New Ross Badminton Club

January 11th 2002

Division 6 Reach Play-offs

It was back to business as usual during the week after a brief respite for Christmas with several club teams in action in various grades in the Wexford Leagues.  It was a particularly busy week for the division 6 team, with back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday night.  League leaders Ballykelly B were the visitors on Tuesday and with qualification for the semi-finals already assured and without the services of flu victim Andrew Wayland the home side had a convincing 7-2 victory to greatly improve their chances of joining Ballykelly in the semi-finals. Wayne Redmond & Eoin Mernagh defeated P.J. Mackin and Barry Hearne in two straight sets in the men’s doubles and New Ross also picked up maximum points in the two mixed doubles. The ladies doubles combination of Helen Moore and Carol McDonnell took the reigning county charity winners Caroline and Christina Sinnott to 3 sets and picked up what proved to be a very a valuable point in the race for the play-offs.  A mere 24 hours later and it was Gusserane who was the opposition in Gusserane.  New Ross got off to a poor start losing the men’s doubles in straight sets to the father and son combination of John and Vincent Mackay.  Parity was restored when Helen Moore and Carol McDonnell won the ladies doubles in straight sets, but it was all downhill from this point with straight sets victories in both mixed doubles for Gusserane to leave the final score at 6-2 in favour of the home team.  Despite this defeat New Ross still qualify for the second semi final spot with Gusserane just missing out in third place.  The top of the table is as follows:  

Even the maximum 8 points for Gusserane from their last game away to bottom of the table Ballykelly C will not be sufficient for them to catch New Ross who now go on to meet the winners of Group A in the first semi-final, while Ballykelly B meet the runners-up in the second semi-final.  The New Ross Division 5 team concluded their league campaign with an impressive 8-0 home victory over bottom of the table Ballycogley.  This victory puts New Ross into 3rd in their section; unfortunately one place away from the play-off spot.  

On Saturday it was the turn of the under 13 team to put in a stylish performance and secure an impressive 5-2 away victory against group leaders Taghmon B in section B of the county under-age league. This wins means New Ross leapfrog over Taghmon in the race for the qualification spot from the section.  After three rounds the league table now looks as follows:

With the start of the Wexford Men’s and Ladies Leagues due to commence shortly the various team panels are currently having their final practice sessions before the leagues commence in the third week of January.  In the Waterford League the premier mixed team begin their quest for honours with a home fixture against current title holders Lady Lane BC from Waterford.  In the continuing absence of Ann and Ralph Stone from last year’s team the selectors have turned to Noel Carton and 15-year-old Orla Deegan to fill the vacancies.  New Ross has an impressive record in this league and reached the semi-finals last season before losing narrowly to Dunmore BC. They would be hoping to at least make the semi-finals again this season. 

Congratulations to club members Karen Hennessey and Pat & Brideen Lynch who played on the Wexford Class 3 inter county team that defeated Tipperary in Roscrea on Sunday last to qualify for the All-Ireland semi-final in Galway on the first Saturday in April.  Karen won a tense ladies singles in three sets and teamed up with club mate Brideen Lynch to win the ladies doubles in two sets.  Pat partnered Noel Carton to win an exciting men’s doubles in three sets and Brideen and himself secured another valuable point in the mixed doubles when they won comfortably in two sets. Members are reminded that the closing date for entry for the County Championships is this Friday the 18th. January.  Entry forms are available in the club, or can be obtained by contacting any of the club officers.

January 19th 2002

Club Success in Waterford League

Club teams were 3 for 3 in the various league competitions played during the week.  The Waterford premier team began the week with a 4 games to 2 defeat of last years champions Lady Lane B.C. from Waterford City.   Rosemary Burke & Orla Deegan got the home side started with a straight set victory in the ladies doubles over Waterford inter county players Mary Walsh and Ann Smyth.  Pat Lynch & Noel Carton increased the home sides advantage by defeating Timmy Keoght and Brian Devereauz, also in straight sets.  Lady lane pulled one back in the second ladies when Ann Smyth and Kate Hayes beat Brideen Lynch & Orla Deegan, and the away side tied up the match at 2 -2 when Brian Devereaux and Ger Meagher won a close three setter against Noel Carton & Martin Regan.  Pat & Brideen Lynch edged the home side ahead again by winning the first mixed doubles against Timmy Keoght & Mary Walsh and Martin Regan and Rosemary Burke finished off the night in style by winning the second mixed doubles against Kate Hayes and Ger Meagher.  New Ross now take on newcomers Tourraneena BC at home in round two. 

On Saturday the under 13 team defeated bottom of the table Campile 7–0 to maintain their lead at top of section B.  This is Campile’s first year competing in the league and the extra experience of the home team was a major factor in the games.  Campile’s best chance to snatch a point was in the boy’s doubles where Eoin Mythen and Edward Breen were narrowly beaten 21-20 by Declan Burke and Niall Parker. Team: Laura Lynch (capt.), Ruth McGuinness, Aoife Bennett, Robert Farrell, Declan Burke, Niall Parker.

Also on Saturday the under 17 team put themselves right back in the championship race with a resounding 6 – 1 success over league leaders Taghmon B.C.  New Ross were in serious trouble having lost their previous game away to Clonard 5 – 2.  On Saturday however they took full advantage of the fact that Taghmon were short three regulars and inflicted the first defeat of the year on the away side.  This wins brings the home team back into the title race and every chance of repeating last year’s success at under-16.  Team: Orla Deegan, Mary Wade (capt.), Amy McGuinness, Wayne Redmond, Eoin Mernagh, Alan Nixon.

The final of the clubs team tournament sponsored by Jimmy Prendergast between Bennett’s Babes and Wades Wonders is now set for the 29th January.  Both teams report no injury worries and expect to field unchanged sides for the decider.  Wades Wonders are slight favourites to take the title, but the Babes are quietly confident and a very close match is expected.

Congratulations to 13-year-old Ruth McGuinness, 12-year-old Laura Lynch and 11-year-old Robert Farrell on being nominated to attend coaching sessions in Rosslare Community Centre over the next few weeks under the direction of B.U.I. coach Liam Sinnott.   All three are extremely talented players who look to have a bright future in the game. 

January 26th 2002

Leinster Success for Club Members at under-age championships.

The under age section of the New Ross badminton club received a major boost over the weekend when club members Orla Deegan and Laura Lynch won provincial titles in the Leinster non-squad tournament held in the Badminton Centre, Terenure, Dublin.  On Saturday Laura who was playing in her first major tournament won the under 13 singles title in very impressive fashion, defeating two players from Dublin and one from Wicklow, Offaly and Kildare to reach the final on Saturday evening.  In the final she was up against another Wexford player Aoife Morrissey from Taghmon.   Results in recent meetings between the two favoured the Taghmon star, but on this occasion she had no answer to the strong and forceful play of the New Ross player who won by 21 aces to 9.  It was a remarkable achievement by both girls to reach the final considering they are both eligible for this grade for another season.  Laura and partner Ruth McGuinnes also reached the final of the 13 girls doubles competition, but had to give second best to the pairing of Aisling Rayn & Kathleen Connelly.  It was quite close until the change of ends with the score standing at 11 – 7, but the Nass pair upped the pace to run out winners by 21 aces to 8. 

On Sunday it was the turn of Orla Deegan to show how much she has progressed in recent months.  She was coolness personified in all her games and won the under 17 girls singles title in impressive style.   Orla is also eligible for this age group for another season and with her temperament and talent we can expect more provincial titles to follow.  There was a good performance also from Wayne Redmond who was beaten in semi-final of the boys under 17 singles and he and Eoin Mernagh were beaten in the semi-final of the boys under 17 doubles.  Other members competing were Mary Wade in the under 17 girls doubles, Eoin Mernagh in the under 17 boy’s singles and Robert Farrell in the boys under 13 singles and doubles. 

There was more provincial success for club members on Sunday when the Wexford Senior Inter County team were winners of grade A and B of the Leinster Inter County championship.  Three New Ross members Rosemary Burke (captain), Brideen Lynch and Pat Lynch were on the grade A team that defeated Carlow in the final by 4 games to 0.

Disappointment for Division 6 Team 

It was disappointment all round for the clubs division 6 team in the semi-final replay of the mixed league against Gusserane. Just as in the drawn game the score finished level at 5-5, but on a count back of aces the Gusserane club were declared winner by 132 to 118.  It was still a fine achievement by this young team to reach this far, but the loss of regular team member Carol McDonnell for the replay did not help their cause.  Team:  Wayne Redmond, Eoin Mernagh, Helen Moore and Maria Furlong.

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