Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Ragettes rule the roost

On Saturday 29 April our Div 2 and Div 4 Ragettes represented KBC in the Dublin District League Finals, writes Enda O’Neill, PRO of Kilcullen Badminton Club. Both captains Sinead Kelly and Tara O’Neill were hoping they could add to their earlier Dublin District Cup wins.

In the semi final Sinead and her team had overcome KADKA to set up a League Final against Old Bawn, who were determined to stop the KBC side from doing the double. First out were Lynsey Walsh and Gillian K. Smith and after a great start the girls lost their second set but got back on track in the third set taking the game in a great three setter. KBC hitting the front and 1-0 up, Sinead and Debbie Mangan went out in the second game and lost it in two tight games. In the third game to keep the Kilcullen Ladies hopes of the double alive, the third ladies captain Sinead and Gillian won in another three set marathon. All hopes now lay with Lynsey and Debbie who knew they had to win fourth ladies, if they lost to Old Bawn the end result would be 2-2 but the Bawn would win the final by a set. There’s no stronger pair in the club to stand up to such a task, in this winner takes all game, after losing the first set our girls bounced back winning the remaining two sets to win the Dublin League title and take the Cup back. Well done to our Divison 2 Ladies Cup and League Champions, Sinead, Gillian, Lynsey and Debbie on an incredible season, roll on Division 1 next season.

After that brilliant performance it was now the turn of Tara and her Division 4 team to take centre stage against rivals Rathmore, the team who KBC had beaten in the Cup Final by a mere 17 points. To say Rathmore wanted to stop our ladies from doing the double would be an understatement. The match started with Tara and Siobhan Willis playing the Rathmore ladies who in the cup final had beaten our girls 26-24 in the third set. Again this game went to three sets but this time it was Tara and Siobhan that took the third set giving the KBC ladies the first game. In the second game Bernie Smyth and Karen O’Neill went out and showed their class and experience beating the Rathmore girls 2 sets to nil, this win put our Division 4 Ragettes in the driving seat, now ahead 2-0. With an extra court free both third and fourth ladies went out to play simultaneously but Rathmore needed to win both games without dropping a set to win the final. It wasn’t to be Rathmore’s night and when both third and fourth KBC ladies took a set, the game was up for Rathmore. Rathmore’s revenge rejected! Well done to our double winners, Tara, Siobhan, Karen and Bernie on an absolutely fantastic season, Division 3 awaits ladies!

Pictured are (top) Div 2 Ladies League Champions Debbie Mangan, Lynsey Walsh, Sinead Kelly and Gillian K Smith and (below) our Division 4 Ladies League Champions, Siobhan Willis, Karen O'Neill, Tara O'Neill and Bernie Smyth.