Kerry Juvenile Teams Strike Gold at UL
Munster Inter County Juvenile Championships
Pride of place this week goes to the Kerry Juvenile teams who travelled to the University of Limerick last Sunday (Jan 27th) to take part in the Munster Championships and performed with great distinction.
Each event was played out on a round robin basis and first up U-11 team managed on the day by Donnacha Moloney (Moyvane) and Roly Chute (Listowel) came face to face with a strong Waterford side. After a tough encounter Kerry prevailed 6-4 win. They then faced Tipperary who had won their first game against Clare 9-1. The Kerry youngsters however proved too strong winning impressively 8-2 before completing their programme of matches with a resounding 10-0 defeat of Clare to clinch the Munster title.
The U-13 team managed on the day by Jill Redmond (Listowel) also got off to a great start beating Clare 6-4. Unfortunately, they then came up against a very strong Waterford team would eventually go on to win the title and lost 8-2. The Kerry players however showed great spirit and rallied in final game beating Tipperary 7-3 and finishing runners-up.
Michael Donovan of Annascaul took the reins of the U-15 team on the day and they got of to a good start finishing 5-5 against Tipperary but were 12 aces ahead on countback. Unfortunately, both Clare and Waterford had extremely strong teams at this age group this year and Kerry went down to Clare 9-1 and Waterford 8-2 in their final game.
The Kerry U-17 team were managed by Paddy Redmond (Listowel) and Tony O Donoghue (Moyvane) and also got off to a great start beating Waterford 6-4. When they beat Tipperary 8-2 in the second game they knew they had a great chance of winning the Munster title. Not only did they manage to do it they did so in spectacular fashion with a emphatic 9-1 victory over Clare.
According to Tom McElligott Coaching Secretary of the Kerry Badminton Association “the players in all age groups deserve great credit for the commitment they have shown in training, but the success would not have been possible without the support of the managers, the parents and clubs around the county.”
Both the Kerry U-11 and the U-17 teams will now go on to represent the county and the province at the All Ireland Inter County Championships on April 28th.
The Kerry teams were as follows
KERRY U11 Nicole Vesco Listowel Darina Bourke Milltown Kate Harmon Castleisland Eimear Bradley Castleisland Saoirse McHugh Milltown Ben McElligott Listowel James Bourke Castleisland Michael O Sullivan Listowel Jack Buckley Listowel Aaron Moloney Moyvane KERRY U13 Kate Nolan Listowel Maria Tritschler Listowel Grace McGovern Castleisland Chloe McHugh Milltown Maggie Hickey Killarney Ruadhan Donovan Annascaul Gearoid O Sullivan Listowel Keegan Moloney Moyvane Evan Lemass Killarney Jack Lyne Annascaul KERRY U15 Ava Mackey Listowel Sara Hayes Listowel Jessica O Loughlin Castleisland Grainne Bradley Castleisland Maura Burke Milltown Ethan Tritschler Listowel Tomas O Sullivan Listowel Ayrton Burke Castleisland Evan McCarthy Annauscaul Philip Daly Iveragh KERRY U17 R1 Deina Vesko Listowel Grace Guiney Listowel Madison Carter Listowel Ella Galvin Killarney Sarah Cantillon Ballyheigue Adele O Brien Killarney Christopher O Donoghue Moyvane Cathal Donovan Annascaul Seamus Bradley Castleisland Jack McElligott Listowel Oisin Moloney Listowel