Posted online: Feb 5th, 2010

There was a very strong entry at the Leinster U15 Open in our Terenure
Centre last weekend. This tournament was a show of some spectacular
badminton from these stars. And the Irish U15 selectors were in
attendance as an Irish team will be picked over the coming weeks for a
U15 Quadrangular, scheduled to be played in Wales on the weekend 23-25
April 2010.

The opening boy’s singles final was between Wexford’s Nicholas Murphy
and Sligo’s Danny Keown. These boys have duelled many times before in
finals with Keown ahead on titles. In the opening set Murphy was totally
focussed on his mission as he took the first set 21-17. Keown used his
experience in the second set and went on to win 14-21. The final set was
great viewing with Murphy slightly ahead at the mid point 11-9, Keown
levelled the score 11-11. Murphy kept his accuracy on court and both
players rallied very hard until Murphy began to make his presence on
court as he went on to take the title 21-16.

The girl’s singles final was an all Lisburn affair.Alannah Stephenson
took on her doubles partner Keady Smith. Stephenson took the opener
21-14, Keady dug deep in the second set as the rallies were tiring for
both girls, and this set went into a tiebreaker 22-22, 23-23 until
Stephenson composed herself as she took the title 25-23.

Danny Keown was back out on court again looking to take home a title to
Sligo, it was in the boy’s doubles final. His partner was lefthander and
fellow schoolmate Conor Scanlon and their opponents were Lisburn stars
of Ryan Stewart and Jonathon Harron. The Sligo boys took the opening set
21-15. In the second set the Lisburn players found form as they played
some of their best badminton on court, this match went 18-18,19-19…
all the way to 23-21 with Danny and Conor winning this outing and taking
the title back to Sligo.This was a great return for all the hard work
and the boys are looking forward to the nationals in a few weeks

Last match of the tournament was the mixed final and all four players on
court were from the infamous Lisburn Racket Club. Alannah Stephenson was
looking for a hat trick of titles and was partnered by Ryan Stewart.
Their opponents were once again Keady Smith and Jonathon Harron.
Stephenson and Stewart took the opener 21-15 and although their
opponents fought hard Stephenson made it a trice of titles as Stewart
took the double (21-15)

All these players will once again battle on court on the 6th & 7th
February up in Lisburn in the Irish U15 Championship. I would like to
say “well done” to Ita Marron and her team on a very well run
tournament.

Leinster U15 Open Terenure Final Results

Boys Singles: N Murphy bt D Keown 21-17,14-21,21-12 Doubles:D Keown/C
Scanlon bt R Stewart/J Harron 21-15,23-21

Girls Singles:A Stephenson bt K Smith 21-14,25-23 Doubles:A Stephenson/K
Smith bt K Butler/F McCourt 21-6,21-15

Mixed: A Stephenson/R Stewart bt K Smith/J Harron 21-15,21-15