Early Saturday morning the men’s singles event started. This year for the 1st time ever a Singles Swiss system was used to run the Men’s Singles event, this system guaranteed all the competitors in the event at least 4 matches each. The Final for the 1st and 2nd placing was between the Baldoyle pair of Nigel Boyne and Ronan McGee. Boyne who had not played any other tournaments this season, but decided that he might play in the Irish Nationals at the end of this month, was using this event as a training session. As this final started these guys who train at least twice a week against each other and know each other game very well. McGee showed signs of tiredness as he had two other finals to play, so Boyne eased ahead to take the title by winning pole position 21-16,21-10.
For the men’s doubles final, Boyne and McGee teamed up to take on the very experienced Gannon Brothers, Niall and David. The last time the Gannon brothers had walked onto court, to play in a tournament together was nearly 3 years ago. Niall who picked up his one and only Irish cap in the early 90,s was well used to playing with his younger brother David, who is currently on the Leinster Inter County Team. Although Boyne and McGee used a lot of firepower against the Gannon’s, the Brothers made the doubles game look easy and took the title 21-16,21-18.
Mt Pleasant pair of Siobhan Grehan and Georgina Ward took on the Wexford sisters of Siobhan Parle and Deirdre Kehoe (Kehoe Sisters) from Taghmon in the Ladies doubles final. Grehan and Ward showed their recent good form and took the 1st set 21-10. The Kehoe sisters rallied around and pushed the Mt Pleasant pair to the wire but Grehan and Ward took the 2nd and the title 21-18.
Ward teamed up with fellow Mt Pleasant team mate Niall Tierney to take on KADCA team mates Sandra Lynch and once again Ronan McGee in the Mixed Doubles Final. All four who are currently on Leinsters Inter County team know each other so well. This on paper should have been the match of the tournament, but McGee was suffering a bit from a long day of immense Badminton matches. The opening game went to the Southsider’s of Ward and Tierney 21-13, but McGee had to retire and the title went to the Mt Pleasant pair.
Last match of the evening was the Ladies singles final. This was between 15 year old Ciara Brady ( Kadca) and Taghmons, Siobhan Parle. Brady who had a tough quarter final against Wexfords, Laura Butler and narrowly won it in the 3rd 23-21. She then took on another Wexford girl Laura Lynch in the semifinals and this also went to a 3rd set but Brady won it again in the 3rd set 21-11.Would Wexford take this title, not if the Dublin girl had her way. Parle made her way onto the court for the singles final against Brady, but the Wexford girl was showing signs of tiredness, as she had played over 20 sets throughout the day, she got to the final in the singles and ladies doubles and tough semi final in the mixed. Brady just worked Parle around the court and took the title 21-13,21-5 but Parle must be complimented for her bravery as she kept trying although she was exhausted on her feet!!
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