Leinster Senior Close Championship

Laura Lynch

For the 1st time since the 1980’s there was a Wexford winner in the Leinster Close Ladies Singles Championship with seventeen year old Laura Lynch from the New Ross B.C. winning the provincial title.  A beaten finalist in 2005 at just fifteen years of age the New Ross player went one better this time around with an exciting 2 sets to 1 victory over Norma McIntyre (KADCA B.C.).  It’s Laura’s 1^st major singles victory outside of Wexford since she won the Malta under-19 championship in October 2005.  Laura had signalled her intentions early in the competition when she had an impressive 21/6, 21/15 victory over the Leinster inter-provincial player Lorraine Hill from Portarlington  B.C. in the quarter finals.  The victory secured a semi-final match against the un-seeded Kirsty Kelly (Mt.Pleasant B.C.).  Kirsty had eliminated Wexford’s other representative in the competition Laura Butler (Davidstown B.C.) in her quarter final.  In the semi-final however Kirsty found it difficult to cope with the all-round play of the 2^nd seed and Lynch won in convincing fashion 21/14, 21/12.  In the final Laura was aware that nothing short of her semi-final performance or better would be sufficient to take the title.  Her opponent Norma McIntyre had over-whelmed the number 1 seed Ciara Brady (Dublin) 21/5, 21/9 in her semi-final and in previous encounters she had never lost a championship game to the Wexford player.  With a provincial title at stake it meant top class badminton was on show for unfortunately a very small attendance.  Laura managed to take a close 1st set 21/18, but McIntyre fought back to take the 2nd set 21/14 and force the match into a 3^rd and deciding set.  Twice in the final set it looked as if the KADCA star would break away when she lead 3/0 and 11/8, but at each stage the Wexford player fought back and with the scores tied a 15/15 it was Lynch who finished the stronger and forged ahead to win the set and title 21/16.

Wexford had a 2^nd player in the finals with Lincoln Nelson (Eagles) and Siobhan Grehan (Mt. Pleasant) qualifying for the mixed doubles decider.  Nelson and Grehan started as favourites in this game, but were surprisingly beaten in straight sets 21/16, 21/17 by Lorraine Hill and Mark Cobbe from Portarlington B.C., will Hill in particular in fine form.

Other Wexford players playing at the championship included Laura Butler (Davidstown, B.C.) who lost in the quarter finals of the ladies singles 21/17, 21/13 to Kirsty Kelly.  Laura was also eliminated at the same stage of both the doubles and mixed doubles events.  In the doubles she and partner Ciara Brady (Dublin) were well beaten 21/8, 21/9 by the eventual winners Pauline and Fiona Glennon (Naas B.C.) and in the mixed doubles herself and Luke Moore were defeated by Siobhan Grehan and Lincoln Nelson 21/9, 21/13.

Laura Lynch and Norma McIntyre also lost in the doubles quarter-finals where they were below their best when going down in three sets 17/21, 21/16, 13/21 to Lucy Corcoran and Kirsty Kelly.

In the men’s singles Ross McNiven from the Eagles B.C. made the quarter finals after a fine 21/13, 21/19 victory over Luke Moore (Dublin) and the Eagles player was extremely unlucky to lose the quarter final against Joseph O’Flarthery (Ailsbury, Dublin) 22/20, 17/21, 21/17.   Ross and his doubles partner Mark Cobbe were also defeated in the quarter finals of the men’s doubles, losing 21-10, 21-10 to the top seeds Mark Topping and Joe Ledwidge.

By their own high standards Ross and partner Dawn Cobbe were not at their best in the mixed doubles and were eliminated rather easily by Norma McIntyre and Eoin Marron in straight sets 21/11, 21/14 in their opening game.

Also competing in the men’s singles was Liam Sinnott (Eagles) and he put up a fine performance against the highly rated David Tutty (Dublin) before losing narrowly in three sets 21/17 19/21, 21/18.

Successful Wexford Squad visit to Finland

After a successful exchange last year, where the Turku Girls Squad from Finland visited Wexford, this year it was the turn of Wexford to journey to Finland. The squad left for Turku on Wednesday, 13th Feb and returned on Sunday, 17th Feb. Pride was at stake here, given that the Turku squad had defeated Wexford at home last year! 

The Wexford League under-19 team managed to turn the tables on their Finnish counterparts from the Turku District with a surprising, but impressive 10-5 victory in Raisso, Finland.   It was a remarkable turnaround in fortune for the Wexford side who just nine months previously had been on the receiving end of a similar score line in Wexford. 

It was expected that the talented and technically astute Finnish side would prove that much more difficult to overcome on home soil, but the Wexford girls had other ideas.   With regular training sessions taking since last October it was a much fitter and better prepared team that made the long trip to Finland to renew rivalry.

The venue for the game was the nine court Kertulla Sports Complex in Raisso.  As part of the opening ceremony both teams were welcomed by Kristina Dauskanen from the Finnish Badminton Federation and local dignitaries from Kaisso.

The ten singles matches were played first in reverse order and with the benefit of the previous game in April the Wexford management knew that a much better return would be required than the three games won in Ramsgrange.

Wexford got a tonic start when thirteen year old Clodagh Kent and Ciara Dunne won matches number nine and ten.  Both were secured the hard way and both games needed a 3rd set to determine the winner.  Clodagh won her opening games 21/14 but her opponent Milla Antilla fought back to take the 2nd set 21/19.  The 3rd set was also close, but the Wexford player secured the point on on a 21/18 score line. 

Meanwhile her club partner Ciara Dunne won her opening set against Enni Tamminen 21/12, but again the Turku player showed good resilience to take the next set 23/21.  Dunne got her “A” game back on track for the final set and secured Wexford’s 2nd point on a 21/11 score line.

Their then followed a period of Turku dominance with both Aoife Bennett and team captain Marie Kelly losing to Anni Havia and Tuikku Antilla.  Kelly was involved in a real marathon encounter against Antilla, losing by the narrowest of margins 21/13, 19/21, 19/21. 

Bennett put up a gutsy performance in her singles, but found the hard hitting Turku player a difficult opponent and eventually lost 21/12, 21/15. 

In the absence of the injured Eimear Dunne, Clodagh Kent was drafted in for a 2nd singles match and she faced 6th ranked Turku player Tiia Rantalainen.  It was big ask for the young Taghmon star to play up the levels, but she raised her game for the occasion and pushed her opponent all the way despite losing 21/11, 21/18. 

Turku further increased their lead to 4-2 when Aoife Dunne lost her game to Riina Makela 21/19, 21/7. 

It looked even bleaker for the Wexford selection when Turku added the 4th singles with Sauna Mikkola overcoming Elaine Dunne 21/14, 21/17.

Laura Butler steadied the ship with an impressive 21/17, 21/12 victory over Anna Paavola to leave the score at 5-3 to the home side.  Laura Lynch then had a tough opening set in the 2nd singles against Satu Saarre, before held off the challenge to win 21/19, 21/9 to reduce the margin to 5-4. 

Wexford were right back in the encounter when Norma McIntyre levelled the score when winning her encounter against Turku captain Kaisa Aaltonen 21/4, 21/10.

Wexford dominated the level doubles right from the opening game in which Laura Lynch & Norma McIntyre cruised to a straight sets 21/9, 21/14 victory over Kaisa Aaltonen and Sanna Mikkola.  Laura Butler and Elaine Dunne were also impressive in their 21/9, 21/13, victory over Satu Saarre and Anna Paavola. 

Aoife Dunne and Marie Kelly continued the Wexford dominance and were rarely troubled in their 21/8, 21/8 victory over Riina Makela and Tiia Rantalainen. 

Well done to all, both players and officials from Wexford and Turku, who worked tirelessly in training and organising the trip, matches, venues and activities.

This project was supported by the Badminton Ireland Women in Sport Initiative.

(Report & Photos: Pat Lynch)

Raision Open Badminton Championship

It’s not often their is the opportunity to report on Wexford badminton success in Europe, but there was no fewer than three Wexford winners in the Raision Open Badminton Championship held in Raisso, Finland.

The Wexford under-19 squad were in Finland to take on the local Turku District side in a representative match and took the opportunity to enter the local open badminton championship.  In the event the Wexford players lined up against some of the best Finnish talent, plus entries from Denmark and Sweden.

Wexford had two pairings in the A-Section with Laura Lynch/Norma McIntyre and Laura Butler/Elaine Dunne.  Both Wexford partnerships received a bye in the opening round and then faced seeded opposition in round 2. 

Butler & Dunne were first on court against the number one seeds  Anne Saarinen and Leena Kaskimäki from Finland.  The 1st set was ace for ace with the Wexford pairing unlucky to lose out 26/24.  The loss of the set was a body blow to the visitors however and they never reached the same level of performance in the 2nd  set which had the number one seeds winning it comfortably 21/14.

Wexford hopes now rested on the Leinster and Irish under-23 pairing of Laura Lynch and Norma McIntyre.  They also had a tough opening encounter against the former Finnish international Kristina Danskanen and under-age prodigy Jenny Nystrom.  The Finland pairing were seeded three and again the 1st set was extremely close, but this time the Wexford pairing managed to emerge on the correct side of a 26-24 score-line.  Winning the set spurred on the Wexford girls who played some excellent badminton in the 2nd to eliminate the 3rd seeds 21-9. 

In the semi-final they faced surprise packets Satu Saare and Anna Paavola.  The local girls had eliminated the number 2 seeds in the quarter-finals, but the Wexford pair started well and took the 1st set comfortably 21/11.  They then relaxed somewhat and it was the Finnish pair who led at the half way point of the 2nd set 11/9.  From then on however it was the Wexford pair who dominated and they made it through to the final and a chance to play on the show court by virtue of a 21/14 victory. 

In the final they again faced an unseeded pairing in Hilja Korhonen and Kaisa Aaltonen.  Korhonen and Aaltonen had eliminated the top seeds Saarinen and Kaskimäki in the semi-final and were dangerous opponents for the Wexford girl’s.  It all started smoothly however with Lynch and McIntyre in control and they took the opening set 21/12, but were more pressure in the 2nd where the score was tied at 20/20, before one last effort from the Wexford girl’s saw them take the title 22/20.

There was also a Wexford victory in the C-grade women’s doubles where both Wexford pairing made it through to meet in the final.  Marie Kelly and Aoife Bennett started slight favorites against their young opponents Clodagh Kent and Ciara Dunne, but it was the underdogs who took the opening set 21/17.  Kelly and Bennett hit back to win the 2nd 23/21 and tie the match at one set all.  The 3rd set was equally close, but strangely it was the younger pair of Kent/Dunne who kept their concentration the better to win the title by virtue of a 22/20 score line.

It turned into an excellent tournament for Clodagh Kent who also qualified for the ladies singles final, where she faced local favorite Mari Mattila.  The Taghmon star won her 2nd title in a close encounter 21/18, 21/18.

An unlucky loser in the women’s A singles was Norma McIntyre who lost out narrowly to Jenny Nystrom 21/17, 11/21, 21/15 in a triller.

Other Wexford had Laura Lynch losing in the quarter finals of the Women’s singles to eventual winner Jenny Nystrom 21/10,16/21, 21/8.  Laura Butler was defeated in her opening game against Leena Kaskimaki 21/9, 21/9.  Also losing out in her opening game was Elaine Dunne who went out to Satu Saare 21/9, 21/12.

In grade B women’s singles Aoife Dunne was beaten in the quarter finals 21/11, 21/8 by Anna Paavola.  In the Women’s doubles grade B Aoife Dunne and Milla Anttila were eliminated 21/15, 21/18 by Tiina Tiainen and Pauliina Vaskikari.

In the grade C women’s singles Marie Kelly made the semi-finals before losing 22/20, 21/15 to Anu Heino.

Ciara Dunne also made the semi-finals of the grade D women’s singles, but lost out to Maria Mattila 21/19,19/21, 21/17.

County Juvenile Round Robin

A massive total of 280 Games were played in the annual round robin “B” tournament held in Ramsgrange Community School. Play commenced at 10 a.m. and continued throughout the day until 6.30p.m. that evening with participants from  Taghmon, Shelburne, Terrerath, Monaseed, Clonard, Clonroche and New Ross taking part. 

With the emphasis on participation rather than winning all who took part received a gold medal for their play in the various singles and doubles competitions.  County Underage Officer Nicholas Murphy was a busy man on the day, but in his closing speech he thanked all those who had assisted him in any way and who had helped to make the event a success for the young players.

U11-Boys

U11-Girls

U15-Boys

U15-Girls

Leinster Juvenile Close Championships

With barely time to recover from the Christmas festivities Wexford under-age stars headed to the Badminton Centre in Terenure for the Leinster Juvenile Provincial close championships.  It proved to be well worth the effort however with model county players featuring in eight finals and taking home the winners trophies in five.  Star Wexford performer at the championship was Taghmon’s Nicholas Murphy who had a hat-trick of titles in the under-13 boy’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.  Apart from his hat-trick of titles it was also a special day for Nicholas as he got to meet his badminton idol Scott Evans who is the Irish number one and now almost guaranteed a place at the Beijing Olympics.

Under-13 Boy’s Singles

Dublin’s Ian Patterson was the top seed in the boy’s under-13 singles with Wexford’s Nicholas Murphy seeded number 2.  Patterson had narrowly defeated the Taghmon star in the Connaught final earlier in the year and if the seeding committee were correct the doubles partnership would meet in the final on Saturday afternoon.   Nicholas’s 1st test was in the quarter final where he faced Leinster Squad member Robbie O’Neill (Dublin).  The expected test never materialized however as the Wexford player was seldom troubled and won comfortably 21/8, 21/5.  It was yet another Dublin and Leinster squad player Kevin Doyle who stood between Murphy and a final appearance, but again the young Taghmon player took complete control and overwhelmed his Leinster colleague 21/5, 21/0.  Ian Patterson had also safely negotiated his was to the final and it was an opportunity for the Wexford player to reverse that Connaught final defeat.  The final proved to be a fine game of badminton between the top two in Leinster but the more consistent and determined Murphy did manage to gain revenge for the loss in Galway by winning 21/10, 21/18 to secure the first of his three titles. 

Under-13 Boy’s Doubles

Nicholas Murphy and his partner Ian Patterson were the top seeds and title favourites for the boy’s under-13 doubles and they justified the favouritism tag with a string of victories over their provincial colleagues.  The top seeds began with a 30/13 victory over James Loh and Kevin Conor-Doyle.  This was followed up with a equally impressive 30/10 victory over Donal O’Leary and David Kiernan.  Their final game was against the unbeaten Niall Reynolds and Connor Moloney, but a 30/16 success for the favourites was enough to secure them the title and a 2nd winners’ trophy for Nicholas.  

Under-13 Mixed Doubles

With Nicholas’s normal mixed doubles partner Karen Butler (Davidstown) forced to withdraw from the event due to illness Nicholas teamed up with Rachel Boyle from (Dublin).  It was a close opening match for the new pairing as they struggled somewhat to get to know each others game.  They eventually saw off the challenge of Connor Moloney and Aoife Keyes 30/22 and from then on it was plain sailing to the final as they overcame Emma Doherty and David Kiernan 30/10 and Kate Frost and Kevin Doyle by the same margin.  The final was a meeting against the top seeds Ian Patterson and Fionnuala McCourt.  The new pairing were now blending well however and they upset the seeding to take the title 21/10, 21/13 and secure a remarkable treble for the Taghmon player.

Under-15 Girl’s Singles

What a game the final of the girl’s under-15 singles turned out to be between Clodagh Kent (Taghmon) and number one seed Michelle McCourt (Louth).  A marathon 1st set was won by McCourt 25/23, but the Wexford player showed good courage and nerves to take the 2nd set 21/19 and force the match into a 3rd deciding set.  It was ace for ace between the two players before the top seed McCourt eventually saw off the tenacious and unlucky Wexford player 27/25.  Clodagh had earlier defeated Emma Frost (Dublin) 21/13, 21/12 in her opening match.  In the quarter finals she overcame another Dublin player Clodagh McHale 21/13, 21/15.  It was a close 1st set in the semi-final against the number 2 seed Jane Killock (Dublin), before the Wexford player got on top to take it 25/23 and having taken the set the Wexford player went to take the 2nd set 21/13 to secure her place in the final.

Also playing the singles was Ciara Dunne (Taghmon), but the Charity division five and six title holder lost her opening game 22/20, 17/21, 21/19 to Mairead Fanning.  The early exit for the Taghmon player meant qualification for the plate event and a 21/16, 21/9 victory in the plate final over Emma Frost was at least a consolation prize for the Wexford player.

Under-15 Girls Doubles

The Taghmon pairing of Clodagh Kent & Ciara Dunne made the semi-final before losing in three sets 21/16, 19/21, 23/25 to Mairead Fanning and Jill Cowman.

Under-15 Mixed Doubles

Another semi-final placing for Clodagh Kent and her Louth partner Liam O’Leary in this event and yet another narrow three sets loss to Dublin opposition.  This time It was David Marron and Jane Killock who eliminated the Wexford player and her partner 15/21, 21/17, 18/21. 

Under 17

Laura Butler (Davidstown) has been dogged with injuries over the past few months, but still the talented Davidstown player made all three finals in the under-17 category.  Laura was seeded number 2 in the girl’s singles and was not unduly troubled on her way to a semi-final meeting against her under-17 Irish team mate Crona Rooney.  The Wexford girl would have been quietly confident going into this match, but with a place in the provincial final at stake nothing could be taken for granted.  Both girl’s played some fine badminton, with Laura just shading the match in straight sets 21/18, 21/16.  Laura faced the number one seed Kirsty Kelly (Dublin) in the final.   Kelly had already beaten Laura in their previous two encounters and would have been the favourite to take the title.  Laura was now injury free however and back to full training and with both girl’s knowing each others game so well it would be a tough match to call.  Laura took control of the 1st set and won 21/14, but Kelly regained her confidence to take the 2nd 21/15.  The 3rd and deciding set was a ding dong battle with the match swinging backwards and forwards in favour of each player.  It was Laura however who kept her nerve to win an enthralling encounter 23/21.

Laura was also in the girl’s doubles and mixed doubles finals, but had to settle for runner-up spot in both of these.  In the absence of her usual partner Ciara Brady, Laura teamed up with Ciara NiMhantain and the new paring did well to make the final and push the top seeds Crona Rooney and Kirtsy Kelly all the way in the decider, before losing 21/19, 14/21, 10/21.

In the mixed doubles it was Laura and Luke Moore against old rivals Crona Rooney and Owen Marron.  Moore and Butler and twice beaten their rivals this year, but this time around it was the turn of Rooney and Marron to come out on top in a close match 21/18, 21/19.

41st Wexford Players Championship

It was a packed Ramsgrange Community Centre for the 41st Wexford’s Players Championship and those lucky to be present were on hand to witness a hat trick of division one titles for Edward Cousins and Siobhan Parle as they show no signs of relinquishing their dominance of the sport within the county. 

For Edward it was an incredible 6th hat-trick in a row since his return from a serious knee injury in the 2002/03 season. A truly remarkable record for the stylish Taghmon player and one that may yet be extended by Edward himself, but unlikely to be ever repeated by anyone else. 

Siobhan Parle achievements during the same period have been almost as impressive as she has dominated ladies badminton in the county and her three victories last weekend has once again consolidated her position as one of the best ever female player to grace the courts in the county.

The division one ladies singles final had Siobhan Parle taking on title favourite Laura Butler.  Butler comfortably took the opening set 21/13, but the former champion fought back to take a close 2nd set 21/18.  The momentum was now with the Taghmon player and Parle was always in control in the 3rd to regain the title she last won in 2006 on a 13/21, 21/18, 21/13 score line.

It was groundhog day all over again in the men’s singles decider with perennial finalist’s Edward Cousins and Liam Sinnott in opposition yet again.  Sinnott has been doing well on the veteran’s circuit, but it was the five times county champion Cousins who took a tough opening set 21/16.  Cousins then dominated the 2nd set to retain his title with a 21/10 victory.

Defending champions Siobhan Parle and Deirdre Kehoe also retained their ladies doubles title with a 21/14, 21/19 victory over Siobhan Ennis and Laura Butler.

The men’s doubles final was the game of the night with Edward Cousins and Philip Walsh eventually seeing off the challenge of Colm Byrne and Alan Carton 21/12, 24/26, 21/17. 

Parle and Cousins won their 3rd title of the night when they overcame the 2nd seeds Philip Walsh and Deirdre Kehoe 21/18, 21/8 in the mixed doubles final.

Play on the night was not just confined to the top division as their was 30 titles down for decision between all six divisions. Star performers in the lower divisions was Thomas Power who secured three titles in division five, but also stepped up a grade to pick up two further titles in division four.  There was also a hat trick for Marie Kelly in division four with victories in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles.  

An injury to Mairead McDaid meant that Siobhan Ennis won the 2nd division title by default, but she was in the final only after coming through a marathon semi-final three set encounter against club colleague Sandra Dunne.

Vincent Mackay had an easier than expected 21/19, 21/13 victory over Sean Sexton in the men’s final. 

This was also the case in the ladies doubles where Siobhan Ennis won her 2nd medal of the night when she and Brideen Lynch defeated Sandra Dunne and Ailish O’Hanlon 21/11, 21/16.

The men’s doubles title went to Sean Sexton and Frankie Morrissey after an exciting 24/22, 15/21, 21/19 victory over Neil Barrett and Vincent Mackay. 

Both Mackay and Lynch won their 2nd title of the night in impressive fashion in the mixed doubles with a 21/15, 21/5 victory over Sean Sexton and Tara Kehoe.

 Tara Kehoe retained her division 3 ladies singles title after a hard earned 21/19, 21/19 victory over Aoife Dunne.

The number one seed Alan Nolan justified his favouritism in the men’s singles with a narrow 21/18, 21/19 over Craig Healy in the men’s decider.

Tara Kehoe won her 2nd title when she and partner Jennifer Sinnott defeated the youthful pairing of Aoife Dunne and Aoife Bennett 21/15, 21/16 in the ladies doubles.

Ray Nash and Pat Redican took the division 3 men’s doubles title in three sets against Alan Nolan and Michael O’Gorman.

Aoife Dunne got some consolation for her singles and doubles losses when she and Alan Nolan won the mixed doubles title with a 18/21, 21/18, 21/19 victory over Ken Furlong and Tara Kehoe.

 Marie Kelly is the division four ladies singles winner after a 21/16, 21/16 victory over Aoife Bennett. 

Thomas Power moved up a division to play in the division four men’s singles grade and was the surprise winner of the event.  He had a 16/21, 21/16, 21/11 victory over the top seed Pat Redican in the semi-final and he secured the title without having  to hit a shuttle when Mark Mullen conceded a walk over. 

Marie Kelly and Aoife Bennett took the ladies doubles title with a two set 21/19, 21/12 victory over Karen O’Keeffe and Helen Butler.

The men’s title was won by Ray Nash and Thomas Power in three sets against Paudie Foran and Eddie Kent.

Nash and Kelly won their 3rd title of the night in the mixed doubles.  Despite losing the 1st set they fought back to overcome Paudie Foran and Deirdre O’Connor in three sets.

 It was youth all the way in the fifth division with under-age star Clodagh Kent winning the division five ladies singles title  and the runner-up going to another under-age star Ciara Dunne. 

Tomas Power won the 3rd of his five titles in the division five men’s singles when he proved too good for the top seed Ray Breen and won comfortably 21/6, 21/12.

Clodagh Kent and Ciara Dunne won the ladies doubles title with a 14/21, 21/13, 21/10 victory over Orla and Ella Sinnott.

Tomas Power and Nicholas Murphy took the men’s doubles title with a 21/17, 21/16 victory over Eddie Cousins and Garvan Kelly. 

Youth was again on show in the division five mixed doubles final where Nicholas Murphy and Ciara Dunne were up against Thomas Power and Aoife Bennett.  It was the latter who took the title in impressive fashion with a 21/15, 21/4 victory over Murphy and Dunne.

The division six ladies singles title was won by Kathleen Daly with a hard earned 21/14, 13/21, 21/16 success over the Charity runner-up Sabrina Duggan.

Sean Whitty won the men’s titles with the runner spot going to Eddie Power. 

Kathleen Daly and Mary Kirwan are the ladies doubles champions after a 21/19, 21/17 defeat of Angela Brennan and Sabrian Duggan.

Last years’ division seven champions Anthony Wadding and Richard Doyle stepped up a grade this season, but it not stop them  winning the division 6 men’s doubles title, with P. O’Byrne and E. Power taking the runner up medals.

It was an all Monaseed final in the mixed doubles which was won by Mary Kirwan and Richard Doyle 21/19, 11/21, 21/18 against club colleagues Anthony Wadding and Kathleen Daly.

Full marks to tournament organizer Eddie Cousins for the efficient running of the event over the past few weeks.