Victory for Nicholas in Leinster Open

The victor sports sponsored Leinster Junior Open under-15 Championship on Saturday & Sunday last attracted the top Irish players from all four provinces.  Taghmon star Nicholas Murphy was hoping to build on recent fine performances, most notably in the Ulster Open where he picked up a silver medal in the boy’s singles.  Having received a bye in his opening round he faced Mark Brady in the 2nd round and the Wexford player was quickly out of the blocks and progressed to the quarter finals after a 21/6, 21/12 victory.  In the quarter finals it was the turn of the Sligo player Conor Scalon to depart the competition with Murphy always in control and winning comfortably 21/9, 21/10.  Nicholas now faced the 3rd seed and doubles partner Mathew Steele from Lisburn in Sunday morning semi-final.  Any worries regarding nerves was soon dispelled as Murphy quickly settled to the task and in a game that featured some extremely very long rallies, the more clever use of the court space by the Leinster player meant he progressed to the final 21/11, 21/11.  The semi-final success pitted Murphy against the top seed and title favourite Danny Keown (Sligo).  Once again Murphy started in confident fashion and his court speed & shuttle placement had Keown in all sort of difficulties in the opening game as the Wexford player took the set 21/17.  Keown hadn’t won several titles however without being of strong character and the Connacht player fought back and looked to have weathered the storm when he won the 2nd set 21/14. The final set was great viewing for the spectators with Murphy slightly ahead at the change of ends 11-9, but Keown soon levelled the score at 11-11. Murphy however was not to be denied as once again he was to gain the upper hand as he went on to take the title 21-12 and in the process win his most significant title to-date.

Nicholas and partner Mathew Steele made the semi-finals of the boy’s doubles before losing narrowly in three trilling sets to the eventual winners Danny Keown and Conor Scanlon 2 1/16, 17/21, 21/18.

Nicholas also made Sunday’s semi-final in the mixed doubles with partner Fionnula McCourt.   The Wexford/Louth pairing were impressive 21/12, 21/13 victors over Janie Fahey & Niall Leahy and 21/9, 21/10 winners against Ryan Getty & Rachel Darragh.  In the semi-final they faced the top Ulster pairing of Ryan Stewart and Alannah Stephenson and despite a tremendous effort from Murphy & McCourt they lost a trilling 3 setter 17/21, 21/8, 21/17.

Also participating in the championship was Karen Butler who overcame Moya Ryan in three sets 21/10, 17/21, 21/16 in her opening girl’s singles game, but the Davidstown player lost out in the quarter-final to the 2nd seed Keady Smith 21/13, 21/11.

A much better performance from Butler in the girl’s doubles where she and Fionnula McCourt qualified for the final before losing to the top seeds Keady Smith & Alannah Stephenson 21/6, 21/15.