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Badminton In the Midlands January 2010
BADMINTON IN THE MIDLANDS
OFFALY TEAMS PLAY FINALS
Badminton is an indoor winter sport so players don’t have to worry about weather conditions to play their games, right? Wrong. Players still have to get to their venues, and with the recent arctic conditions, badminton in the Midlands skidded to halt along with many other activities.Finals in the Offaly 4-Person Leagues were postponed until teams and officials decided road travel was relatively safe again.
Division 6 Ladies 4: Country Club met Rath in the Division 6 Ladies Final. Josie Kennedy and Lisa Hogan led off for Country Club against Bernie Molloy and Joy Delahunt for Kinnity. This was the only match where the experience of the Country Club ladies matched that of Kinnity, and the combination produced a brilliant game. Country Club broke into an early lead in the set, but were hauled in by the Kinnity pair. The two pairs then exchanged points until Kinnity burst into a lead at 16-12. Country Club got their second wind at that stage and grimly battled back to level at 16-all before Kinnity broke serve. But Country Club broke back and levelled at 17-all, then went ahead 19-17. Kinnity scored next, 18-19. Country Club stopped Kinnity’s serve, and added the final point to win 21-18. In the second set, Kinnity set the early pace and built up a 7-1 lead before Country Club picked up speed and started to narrow the gap. At 8-6 to Country Club, the teams began exchanging points and kept the 2-point margin for Country Club. At 20-18, Country Club scored 2 points to level at 20-all. Kinnity scored next, 21-20. Country Club levelled, 21-21. Kinnity scored, 22-21. Then Country Club scored 2, 23-22. Kinnity scored next, 23-all, then scored again, 24-23. Then a Country Club error earned Kinnity the set, 25-23. In the tie-break set, Kinnity continued as they finished in the second set and built up a small lead. Country Club fought back, but still trailed when the teams changed sides with Kinnity leading 11-8. Country Club would narrow the gap, then Kinnity would move ahead again. This continued until Country Club levelled at 16-all. Country Club rallied into a small lead, but Kinnity pulled back and went ahead, but Country Club levelled. Finally, at 20-all, Country Club put on a burst and scored the final two points to win set and match 22-20. In the second game between Lisa Siu and Shauna Walsh, Country Club and Hazel Delahunt and Joanne Molloy, Kinnity, the accumulated knowledge of Hazel and Joanne gave them a big advantage over newcomers Lisa and Shauna. The set scores were 21-5, 21-6 to Kinnity. The third game matched Josie Kennedy and Lisa Siu with Bernie Molloy and Hazel Delahunt, but the scores revealed this was another mismatch. Lisa did not have the experience to compete against Bernie and Hazel, who isolated her and cut Josie out of the game. The final scores were 21-9, 21-12 to Kinnity. In the fourth game, Lisa Hogan and Shauna Walsh, Country Club, played their best badminton of the year in the first set. They set Country Club hearts racing when they surged into the lead. The more experienced Kinnity pair of Joy Delahunt and Joanne Molloy soon overtook their opponents, but Lisa and Shauna battled on and made a real contest out of the set. The final score was 21-17 to Kinnity. Kinnity went on to win the second set 21-9. So, as the newest club in the county, after four years of trying, Captain Bernie Molloy lifted the first hardware for the Kinnity Club.
Division 5 Ladies 4: Rath and Country Club met in the Division 5 Ladies final played in Kinnity Community Centre. The previous matches between the two teams were extremely close, and the final match proved a real treat for all the spectators. Elaine Dermody and Catherine Nugent, Rath, met Annette Maher and Josie Kennedy, Country Club in the first game. The four ladies were physically strong, hard hitters, and ran each other around the court. The three sets all featured long rallies with some spectacular recoveries. The third set was so close that anyone not on court were on the edge of their seats. Country Club prevailed at the end of the game, but had to work for every point they scored in their 21-14, 16-21, 21-19 win. If the first game was close and exciting, the second game was every bit as good, and some neutrals will tell you even better! Karen Nugent and Margaret Devery squared off against Aileen Garahy and Lisa Hogan. Margaret Devery is one of the cleverest ladies around the net at this level in Offaly badminton, and Karen Nugent is one of the strongest, but Aileen and Lisa were able to match them in the first set. The service was changing frequently during the first set, with neither team able to gain an advantage. The score crept up point by point until Country Club managed a 2 point win, 21-19. Was it a pep talk or an energy drink? Karen and Margaret tore into the second set, built up a quick lead, and only stretched it during the set to finally win 21-7. However, Aileen Garahy and Lisa Hogan were not dead and buried. The third set proved a repeat of the first one, with the players serving up long rallies with hard hits and brilliant recoveries, all played with spirit and determination worthy of any final in any sport. The final score stood 21-19 to Country Club, earning them the game win. Even though the third game scores show a spread, 21-15, 21-16, this game between Elaine Dermody and Margaret Devery, Rath, against Annette Maher and Lisa Hogan, Country Club, was every bit as exciting as the first two games. Everyone in the hall knew the Country Club ladies had the ability and determination to score points against the Rath girls, and they did. In both sets, they kept rallies going, always probing for openings, but Elaine and Margaret kept closing down the open spaces, and the victory went to Rath. The stage was set for a grandstand finish. The match was poised so that if either team won this game in 2 or 3 sets, they would win the title. Catherine Nugent and Karen Nugent, Rath, took the floor against Aileen Garahy and Josie Kennedy, Country Club. The game did not disappoint. The girls again played very long rallies, and moved through the match almost point for point. Only near the end of each game did Country Club manage to slip a few points ahead to win. The set scores were 21-18, 21-16 in favour of Country Club. Kevin Henson, County Chairman, presented the Ladies Div. 5 trophy to Lisa Hogan, Country Club Captain.
Division 5 Men’s 4: Country Club and Rahan squared off against each other in Rath Hall. The number 1 man on each team was carrying a Division 4 grade, and their partners were equally graded, so the pairs of Brian Crofton and Donal Hogan, Country Club and Adrian McCann and Matthew Walsh, Rahan looked very even on paper, and they played very even on court. In the first set, Rahan got the better start and went 5-2 up. Then Country Club shifted gears and started the chase. Midway through the set Country Club eased into the lead, only to be overtaken by Rahan. Only at the very end of the set did Country Club regain the lead and win 21-19. The second set followed a similar pattern. Rahan got a jump start, but Country Club levelled at 7-all and then went ahead. Rahan accelerated and got a point in front. The teams played point for point with some really breathtaking net recoveries and returns. In this set, Rahan prevailed, 21-18. The third set started as the other, with Rahan getting the better start, but then seemed to lose heart and Country Club started to isolate the lower graded Rahan player at the back and run him from side to side until they forced an error. The final set score was 21-13, set and game to Country Club. In the second set, the depth of Country Club at this grade was apparent. They were able to field two players each a grade ahead of their Rahan opponents. Conor Harte and Conor Robinson, Country Club, defeated Stuart Lavin and Darren Dunne, Rahan, 21-14, 21-10. The first set of the third match between Brian Crofton and Conor Harte, Country Club, and Adrian McCann and Stuart Lavin, Rahan was the most exciting set of the match. Adrian McCann used his height and reach and seemed to be everywhere on the court. Rahan opened quickly and ran up a 9-1 score before Country Club started to play. Country Club clawed their way back into the set, and when they finally levelled, the pairs played point for point. Again, the net play was outstanding, with drops falling over the net from deep and near, straight or cross, only to come flying back short or long. The players ability to move along the net to retrieve a shuttle was amazing to watch. Against the run of play, Country Club won the set 21-18. Brian and Conor stormed through the second set, winning 21-9. The fourth game looked the one for Rahan to win. The pairs were closely matched point wise. Again Rahan got the better start and ran up a slight lead which they held, with Country Club breathing down their necks. Finally, Country Club drew level, and then at 18-all, went on to win. Donal Hogan and Conor Robinson, Country Club, went on to win the second set against Matthew Walsh and Darren Dunne, Rahan, 21-14. Country Club captain, Donal Hogan, accepted the winner’s cup from Judy Bryant, County Secretary.
Other News from Offaly: Offaly seniors have two more competitions scheduled, a Division 6 Mixed Teams Blitz and the Division 6 Men’s 4 final. Kinnity Club are hosting a Badminton for Haitian Relief Night in Kinnity Hall on the 6th of March when other competition have slowed down. A minimum donation of €5 is requested, and larger donation are gratefully received. Following play, a raffle and refreshments in a Kinnity pub will conclude the evening. All proceeds go to the Red Cross. After an absence of several years, Offaly Juvenile officers are trying to organise Intercounty teams to represent Offaly in the Leinster U-17, U-15, and U-13 Intercounties. The annual table quiz will be held in Boora Hall, 18 February, starting at 7.30. Clubs are asked to contribute €25 towards table prizes, and to bring 2 raffle prizes.
Southwest Leinster News: The Southwest Leinster Individual Championships fell afoul of the dangerous driving conditions and had to be postponed until a later date. Teams are urged to get any matches missed during the bad weather made up, because the semi-finals and finals are going ahead as planned. The draw and handicapping for the cup competition will take place after the league campaign is finished.
Laois News: Laois matches also stalled with the bad weather. League Secretary Niall Davis urges all clubs to get their fixtures played and caught up to date. Niall also asks club from Laois and outside the county with players interested in making Men’s and Ladies Leagues to contact him immediately as he is trying to finalize structures for teams and leagues.
Lead Photo: Kinnity Ladies 4, Division 6 Winners: Frank Ryan, Coach, Hazel Delahunt, Joanne Molloy, Bernie Molloy, Captain, Joy Delahunt.
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Written By: Siobhán Byrne
Date Posted: 2/8/2010
Number of Views: 612
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