Kenny and Perry Take Titles in Dublin

Liam Kenny and Madeline Perry both successfully retained their national titles in today's finals at the ILTB Irish Senior National Squash Championships in Fitzwilliam.  Kenny again had to come from behind as he defeated the number two seed John Rooney by three games to one. The first game was a very cagey affair with neither player looking willing to take any chances. Rooney managed to maintain a marginal advantage throughout and took the game 11/9. Rooney then stormed into a 5/3 lead in the second and the match seemed to be swinging in his favour. However a few well played rallies from Kenny coupled with some unforced errors from Rooney saw Kenny take the next five points in a row to take an 8/5 lead. This was a gap that Rooney could not close and Kenny levelled the match at one game all.

The third game proved to be the decisive one as Rooney appeared to tire considerably opening up the court for Kenny, which the defending champion took full advantage of. Kenny proceeded to dominate the remaining two games as he clinched the match and with it his fifth national title. In the third place play off Carlow man Arthur Gaskin continued his recent good form as he beat veteran Derek Ryan by three games to one. The form of Gaskin this weekend has been one of the highlights of the event and he will look to come back next year and go even further than his semi-final place this year.

In the Ladies Event Madeline Perry put on a flawless display as she beat Sligo's Aisling Blake by three sets to nil and secured her tenth national title. Perry has dominated the women's game in Ireland in recent years and her achievement of winning ten titles is one which must be applauded. The World number nine, Perry, proved too good for Blake, and managed to finish the match within half an hour. Perry took the first game with relative ease, but Blake started the second extremely well and managed to work herself into a 3/0 lead. However Perry moved up through the gears with ease taking the second set 11/6 and winning the third by the same scoreline.

In the third place play off Zoe Barr continued to upset the seedings as she beat Tanya Owens the third seed by three games to one. Barr will be delighted with her perfomance this weekend as she adds the scalp of Owens to that of Kerri Lancaster whom she defeated in the quarter-finals.


Men's A:
Final: (1) Liam Kenny 3/1 (2) John Rooney (9/11, 11/8, 11/6, 11/6)
3rd Place Play-Off: (4) Arthur Gaskin 3/1 (3) Derek Ryan (11/5, 8/11, 11/5, 11/5)

Ladies A:
Final: (1) Madeline Perry 3/0 (2) Aisling Blake (11/4, 11/6, 11/6)
3rd Place Play-Off: (5) Zoe Barr 3/1 (3) Tanya Owens (7/11, 11/5, 11/4, 11/7)

All pics below courtesy of Martin Maher:

Presentation of prizes at Fitzwilliam with  Rory Gillen of Invest Like The Best.
Pictured at the presentation of prizes in Fitzwilliam are, from left to right: Michael J. Hynes, Chairperson Irish Squash; Rory Gillen from the sponsors ILTB; Madeline Perry Irish Women's Champion 2008; John Rooney Men's runner-up; Liam Kenny Irish Men's Champion 2008; John O'Connor, President Irish Squash; Aisling Blake, Women's runner-up; Chris Traynor, COO Irish Squash. Below the Irish National Champions 2008.
National Champions 2008 - Madelin Perry and Liam Kenny.
Kenny and Rooney in action in Finals 2008.
The finalists in action on court one before appreciative spectators.
Blake and Perry in action in Finals 2008.

All pics above courtesy of Martin Maher.

Irish Nationals 2007

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