BADMINTON: JUNIOR TITLES FOR COUSINS, STEPHENSON
Wexford player Eddie Cousins took the scalp of top seed Scott Burnside in a thrilling men’s singles final at the Irish Junior Badminton Championships in Dublin’s Terenure – a popular tournament for non-international players.
Cousins took the opener 21-16, and after Burnside dazzled his way to a 21- 9 victory in the second, played a steady game to get back in the match and take the tie-breaking third set 21-1. In the women’s final, the very young Alannah Stephenson beat the even younger Rachael Darragh in straight sets. Mount Pleasant’s Kirsty Kelly, recovering from injury, teamed up with Laura Butler from Wexford to win the women’s doubles, beating Stepehenson and Keady Smith. Lisburn duo Conor Hickland and Scott Burnside beat Dublin brothers Niall and David Gannon to win the men’s doubles title, while the new partnership of Ronan McGee and Norma McIntyre from Leinster took the mixed title.
CANOEING: FLEMING LEADS 5KM ENTRY
Neil Fleming of Celbridge Paddlers, just returned from the World Marathon Championships, leads the entry at today’s (Sun) deferred 5km canoe national championships at Leixlip lake (11.0). The original 5km race, due to be held in Cork last month, was cancelled due to poor weather. Results from the race will go towards the overall sprints national title along with points from previously held 200m and 1000m races. Fleming is already the men’s K1 1000m champion, while Kilcullen’s Maria Wilmot is the women’s 1000m champion. The race follows today’s monthly training camp at Salmon Leap Canoe Club, Leixlip.
RUGBY LEAGUE GETS SPORTS COUNCIL RECOGNITION
Just days after the rugby league match against France in Thomond Park, Limerick, attracted 3,100 spectators, Rugby League Ireland has received Irish Sports Council recognition. In the past two years, the number of clubs taking part in national competitions has grown from six to over 20, while Irish teams have competed in senior and student international tournaments and are aiming to qualify for the 2013 World Cup.
Last season, Tallaght and Clondalkin played the first ever underage club game in Ireland at Tallaght Stadium. This was followed by a first universities game between Limerick IT and IT Tralee.
MOLLOY BEST AT TRIATHLON WORLDS
Ironman Matt Molloy proved best of the Irish when he finished third over 40 at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Henderson, USA. Due to the chilly conditions, the planned 4km swam was cancelled leaving competitors to tackle a 120km cycle with around 3000m of climb and a 30km run. In the women’s race Sheila Power placed 8th in the W50 class, averaging a speed of 27.5kph for the ssvage bike stage.
SQUASH: PERRY, BLAKE IN HONG KONG
Irish No 1 Madeline Perry faces Dipika Pallikal of India in the opening round of the Hong Kong Open, starting next Tuesday, while Irish No 2 Aisling Blake faces local player Annie Au. Both Irish players went out to Dutch player Natalie Grinham at last week’s World Squash Open in Rotterdam, Holland. Grinham, the No 12 seed, beat Blake in the opening round and then defeated Perry, who was seeded No 4, in the last 16.
Fitzwilliam is the venue this weekend for the Leinster Masters Open; finals today (Sun).
CHAMPIONS MONKSTOWN OUT OF HOCKEY CUP
Old Alex produced the shock result of hockey’s ESB Electric Irish Senior Cup yesterday (Sat) when they toppled last year’s runners-up Hermes at Milltown. With the sides 1-1 at full time, an Emma Russell golden goal gave Old Alex a famous 2-1 victory. Defending champions Pegasus comfortably knocked out Ballymoney 3-0.
In the men’s competition, Pembroke beat defending champions Monkstown on strokes after the sides finished on two goals apiece and extra time failed to resolve the deadlock.
Glenanne beat UCD 3-1, while Railway Union notched up five goals in their match against Three Rock Rovers.
Railway Union’s Jeremy Duncan will captain the Leinster team at next weekend’s U-18 Interpro championships in St Andrew’s College, Dublin. Included in the 18-strong squad are seven players from the current Wesley College squad, as well as Brian O’Malley of Castleknock Community College and David Kane and Alvaro Garcia, both St Killian’s. Ulster have won the tournament for the past three years.
SNOOKER VICTORY FOR O’DONOGHUE
The long journey to Letterkenny proved worthwhile for Brendan O’Donoghue when he beat Greg Casey 5-4 to win snooker’s second senior ranking tournament of the season. Among those to go out early was Vincent Muldoon, who lost to Aidan Devenney. Devenney then lost to Casey in the quarter-finals. In two closely-fought semi-finals, Casey beat the veteran Joe Delaney 4-3, while O’Donoghue got the better of Rodney Goggins, also 4-3.
Playing an outstanding tournament was 16-year-old Dylan Scully from Carlow who got as far as the quarter-finals before losing to Rodney Goggins. Highest break was a 116 from Clinton Franey.
No comments yet.