Strong competition at first round of Offaly Juvenile Badminton Doubles
The first round of the Offaly Juvenile Badminton Doubles was played in Clonaslee. A larger than expected number of girls turned out for the morning session, but with great help from the coaches and a few older players, the competition was run off in the allotted time.
Killoughey dominated Division 5 for National School Beginners and Improvers. Emma Caulfield and Caoimhe Condron finished on top with 7 wins. Eileen Bracken and Kaythlin Goulding and Grace Johnson and Lorna Mahon are tied in 2nd place with 5 wins apiece. Fighting for 4th place are Niamh Lynch and Aoife Tierney, Boora and Rachael Scully and Amy O’Donohue, Kinnity. Other pairs in the competition are Kellie Kinahan and Fiadh Dolan, Clonaslee, Mary O’Donohue and Saoirse Bergin, Kinnity, and Emma Dunne and Clodiagh Daly-Lowry, Ballycumber.
Division 4 proved extremely competitive. No pair won all their games. Tied for top of table honours are Megan Plunkett, Killoughey, and Cecilia Flynn, Clonaslee with Shona Kelly and Roisin Ennis, Ballycumber. One win behind them are Abi Plunkett and Jessie Ryan, Killoughey; Daire Comerford and Christine Blake, Clonaslee; and Aine Guinan and Rachael Ayres, Ballycumber. Leah Mullen and Aoife Tierney, Boora, with 5 wins are next, but even in 6rh place, are only two wins off the lead. Katie Dunican and Laura Grennan were the most unfortunate players on the day. They won four games, but lost 4 games 14/15, so watch out pairs at the top, they are serious challengers. Rounding out the competition are Cecilia Flynn and Emma Lalor, Clonaslee, Nicole Dempsey and Ailsing Meaney, Kinnity, and Aine Guinan and Rachael Ayres, Ballycumber.
Turn-out for Division 3 was disappointing with only two registered pairs. Tara Phelan and Cliodhna Monahan, Killoughey, scored a narrow win against Sorcha Dempsey and Robyn Grimes, Kinnity. The girls played three sets to 21 points. Cliodhna and Tara won the first set. Sorcha and Robyn fought back to win the second set. In the closely contested 3rd set, Cliodhna and Tara scored a narrow win. Older, stronger, more skilful players moved into Clonaslee Community Centre for the afternoon session.
Four pairs contested Division 2. Leading the league at the end of play are Tara Phelan, Killoughey and Olive Kearney, Rahan. They scored a 2 set win against Jayne O’Boyle and Edel Egan, Boora, and 2-1 win against Amy-Gavin Mangan and Mary Harkin, and a 2-0 against Aisling Meaney and Meghan Flynn, Kinnity. Jayne and Edel finished in second place with 2 wins
Division 1 and Division 2 Boys: Because of a scarcity of strong girls in the county, the only Division 1 graded girl in the county competes on equal footing with the boys in Division 1 and 2, and Helen Norton is part of the cream that rises to the top. Andrew Cullen and John McCabe, Country Club, top the table with a perfect 8/0 record. Helen and her partner, Eoghan Phelan, Killoughey, are in 2nd with 6 wins.
Following on with 5 wins, and on top in the Division 2 section are Donal Grogan and Darragh Tierney, Boora. Next in order are James Coughlan and Mark Flaherty, Kinnity; Paddy Quinlan and Tony O’Connor, Country Club, Lorcan Kelly and David Ayres, Ballycumber, and Conal Teehan and Stephen Tierney, Country Club, who are all neck and neck. They are followed by Sean Grennan and Ross McMahon, Rahan; and Andrew Robinson and Aaron Flaherty, Kinnity. The next round of the competition will be 20 January 2013.
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Around the County
Four more matches have been reported played in Division 6 Leagues. Boora Ladies defeated Killoughey in Killoughey, 3-1. Playing for Boora were Aisling Grogan, Roisin Cockram, Edel Egan and Carol Mahon; for Killoughey were Emily White, Tara Phelan, Cliodhna Monahan, and Megan Plunkett. Killoughey 3, Boora 1, in Men’s league with Eoghan Phelan, Kevin Bracken, John Owens and Ciarain Condron triumphing over Donal Grogan, Ethan Rowe-McCormack, Declan Boylan and Shane Murphy.
Killoughey 3, Ballycumber 1 in Men’s 6. Killoughey players, Eoghan Phelan, Kevin Bracken, John Owens and Ciarain Phelan outscored Lorcan Kelly, David Ayres, P.J. Mealiffe, and Daniel Hiney, Ballycumber. Kinnity 2, Boora 2. Played in Boora hall, Damien Spain, Mark Flaherty, James Coughlan, and Aaron Flaherty, Kinnity, fought a really strategic battle with Donal Grogan, Darragh Tierney, Ethan Rowe-McCormack, and Declan Boylan, Boora.
If any Offaly players wish to play in the Laois Individual Championship Doubles and Mixed Doubles, and have not submitted their entries, they should contact Alan Cobbe, 0851742247, Laois Secretary today, Wednesday. Late entries might still be accepted if the draw is not already done.
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Weather for Portlaoise
Friday 24 May 2013
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