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David Tutty & Laura Lynch |
Sixteen year old New Ross star Laura Lynch added an under-17 All-Ireland mixed
doubles title to her badminton C.V. when she and partner David Tutty secured
their 2nd All-Ireland title at the National Badminton Centre in
Lisburn on Sunday last. Victors of an under-15 championship at the same venue
last year the Leinster pairing moved up an age group at the start of the season,
but despite the step up in class they have been performing well in the major
tournaments. They were in fine form again throughout the weekend which
culminated with a dramatic victory in Sunday’s afternoon final against the home
favourites Sinead Chambers and Tony Murphy. A measure of the achievement of the
Leinster pairing can be gauged from the fact that not alone was their victory
the only event which was not won by an Ulster player, but they were the only
non-Ulster combination to even make the finals. Laura and David began their
quest on Saturday afternoon with a tough opening game against the Northern
Ireland pairing of Andrew McGee and Judith Brennan. The game was a classic
mixed doubles match between two talented mixed doubles pairs, which resulted in
a victory in three sets 15/9, 5/15, 15/7 for the New Ross/Dublin partnership.
It was a little more comfortable in the quarter-finals where they defeated a
fellow Leinster paring of Crona Rooney and Owen Marron 15/9, 15/7. The
semi-finals on Sunday morning started badly for the Southern pairing when yet
another Ulster combination of Gavin McCauley and Catherine McGladdery took the
opening set 15/11, with Laura and David finding it difficult to cope against the
deceptive McCauley in particular. In the remaining games however they adopted a
more attacking approach which gave the Ulster pair less time to place the
shuttle and they won the remaining two sets 15/11, 15/5 to progress to the
final. Sunday’s afternoon final drew a good home crowd and with many of the
Leinster players and supporters also staying to watch, it meant a good
atmosphere for the event. In the final Laura and David faced a fancied Northern
partnership comprising of recent under-19 international player Sinead Chambers
and regular partner Tony Murphy. In their previous encounters the Ulster
pairing had the upper hand and had been in fine form on their way to the
decider. The opening set would do justice to any senior tournament as all four
players put on an exhibition for the appreciative crowd. Good placement of the
shuttle and excellent court coverage from the Dublin star blended nicely with
fine net play from Laura and gave the Leinster pairing a narrow 15/13 opening
set victory. If the 1st set was exciting the 2nd was real
edge of the seat stuff with the Leinster pair leading 14/12, only for the Ulster
combination to recover and force the set to a tie break. Chambers and Murphy
went 16/14 in front, but Laura and David got the game back to 16/16. Each side
now had several opportunities to get the elusive final point before a flick
serve from Murphy caught Tutty by surprise and it was one game each. The start
of the 3rd set was crucial and it was the Leinster players who were
quickly into their stride as they raced into a 5-0 lead. From there they kept
the pressure on the two Ulster stars to win the set and the match a little
easier than expected compared to the opening sets on a 15/5 score line. |
