Kilcullen’s season finishes on a positive note

Vincent Coller, Sarah Walshe and John Mullen.

It has been another busy month for Kilcullen Badminton Club, writes Tara O'Neill, with all teams in full swing across both the Dublin District League and Cup and the Southwest Leinster Badminton League.

Our Division 2 Ladies played Old Bawn in the Dublin League toward the beginning of December and came away with a 2-2 draw. Our Grade 3 Mixed team hosted a strong Kildare team and were delighted to have come away with a 5-3 win. Our Division 6 Men went down 3-1 away to Smith Nirvana, a match in which a couple of games went to three sets. Our Division 8 Mixed team faced a strong Roundwood team in the Cup with all their games going to three sets. The team managed to come out with a 4-0 victory in the end and progress to the next round.

Our Division 4 Men came away with a 3-2 win over Dunboyne in the cup and will also progress to the next round. Our Division 2 Mixed team played away to Old Bawn and mirrored the Ladies in securing a 2-2 draw. Our Division 5 Men travelled to Baltinglass but it wasn't to be the Rags night, coming away with a 3-1 loss.

Our Division 3 Ladies hosted Eire Friends and after some good strong games were unfortunate to come away with a 4-0 loss. Our Division 9 Mixed team travelled to Rush. The team came away with a 4-0 loss, but it is worth mentioning that their last game went in three sets with two 22-20 results. All to play for in the home game guys! Our Division 3 Mixed played Ailesbury at home but were unfortunate to come away with a 3-1 loss.

A mention must go to our members who took part in the FZ Forza Irish Individual Grade C & F competitions in Baldoyle at the weekend. Lynsey Walshe and Gillian Kennedy Smith got through to the semi-finals of the Grade C Women’s Doubles but were extremely unlucky to lose in a tightly fought game. Also representing Kilcullen were John Mullen and Vincent Coller who made it through to the semi-final stages and continued their winning streak straight through to the final and beyond coming out with the ever-coveted gold medal.

Sarah Walshe represented Kilcullen in both the Ladies Doubles and the Mixed Doubles and came away with a gold medal in each with respective partners Deirde Nester and Dermot Daly. Well done to all for representing our club at such a competitive level, it is an excellent achievement!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.