High drama in Offaly schools' badminton competitions

Three points. Three points out of 360, that’s all that separated Colaiste Choilm 1 and St. Brendan’s Community School at the end of the group stage at the Offaly U19 Post-Primary School badminton played in Tullamore Sacred Heart School.

Boys Pool 1:

The Banagher College Colaiste na Sionna team of Tadhg Sheehan, Daniel McDonald, Patrick Donaghy, Killian Fitzpatrick, and Callum Keegan led off against St. Brendan’s Community School’s team of Andrew Hogan, Ruairí Pilkington, Kevin Carey, Jack Collins, Sean Walshe, Adam O’Donovan and Conor Carey. Drama started in this, the first boys’ game of the day. St. Brendan’s may have won 4-2, but Banagher left it late to win each of their 2 games. Killian Fitzpatrick, BC, squeezed past Andrew Hogan, St. Brendan’s, on the last hit of the game, winning 15/14. Daniel McDonald, BC, did the same against Kevin Corey, St. Brendan’s, waiting until the score was 14-all before he moved to win the game 15/14. Match score, 4-2 in favour of St. Brendan’s.

Colaiste Choilm 1 got their first taste of action against Ard Scoil Chiaran Naofa. Joshin Joy, Don Paul, Brian Flood, Conal Hyland, and Conor Murtagh CC1, only conceded 1 game to ASCN. James McKenna, ASCN defeated Brian Flood, CC1, 15/10. Aaron Kelly, ASCN, made a good stab at Josh Joy, CC1, finishing with 12 points. The other members of the ASCN team, Cian Byrne and Callum Bracken, scored in low single digits. CC1 finished with a score of 5-1.

When CC1 met Banagher College, Joshin, Don Paul, and Conal all won their singles for CC1. Daniel, BC, defeated Brian, CC1 for Banagher’s first win. Even though Tadhg and Killian, BC, lost their singles by big margins, the boys teamed up to defeat Joshin and Don Paul 15/13 in doubles for a second win for BC. The ,match finished 4-2 in favour of CC1. Colaiste Naomh Cormac went into action against St. Brendan’s. The CNC team of Cian Dillon, Stephen Newton, Rogan Stirrat, and Eoin Lambe made only 1 mistake. Cian and Eoin lost to Ruairí Pilkington and Andrew Hogan 15/10. The match score finished 5/1 to CNC1. CNC1 marched on against Ard Scoil Chiaran Naofa, winning 6-0, giving ASCN hardly a look in.

St. Brendan’s and Colaiste Choilm 1 played a very tense match. Joshin, CC1 defeated Ruairí, St. B, and Don Paul, CC1, defeated Andrew, St. B, to give CC1 a 2 point lead. Kevin, St. B, defeated Brian, CC1 and when Jack, St. B, scored the last point against Conal, CC1, for a 15/14 win, the score stood 2-all at the end of the singles. Joshin and Don Paul took the lead back for CC1 with a win in first doubles. Kevin and Jack, St. B, continued with their singles wins to a win in 2^nd doubles. Match score finished in a draw, 3-all, but with CC1 ahead on points by 9. When CNC1 met CC1, Don Paul and Conal Hyland, CC1, fought hard against Stephen N and Eoin Lambe in their singles games, but at the final shuttle, the CNC boys won. Joshin and Don Paul got the win CC1 were looking for in 1^st doubles against Cian and Eoin, CNC, 15-12. The match finished 5-1 to CNC1.

Banagher College finished 4-2 ahead of ASCN. James Mc, ASCN, finished 15/11 ahead of Callum K, BCCNS, and Aaron K and James Mc, ASCN, teamed up to win against Tadhg S. and Killian Fitz on the last stroke of the game, 15/14. CNC met BCCNS in the 2^nd last match of the group. CNC swept the match with a 6-0 win. Tadhg and Killian scored the highest for BCCNS with an 11/15 loss to Cian and Eoin. When ASCN met St. Brendan’s, James and Aaron, ASCN, prevented a whitewash by St. Brendan’s by outscoring Ruairí and Adam, St. B, 15/14.

This left the match score 5-1 in favour of St. Brendan’s and forced a countback to determine the 2^nd place team in Pool 1. Colaiste Naomh Cormac finished top of the table with 22 points, with Colaiste Choilm and St. Brendan’s level on 13 points. When the total of all points scored in all matches were added, St. Brendan’s finished on top, 300 points to 297 for Colaiste Choilm 1. St. Brendan’s entered the semi-finals as runner-up in Pool 1.

Boys Pool 2:

From their first match, the Killina Presentation Secondary School team of David Gibbons, John O’Meara, Liam Grennan, Shane Thompson, John Hickey, and Fionn Corcoran made it clear they were not at the competition to make up numbers, but to win. Killina met CNC2, Michael Kilmartin, Jack Longworth, Jayden Flaherty, Lochlann King, and Leon Brewer, in their first match and came away winners, 5-1. Jayden Flaherty scored the lone win for CNC2 against Shane Thompson in 3^rd singles, 15/7. Jack and Lochlann made a good run in 2^nd doubles, scoring 12 points, but Shane and Liam finished with 15. Match score, 5-1 to Killina.

Cistercian College Roscrea had their first match against Colaiste Choilm 2. The CCR team of Walter Zhou, Lineus Au Yeung, Carlton Wong, Oliver Liang, and Larry Li swept through the singles winning all four games. Noel Philip was the best for CC2 scoring 11 points. The doubles were a different matter. Yes, Walter and Linus, CCR, defeated Aidan Bennies and John Mullan, CC2, but Noel Philip and Lucas Burke Tracey, CC2, outscored Oliver Ling and Sam Maher, CCR, 15/13. Conor Moore is the 5^th player for CC2. Match score, 5-1 in favour of CCR.

Colaiste Choilm 2 came head to head with Killina. Killina won 6-0. The only drama in the match was when John Mullen, CC2, went over on his ankle and had to withdraw from the game giving John O’Meara, Killina, a 13/7 walkover in 2^nd singles. CNC2 didn’t sit back when they met CCR. Walter Zhou got past Mikey Kilmartin by a big score, but Jack Longworth pushed Linus Au the entire game before losing 15/13. Jayden Flaherty stepped up for CNC2with a big win in 3^rd singles against Oliver Liang. In 4^th singles, Lochlann King, CNC 2 fought Sam Maher, CCR, all the way before losing 15/13. Mikey and Lochlann came even closer in 1^st doubles, losing to Walter and Linus on the last stroke of the game, 15/14. Jack and Jayden, CNC2 got a small amount of revenge when they won the doubles against Sam and Calum Hunt, 15/14. Final match score 4-2 for Cistercian College Roscrea. CNC2’s final match pitted them against CC2. Aiden Bennies, CC2, and Mikey Kilmartin, CNC2, fought an epic battle before Mikey finally won 15/14. Jack Longworth, CNC2, had a big win against John Mullan, CC2. Jayden Flaherty continued CNC2’s winning streak, but just, with a 15/13 win against Noel Philips, CC2.

Lochlann King finished the singles for CNC2 with another big win against Lucas Burke Tracey, CC2. In first doubles, Aiden and John, CC2, redeemed Aiden’s loss to Mikey, CNC2, with a 15/14 win against he and Lochlann. Jayden and Leon Brewer, CNC2 finished the match with a 15/12 win against Noel and Conor Murtagh. Match score, 5-1 to CNC2.

In the final match, Cistercian College and Killina played to see who would top the table and who would be runner-up. David Gibbons, Killina, managed a 15/12 win against Walter Zhou, CCR. 2^nd singles again went to Killina, with John O’Meara winning 15/13 against Lineus Au, CCR. Liam Grennan, Killina made it 3 in a row for Killina, defeating Oliver Liang, CCR. Callun Hunt, CCR, reversed the trend and won 4^th singles 15/13 for his team against John Hickey, Killina. CCR won 1^st doubles against the odds, defeating David and John whom they had lost to in singles. Liam and John H. finished on a high for Killina, winning against Oliver Liang and Calum Hunt. Killina went into the semifinals as winner of Pool 2 and Cistercian College finished runner-up.

Play-offs:

Colaiste Naomh Cormac met Cistercian College in Semifinal 1. CCR started with a bang, winning 1^st singles when Walter Zhou outscore Cian Dillon, CNC, 15/14. Lineus Au, CCR, gave Stephen Newton, CNC a scare before Stephen scored the last point to win 15/14. Rogan Stirrat, CNC, made short work of Sam Maher to win 3^rd singles. Eoin Lambe, CNC, was even quicker against Calum Hunt, 4^th singles. Cian and Eoin, CNC, teamed up to win 1^st doubles against Walter and Lineus CCR, 15/13. Stephen and Rogan finished the match for CNC with a win against Sam and Calum. Match score, 5-1 to CNC.

Killina were on top all the way in their semifinal against St. Brendan’s. David Gibbons, Killina, defeated Ruairí Pilkington, 1^st singles. John O’Meara defeated Andrew Hogan, St. Brendan’s. Shane Thompson outscored St. Brendan’s Kevin Carey. The game that created excitement was 4^th singles. Jack Collins showed Liam Grennan no respect as he hammered away at him. Liam finally got the upper hand and scored a 15/14 victory. Since Killina won the 4 singles, the match was declared finished.

The final

Killina met Colaiste Naomh Cormac 1 in the final. Cian Dillon, CNC, scored a surprising victory against David Gibbons, reigning Offaly U20 singles Champion, 15/11. Stephen Newton, CNC, followed this with a win in 2^nd singles against John O’Meara, Killina. Rogan Stirrat, CNC, had to work a lot harder against Shane Thompson, Killina, but finally prevailed 15/13. Liam Grennan, Killina, brought the same drama to the final that he had produced in the semi-final, only this time the scores were reversed.

After fighting the entire match against Eoin Lambe, CNC, with first one ahead and then the other, with the last rally of the game, with the score 14-all, Eoin scored the final point, 15/14. With a clean sweep of the singles, CNC were declared the U19 Offaly Boys Post-Primary Schools champions. Colaiste Naomh Cormac will represent Offaly in Division 2 Leinster and Killina will represent in Division 3 Leinster on 22 January.

Girls competition

Five teams from four schools contested the Girls U19, Ard Scoil Chiaran Naofa, Banagher College Colaiste na Sionna, Sacred Heart School 1 and 2, and St. Brendan’s Community School. As the competition progressed, competition at the top became very tight.

The competition started with Sacred Heart 1 playing Sacred Heart 2. Shannyn Healion, Shibani Venugopal, Amna Asif, Kelly Shirley and sub, Elizabeth Aubin quickly showed why they were 1 and Avrit Machado, Alyannah Martinez Zainab Safdas, Hanna Pielach, and subs Catherine Shaju and Liliana Pitlock were 2. The only close games were between Shibani and Alyanna, won by Shibani, and Shannyn and Shibani v Avrit and Alyannah Martinez. SHS 1 won all 6 games. ASCN met SHS1 next. The SHS team of Shannyn, Shibani, Amna, and Kelly were ruthless against Mia Leijin, Megan Christmas, Lana Carey Goulart, Mia Graham, Caitlin Flemming, and Chloe Delaney. SHS1 scored a 6-0 win.

Sacred Heart 2 proved they were no pushover against Banagher College, Emma Scully, Sorcha Troy, Rachel Kenny, Tiffany Chen, Rebecca Moran, and Aoife Moylan. SHS2 won the first 3 singles games when Avrit defeated Emma, Alyanah defeated Sorcha and Zainab defeated Rachel. Tiffany got BCCNS into the winners circle with a defeat of Hanna. However, the two doubles, Avrit and Alyanah and Zainab and Hanna were won by Sacred Heart. The match score finished SHS2 5, BCCNS 1.

The St. Brendan’s team, Eabha McDowall, Sarah Tierney, Siofra Ginty, Katie Standish, and Ciara Walshe met a changed Banagher team next. Eabha defeated Rebecca Moran, Sarah defeated Aoife Moylan, Síofra defeated Rachel Kenny, and Katie defeated Emma Scully. St. Brendan’s finished the match winning the 2 doubles for a 6-0 victory.

The match between SHS2 and ASCN showed the difference in strength between the top and the bottom of the table, with SHS2 being in the middle. Megan Christmas and Lana Carey Goulart raised ASCN hopes for a win, but were dashed at the end when Zainab and Hanna for SHS2 scored a 15/14 win. Match score, 6-0. SHS1 started well against St. Brendan’s. Shannyn and Shibani defeated Eabha and Sarah in 1^st and 2^nd singles. Síofra stood up for St. Brendan’s with a 15/10 win against Amna. Kelly then won for SHS1 against Katie for St. Brendan’s. Shannyn and Shibani won 1^st doubles for SHS 1, and in a thrilling finale, Síofra and Katie outscored Amna and Kelly for another Birr victory. Match score, 4-2 to SHS1.

When Ard Scoil Chiaran Naofa met Banagher College, ASCN scored their first win of the competition. Mia Graham defeated Tiffany from Banagher 15/9. Unfortunately, this was ASCN’s only win. Banagher College won the remaining 5 games for a 5-1 victory. Sacred Heart 1 played a very one-sided match against BCCNS. Even though there were some long rallies, SHS1, Shannyn, Shibani, Amna, and Kelly, scored victories in all 6 games against Sorcha, Rebecca, Rachel, and Tiffany. Match score, 6-0 to SHS1.

SHS2 versus St. Brendan’s proved another very one sided match. Eabha, Sarah, Síofra, Katie, and Ciara Walshe won all 6 games against Avrit, Alyanah, Zainab and Hanna. The SHS girls fought hard in the doubles, but could only manage 13 points in each game. St. Brendan’s won 6-0. St. Brendan’s were equally hard on ASCN. This time it was Caitlin, Mia, Lana, Mia, and Megan that felt the power of St. Brendan’s. Ciara Walshe substituted for Katie Standish, but this in no way weakened St. Brendan’s. Again, they scored a 6-0 win.

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When all the points were totalled, Sacred Heart 1 topped the table with 22 points, and as Offaly Champions, will go forward into Leinster Division 2. St. Brendan’s finished in second place with 20 points and will go forward into Leinster Division 3. SHS2, the middle team finished with wins of 5 and 6 and losses of 0 and 0, to show the split between the strong and weak teams.