KBC semis await (for some!)
This action-packed final got off to a good start winning First Ladies but alas this was the only time the KBC team were going to be ahead, the Mens 1 were unlucky in their match when they lost in three sets. Our Second Ladies went out to play their game and were beaten in a great display of badminton from both sides. Our Second Mens went out and were beaten by the Johnswell team, KBC 3-1 down going into the mix. Kilcullen’s first mix pairing took their mix giving KBC a chance. Unfortunately this was the last game the brave Kilcullen team were going to win and Johnswell cranked up the heat in third and fourth mix and ended up winning the final 5-3. A brave display by the Kilcullen side being the first of hopefully many teams to make a Grade 1 Final. Congratulations to Lynsey Walshe the team captain, Sinead Kelly, Gillian K Smith, Debbie Mangan, Murt Dunne, Eoin Bourke, David Jackson and Michael Manning on a absolutely fantastic cup run.
In Dublin District League Quarter Finals Maeve Valroy and her Division 8 Ladies travelled to Baldoyle, this match was played on Tuesday 04 April. The Kicullen ladies faced Danum in this match and in a one sided affair beat their counterparts 3-0 putting them into their second semi final this season. Well done to Maeve, Orla Brophy, Emer Flynn and Grace Elliot and good luck in the next round of the league.
We had two teams representing the club on Wednesday 05 April with Debbie Mangan and her Division 3 Mix team playing neighbours Carlow YM and Tara O’Neill and her Division 5 Mix B team on court against Roundwood. In contrasting matches Debbie’s team were very unlucky and beaten narrowly 3-1 in a wonderful game to watch, so Debbie, Sinead Kelly, Murt Dunne and David Jackson bow out of the League.
Tara’s team faced tough opposition against Roundwood and won, albeit by the skin of their teeth. In this intense Quarter Final the Kilcullen quartet were equal on games with Roundwood the game tied 2-2. In sets count-back Kilcullen beat Roundwood by a set which sees them into the semi finals, to be played next week. Well done Tara, Chelsey Cox, Vincent Coller and John Mullen.
Finally John Mullen and the Division 5 Men faced tough opposition against a talented Eire Friends side on Thursday 05 April. This was definitely going to be the hardest challenge that the KBC lads had faced in the League so far and this dog fight turned out to be a close encounter. John and Ray Dalton were up first and lost their game in two sets to a tricky Eire pair, Vincent Coller and Enda O’Neill were up next and won their game in a demanding three setter. The Kilcullen quartet now had to win their two remaining games as Eire Friends had a set up on Kilcullen. Ray and Vincent faced the Eire Friends third men while simultaneously John and Enda played fourth men. During John and Enda’s game word filtered down that Ray and Vincent had lost their game in two sets and even though John and Enda’s game was tied 1-1 in sets the outcome was decided, Eire Friends were through to the semis regardless of the outcome in the fourth mens game. Hard luck to captain John and his team who put up a great show in a great game of badminton.
This week’s photograph is of our Division 2 Ladies finalists, Debbie Mangan, Sinead Kelly, Lynsey Walsh and Gillian K Smith.
