 |
| John Murphy |
TABLE TENNIS: UCD’s John Murphy and Amanda Mogey from Ulster beat off all-comers to take the titles at the Butterfly National Senior Championships in Dublin. Mogey, who plays in next month’s World Championships, fought hard to beat UCD’s Sarah Timlin in the semi-final, and beat Ulster’s Ashley Givan in the final 4-0. In the men’s competition, Gavin Maguire, Peter Graham, Ashley Robinson, Paul McCreery and John Murphy were all in top form, but it was McCreery and reigning champion John Murphy who made it to the final. In a superb decider, Murphy came from 1-3 down to beat McCreery 3-4 and take his fifth national title.
BADMINTON: Chloe Magee played above her world ranking to reach the second round for qualification at the Yonex All-England Open Badminton Championships. In her opening match, she beat Swiss player Jeanine Cicognini of Switzerland, ranked two places higher than her at No 42 in a tough three-setter. She then faced world No 36 Adrianti Firdasari Indonesia and although she worked hard to cope with her rival’s pace and touch, went out in straight sets.
In the men’s doubles, Sam Magee and his Danish partner Mikkel Elbjorn lost to Russian pair Vitalij Durkin & Alexander Nikolaenko, while in the mixed doubles, Chloe and Sam Magee faced former Olympic champion Hendra Setiwan and his partner Vita Marissa from Indonesia. Although the Irish bravely held their own in the opening set, only losing 20-22, the Indonesia pair then stepped up a gear to win in straight sets.
SNOOKER: Rodney Goggins from the 147 Snooker Club in Wexford consolidated his position at the top of the rankings when he won snooker’s sixth senior ranking tournament of the season at the Ivy Rooms Carlow. In the final, Goggins beat his closest rival Brendan O’Donoghue of New Institute Nenagh. In the semi-finals, Goggins beat Joe Delaney of Celbridge, while O’Donoghue knocked out Johnny Williams from Maynooth SC. Vincent Muldoon, of Maynooth SC, who has two wins to his credit this season, was beaten in the semi-finals by Delaney. A superb 129 gave Delaney the high break prize.
* On Saturday, also at the Ivy Rooms the Stars of the Future take centre stage, with the U-15 and U16 age groups in action.
 |
| Irish junior women |
VOLLEYBALL: Ireland’s U-20 men’s volleyball team will use the annual St Patrick’s International against Northern Ireland as a test before next month’s the European Small Nations tournament in Scotland. At the European Small Nations, the Irish will play Cyprus, Luxemburg, Scotland San Marino, host nation Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish squad won the St Patrick’s International at both senior and junior level last year, and most recently beat the Irish U-17 team.
Fresh from their encouraging performances in Europe last January, the Irish junior women are favourites to win their match against Northern Ireland on Saturday (12.0). With team captain Katie Nolan, and the Benn and Clancy sisters all coming from the local club, the Irish women are guaranteed enthusiastic support. The Irish senior women should also have the edge in their match against Northern Ireland (2.30). The St Patrick’s International takes place in St Mary’s, Naas on Saturday March 17.
HOCKEY: All local club and league hockey is suspended this week to allow hockey fans support the Irish men at the Olympic Qualifiers at Belfield, with the opening matches taking place today (Sat). Ireland play Russia, Ukraine, Korea, Chile and Malaysia in their group matches; final on Sunday March 18.
Next week, the Irish women’s squad travel to Belgium to compete in their Olympic qualifier from March 17-25 at Beershot. The team sees two changes from the recent Europeans with Nicci Daly and Nikki Evans coming in for Niamh Small and Julia O’Halloran. Ireland will face Spain, Belgium, Mexico, Russia and France.
Updated results:
Sunday – Ireland 12 (5) Timmy Cockram 15; 29m; 63m; Eugene Magee 21m; 27m; Mitch Darling 35m; 43m; Peter Caruth 49m; Michael Watt 54m; 59m; Chris Cargo 69m; John Jermyn 70m
Ukraine 0 (0)
Saturday – Ireland 6 (2) John Jermyn 15 pc; Timmy Cockram 16 op; Mitch Darling 44m op; Peter Caruth 48 op; Conor Harte 56 pc; Michael Watt 59 op
Russia 1 (1) Ravshanzhon Zakirov 24m op
KICKBOXING: Robbie McMenamy was one of the few local winners at the Irish Kickboxing Open in Citywest, Co Dublin. In the 89kg semi-contact final, McMenamy beat Edoardo Esposito of Italy. Other notable Irish performances came from James O’Connor of Spartan who made the 94kg plus semi-finals, and Shane Lynch of Bushido who came up against eventual winner and kickboxing legend Raymond Williams from California in the 84kg division. Overall, the Kiraly team from Hungary proved outstanding with 13 wins; Storm Kickboxing Academy UK and Team Best Fighter Italy both had 11 wins. Of the local clubs, West Cork Kickboxing and Kobra both took two golds, Collooney won five silvers and Bushido Leixlip four silvers.
John Congratulation eventually you win the race.
Have a good day!
Great! I have added your website. Keep up the excellent. Appreciate all the details here.