More silverware for the badminton Rags
This week's report starts with the Good Friday Open which was played in Whitehall Road on 18 April 2014, writes Enda O'Neill, PRO of Kilcullen Badminton Club. Dave McClean and (recent returnee from his travels in Brazil) Paddy Burke competed in the Grade 3 Men’s Doubles tournament. It was to be a successful day for the lads when they were runners-up in a close final. Well done to the lads on another great day for them.
It was an all KBC Final in the Grade 6 Mixed Finals with Jen Monaghan and Vincent taking on their fellow team mates of Sarah Walshe and Fintan Phelan. In a close fought-match Jen and Vincent came out victorious beating Sarah and Fintan 2-1. Well done to Jen and Vincent in their great win and also to their worthy opponents Sarah and Fintan.
Tuesday 22 April saw Enda and the Mix 3 team contest the Grade 5 South West League Cup Final. The Final was held in Athy Rugby Club and the opposition was Abbeylix of Laois. This turned out to be the match of the tournament with both KBC and Abbeylix swapping blows from the start. First ladies of Jen and Helen lost to a strong Abbeylix female pairing, while Enda and Vincent took the first Mens levelling the match 1-1. Ladies 2 of Anna Marie and Sarah lost their second Ladies but John and Fintan took the Mens in their match in two sets.
The two teams were now level at 2-2 going into the mixed matches, it was Anna Marie and John lost the first mixed match in two sets putting Abbeylix back in control of the match. Jen and Vincent made amends in the second mix match winning 2-1. It was Helen and Enda up in the third mixed and they won easily in two sets, so Kilcullen were 4-3 up in games but if Abbeyleix could win their last mixed match against KBC in two sets they would win the final on set difference. So daughter and father pairing of Sarah and Fintan had it all to do in the last mix game and they didn’t disappoint. This match was definitely the match of the final Sarah and Fintan took the first set 21-17, the second was a lot tighter and Sarah and Fintan pulled it out of the bag to clinch the Cup for Kilcullen in a nail-biting 21-20 win and capping off a great season for the club.
A big congratulations goes out to Helen, Jen, Sarah, Anna Marie, Vincent, John, Fintan and of course yours truly Enda! Also thanks so much to all the supporters who travelled to Athy to cheer us on, you were the ninth player and your cheers really helped us over the line.
Pictured above are (back) John, Vincent, Enda, Fintan; and (front) Anna Marie, Jen, Sarah, Helen and Tara.
Up the Rags!!
