4 Titles Go 4 Directions at Singles Championships

Kerry Division 2 and Division 4 County Singles Championships.

Killarney was the badminton focal point last Friday night as the CPC.ie sponsored final four singles titles of the season where played out in the senior Ladies and Men’s Championships.

With four titles on offer it was nice to see four different clubs celebrating at the end of the night as the titles were evenly spread across the geographic region of Kerry.

In the Division 2 Ladies singles Saorcha Fitzgerald (Moyvane) overcame clubmate Helen Browne in the semi-final whilst Maeve Twomey (Killarney) overcame the challenge of Amanda Carmody (Moyvane). The final itself was a good contest with some great rallies but Twomey eventually prevailed 21-16, 21-18. Fittingly the prize on offer for the winner was the Peggy Horan Perpetual Cup. Peggy who is and continues to be a great stalwart of Kerry badminton for many years was on hand to present the cup to Maeve who happens to be her niece which made for a lovely family moment in the hall.

In the Division 2 singles for Men Brendan McGovern (Annascaul) had to overcome two very tough three set battles to reach the final. He first beat Niall O Brien (Killarney) 23-21, 20-22, 21-12. He then overcame the challenge of Noel Gilbride (Ballyheigue) 21-17, 15-21, 21-16. On the other side of the draw Timmy Noonan (Moyvane) overcame James McDonnell and then Cathal Donovan (Annascaul) in three sets 20-22, 21-17, 21-17. Although Noonan was able to ensure the final was not an all Annascaul affair he was unable to win it. McGovern took it in two close sets 21-17, 21-19.

In the Ladies Division 4 Championships Valerie Guiney (Listowel) overcame Josie Gilbert (Ballyheigue) and Adele O Brien (Killarney) to reach the final while on the other side Breda Lane (Moyvane) had to overcome two clubmates Aoife Bowler first and then Marie Kennelly in a tough three set battle. The final was a good contest but Guiney was always on top and eventually took the title 21-16, 21-16.

The Men’s Division 4 Championships had by far the largest field on the night and turned out to be a very competitive event. Kevin O Mahony (Ballyheigue) has been knocking on the door of a county title for a few years now but he certainly didn’t have an easy run of it in order to get to the final. He first overcame Padraig Barrett (Causeway) before defeating the new Division 5 singles champion Oisin Moloney (Listowel). Then he defeated the Division 3 finalist Jack McElligott (Listowel). Meanwhile Paul Hayes (Listowel) overcame Colm Griffin (Ballyheigue) and Niall O Hanlon (Causeway) before facing a tough challenge from clubmate Mike Riordan in the semi-final but he prevailed in all games in two sets.  At 1 set up and 19-17 up in the second set things looked very good for Hayes in the final. However O Mahony showed great composure and nerves of steel to take the set 22-20 before going on the win the title in three sets 16-21, 22-20, 21-17.

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