By Colm Griffin

Munster Senior 1 / Junior Championships 

A large crowd made their way to Killarney last Sunday (Jan 20th) for the Munster Singles, Doubles and Mixed Championships for Grade C and D players which in Kerry terms relates largely to division 1 and 2 players.

Ten titles were on offer on the day and Kerry got off to a great start in the Senior singles with Edel Broderick (Kingdom – Castleisland) reaching the ladies final going down in three sets to Caroline Hayes (Cork) 21-17, 7-21, 15-21.

Broderick and Hayes however teamed up to capture the ladies senior ladies doubles title beating Aisling Chapman and Natalie Herina Ng 21-16, 21-16 in the final.

In the Mens Senior Singles Tom Bourke (Kingdom – Castleisland) went down in three sets at the semi final stage to Azhar Syed 17 – 21, 21 – 19,10 – 21. Syed later went on to capture the title.

The junior championships had a much larger entry field and Kerry players performed exceptionally well.

In the singles Kerry had double success. Sinead Galvin (Killarney) captured the Ladies singles title in a thrilling final against Patricia Herlihy 21-13, 27-25.

Meanwhile in the Men’s singles Fergal Hannon (Listowel) prevailed to take the title beating Chris Quil in three sets 21-9, 7-21, 21-19.

Hannon also performed with great distinction in the men’s junior double championships where he teamed up with clubmate Paddy Redmond to get to the final. Unfortunately they eventually lost out to Paul Kingston and Tayyab Shahzad in three set 21-18, 14-21, 21-23.

The ladies junior doubles final was to feature 3 Kerry players with the All-Kerry pairing of Elaine Hudson (Moyvane) and Ruth Concannon (Kingdom – Castleisland) going down in a three set final to Maeve Twomey (Killarney) and Lorraine Whelton. The score was 16-21, 21-9, 21-16.

Elaine Hudson was to go on to have better luck in the Mixed championship however where she teamed up with Ian Cliffe. They won the final against Niamh O Driscoll and Stephen Prendergast 21-13, 21-9.

Ballyheigue Tournament 

On the same day Killarney hosted the Seniors and Juniors the annual Ballyheigue tournament catered for Kerry players who compete in Div 3, Div 4 and Div 5.

A large number of entries in the Purchase.ie sponsored Division 5 competition for the new Mark Reidy Perpetual Trophy eventually saw the numbers whittle down to the final few. Ann Leahy (Ballyheigue) teamed up with Danielle Robinson (Causeway) to capture the ladies title.

They defeated Cindy Walsh (Listowel) and Regina Curtis (Causeway) in the final 21-7, 21–10. Meanwhile another Causeway and Ballyheighue combination, Pauric Murray (Causeway) and Alan O Halloran (Ballyheigue) beat Greg Horan (Listowel) and Mike Donovan (Annascaul) 21-14, 21-13 to capture the Men’s title. A thrilling 3 set mixed final was to follow with Murray and Leahy coming out on top just about 21-16, 13-21, 24-22.

The plate final saw Mike Walsh (Ballybunion) and Cindy Chen (Ballyheigue) defeat Adrian Kenny (Ballyheigue) and Margaret Boyle (Listowel)

In AOH Valeting sponsored Division 4 competition Padraig Barrett (Causeway) and Mike O Shea (Killarney) overcame Tom Rice (Listowel) and Patrick O Halloran (Ballyheigue) 21 -8, 21 – 9 in the men’s final and Josie Gilbert (Ballyheigue) and Mairead O Connell (Kingdom – Castleisland) prevailed in the ladies competition which was played on a round robin format.

In the final Gilbert teamed up with Barrett and defeated O Shea and O Connell in two sets 21-12, 21-12. Paul Hayes (Listowel) and Siobhan Colbert (Ballyheigue) won the plate event.

Both the Mens and Ladies events in the Ballyheigue Castle Golf Club sponsored division 3 competition were played on a round robin format.

Paula O Sullivan (Ballyheigue) and Majella Griffin (Moyvane) emerged from the ladies section and Aidan Evans (Annascaul) and Jebin Johnston (Kingdom -Castleisland) came through the Men’s section. The mixed final saw Evans and Griffin combine to defeat Johnston and O’Sullivan 21-15, 21-14.

Kerry Juvenile Doubles Championships

192 players took part in the Kerry juvenile doubles championships in Killarney on Saturday (Jan 19th)

Final Results

U11 Girls Nicole Vesko and Kate Nolan Listowel defeated Eimear Bradley and Kate Harmon Castleisland 15/2, 15/3

U13 Girls Bella Harmon and Jessica O’Loughlin Castleisland defeated Maria Tritschler and Fiona O’Connor Listowel 21/14, 21/9

U15 Girls Deina Vesko and Madison Carter Listowel defeated Ava Mackay and Sara Hayes Listowel 21/7, 21/9

U17 Girls Adele O’Brien and Laura O’Connor Killarney defeated Shonagh Doody and Ailbhe Gammel Killarney 22/24, 21/10, 21/15

U11 Boys Ben McElligott and Oscar McElligott Listowel defeated Darius McCormack Annascaul and James Burke Castleisland 15/6, 15/6

U13 Boys Ruadhan Donovan Annascaul and Gearoid O’Sullivan Listowel defeated Jack Lyne Annascaul and Ayrton Burke Castleisland 21/13, 21/5

U15 Boys Ethan Tritschler and Tomas O’Sullivan Listowel defeated Evan McCarthy and Ryan Newstead Annascaul 21/14, 21/19

U17 Boys Jack McElligott and Oisin Moloney Listowel defeated Cathal Donovan and Michael Casey Annascaul 21/15, 21/10

Upcoming Events  

Thursday Jan 24th Munster Schools Finals – University of Limerick

Friday Jan 25th  Div 1, 3 & 5 Kerry Singles Championships – Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

Sunday Jan 27th Munster Juvenile Inter County Championships Round 1 – University of Limerick

Friday Feb 1st Kerry Badminton Association Annual Table Quiz – O’Donnells Bar, Tralee