENT
The final club tournament to be played on Kerry soil for the 2015-2016 season will be played on Sunday next and that is the annual Annascaul Club tournament and that is to be played in the local Community Centre. Annascaul will cater for all players from division 2 to 5 with times as follows; Div 5 at 12 noon; division 4 at 2.30; division 2 and 3 combined at 4 pm.
If interested in taking part please contact your club secretary by this Thursday.
