What an action packed week of Badminton last week proved to be with Munster championships and the Kerry schools played in Killarney and the Kerry league finals played in Tralee.As mentioned Killarney was the venue for the Munster senior 2 and graduates championships which were played in the local 8 court sports venue on Sunday last.

For some reason the entries were down on other years but from a Graduate championships viewpoint the Kerry contestants did not care a whit as the players from the Kingdom contested all five finals and were successful in no less than three.

The ladies doubles final graduate was a most exciting 3 set encounter which saw Killarney’s Samantha Hayes and Marion McSweeney take on Waterford’s Natalie Brown and Rachel Walsh.

The first set was a close hard fought encounter which saw the Kerry girls come home on the tie break by 22-20. It was all Waterford in the second set as they forged into a 13-5 lead but the never say die Kerry girls never threw in the towel and came within a few points of the leaders but it was Waterford who finished the better and won the set by 21-17.

Were the Kerry girls under pressure-not a bit. Showing great resolve and courage they dug into their task and were always in command and won the set and the Munster gold medals by 21-9 in that third and final set.

Despite entries from both Cork and Waterford in the mens doubles championships the Munster final turned out to be an all Moyvane confrontation which saw Timmy Duggan and Donie Enright take on Donnacha Moloney and Timmy Noonan.

This final was a classic encounter of four players who knew each others play so well but it was the Duggan/Enright partnership who came out on top by 21-15; 21-11.

The third Kerry title won on the day was the mens singles decider and despite a total entry of 11 players from all over Munster this also proved to be another all Kerry decider.

The brave Donnacha Moloney from Moyvane who contested his second Munster final of the day came up against his North Kerry neighbour, Listowel’s James Leane.

The first set in this saw Leane take an early lead but Moloney fought all the way but the set went to Leane by 21-16. The second set saw Moloney fight all the way with the sides level on several occasions and in a score for score battle they tied at 20 each and at 21 each but those two vital tie break points were secured by Leane as he took the set and title by 23-21.

Thus, Leane retained this title for Kerry as he has followed in the footsteps of Moyvane’s Michael O’Connor who captured this title for Kerry 12 months ago..

The two remaining Graduate finals were the ladies singles and the mixed doubles and Killarney’s Sandra O’Connor was involved in both of these deciders. Whilst she lost both she did go home with 2 Munster silver medals on the day. The singles saw her fall to Waterford’s Rachel Walsh by 21-15; 21-15.

In the mixed decider playing with Waterford’s Gavin Dunford they were opposed by another Waterford pairing, Natalie Brown and Greiville Madden who captured the title by 21-13; 21-16

In the senior 2 championships Moyvane’s Elaine Hudson was the only Kerry finalist on the day and she lost out in 2 sets to Corks Lucy Kearns 21-19; 21-13.

Overall it proved to be a fruitful day for Kerry Badminton.

One of the games of the day was the ladies senior 2 semi final which saw Kerry’s Maeve Twomey and Elaine Hudson just lose out in a classic 3 set encounter.

Kerry County Championships;

The action returns to the Killarney Sports Centre on Friday evening next where the first rounds of the CPC.IE sponsored Kerry County Championships will be played out.

No matter the sport, it is the ambition of all players to win a County title and in this respect, the sport of Badminton is no exception.
Titles up for grabs on Friday night next will be the singles crowns for both ladies and gents in divisions 1,3 and 5 and a large entry is expected from throughout the County. Play will commence at 7.45 and all players are requested to check in by 7.30 so that the first rounds can commence on time.

LADIES AND MENS LEAGUES FINALS

The Ladies and mens leagues for divisions 3&4, which commenced last October, were completed on Wednesday last in the Presentation Gym Tralee.

The four defending champions qualified once again to defend their titles, and extraordinary enough , all four just did that with 3 titles going to Moyvane and the ladies division 4 title once again going to Ballyheigue.

Division 4 Ladies final, sponsored by Speedy’s Bar, Moyvane.

Ballyheigue 4; Killarney 1

After capturing this title last year the Ballyheigue ladies were on top of their game and went all out to retain their crown. The match of the night in this final was the second ladies where the Killarney cousins, Elaine and Jessica Galvin, who both were playing up from Division 5, showed great fire and spirit to win a thrilling 3 set match but in the overall context the power and experience of the champions told its own story.

Ballyheigue; Siobhan Colbert, Linda Burke, Paula O’Sullivan, Sara Leahy; Killarney; Maria O’Connor, Hylda Harman, Elaine Galvin, Jessica Galvin

Division 4 Mens final, sponsored by Agro Auto Parts, Tralee/Listowel

Moyvane; 4 Annascaul ”

Playing in their first div. 4 final the youthful Annascaul side put up a brave battling performance before going down 4-2 to the defending champions.Indeed 2 of the games that went the Moyvane way had to go to the 3rd set for decision and 4 of the sets overall had to be decided on the tie break and all went to Moyvane.

Moyvane; Jamie Elliott,Paudie Kearney, Timmy Flaherty, Felix Reali; Annascaul; Brendan McGovern, Joe Kenneddy, Alan Falvey, Aidan Evans

Division 3 Mens final, sponsored by Agro Auto Parts, Tralee/Listowel

Moyvane 4; Killarney 0

In a repeat of last years final, the champions were always in command despite a brave battle from a gallant Killarney side. Game number 1 was a thrilling 3 setter with Killarney just going down by 21-19 and both sets of the fourth tie had to be decided on the tie break.

Moyvane; James Sheehan, John Mulvihill, Timmy Noonan, Timmy Hanrahan; Killarney; Danny Cronin, Kieron Crehan, Brendan Cassidy,Ger O’Connor

Division 3 Ladies final, sponsored by Speedy’s Bar, Moyvane

Moyvane 4; Killarney 2

This was the match of the night and was a close hard fought battle. Entering the final game Moyvane were leading 3-2 but the sides were level on sets, 6 each, so who ever would win would take the spoils.Killarney won the first set but the second set was a cracker which saw the defending champions win on the tie break; 24-22. It was all to play for in set number 3 and on the score of 21-17 the honours went to Moyvane’s Carmel Hudson and Fran Collins.

Moyvane; Helen Brown, Fran Collins, Carmel Hudson, Jeanelle Griffin. Killarney; Sam Hayes, Marion McSweeney,Sandra O’Connor, Siobhan O’Donoghue

KERRY SCHOOLS FINALS

The Kerry schools badminton programme took place at the Killarney sports centre on Tuesday last, January 12th and what a mammoth days Badminton it proved to be with no less than 27 teams competing.

Twelve different schools from around the County participated with four new schools this year,namely Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai Tra Li, CBS The Green Tralee, Mercy Mounthawk Tralee and Presentation Milltown.

The programme took over six hours to complete in what was a great days Badminton for Kerry and an equally great day for all the schools who took part .

Results as follows;

Girls U14 Winners Presentation Listowel

Eva Browne, Hannah Healy,Maggie Beth -Boland,Ava Grimes

2nd place Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai Tra Li

Valerie Guiney,Grace Guiney,Saidbh O’Callaghan Leahy,Ciara Dunne

3rd place St. Brigids Presentation Killarney

Michaela Lynch,Abby O’Leary,Shonagh Doody,Emer O’Dowd

Girls U16 Winners Presentation Listowel, Ciara, Hudson,Marie Kennelly,’Niamh Canty,Laura Sheehan

2nd place St. Brigids Presentation Killarney

Sonia Smith,Fiona Galvin,Leah McMonagle,Orlaith Tangney

3rd place Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne

Deirbhile Ni Shithigh,Katelyn Reid,Nicole Lewis,Jenna Feirtear

Girls U19 Winners St. Brigids Presentation Killarney

Elaina Galvin,Jessica Galvin,Rebecca Murphy,Soracha McCloskey

2nd place Presentation Castleisland

Eimear Horgan,Rachel O’Connor,Ellen Sheehan,Mary O’Connor

3rd place Presentation Listowel

Jana Finucane,Rebecca Mason,Amy O’Connor,Aoife Murphy

Boys U14 Winners CBS The Green Tralee

Seamus Bradley,Sean Kennedy,Kevin Griffin,David Smith

2nd place Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne

Dylan O Geibheannaigh,Seamus Mac an Ridire,Sean Murchan,Mikey O Brosnachain

3rd place Tarbert Comprehensive

Eamon O’Connor,Greg Horan,Thomas O’Connor,Conor Hogan

Boys U16 Winners Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne

Killian O Failbhe,Gearoid O Leidhinn,Colm O Muircheartaigh,Conn O Riagain

2nd place Castleisland Community College

Kevin Keane,Josh Horan,DJ Fealey,Mark O’Donoghue

3rd place St. Michael’s College Listowel

Micheal Kennedy,Sean Keane,Aaron Slemon,Seamus O’Sullivan

Boys U19 Winners Tarbert Comprehensive

Cian Liston,Liam Greaney,Andrew Dai,Micheal Collins

2nd place Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne

Brian O Conchuir,Joe O Cinneide,Niall O Geibheannaigh,Gavin MacCarthaigh

3rd place Castleisland Community College

Jonathan Keane,James Beazley,David Browne,Gary Horan