Kenny and Perry retain ILTB Irish Squash National Titles

The top two seeds in both the Men’s and Ladies events at the ILTB Irish Squash National Championships retained their respective titles.
Perry marking her return to competitive play having been injured for the previous two months showed little rustiness as she steamrollered her way through the first game winning it 9-0 in one hand. Blake, to her credit, steadied herself and although Perry was ahead all the way in the second it was competitive to the last with Perry just piping it 9-7. Many would have predicted a procession in the third but this time it was Blake who had the upper hand. At 7 all the rally of the match had both players covering every corner of the court and displaying superb reflexes before Blake finished with a tight backhand drop shot which proved too good for Perry. After several more exchanges Blake secured the third game with another trademark kill. Perry clearly sensing danger upped her game in the fourth and at 5-4 won the last four points in one hand to run out the winner 9-4 and claim her eighth National Championship title.
Perry told the audience at Fitzwilliam “ It’s great to be back on the court after the difficult last two months and I am looking forward to returning to the tour and also returning here next year”

The men’s final saw a repeat of lat year’s final, however Rooney’s form at the recent World Men’s teams in India, where he helped Ireland to a respectable twelfth place, had been impressive and the outcome was far from predictable. The first game was long and physically demanding as both players looked to gain the upper hand. In the end it was Kenny who broke the deadlock form 8-all with some deft touches forcing Rooney to give away a stroke point to loose the game after 17 minutes. The early exchanges for the second where long and hard and midway through the game it was clear that Rooney was suffering the effects of a long world teams campaign and a bug he had picked up at the end of it. Kenny took the game 11-4 in 14 minutes. A drained looking Rooney could only put up minimal resistance to the Kenny onslaught and at 6-1 asked for a three minute injury time out. Clearly under pressure a disappointed Rooney conceded the game and match.
Kenny said “I am pleased to have been able to retain my title but it’s not how I would like to have won and I wish John a speedy recovery. I know he’ll be disappointed but look forward to seeing him back here next year.”

From left: Irish Squash President, John O'Connor; Martin Rodgers, Chair of Squash Fitzwilliam LTC; John Rooney; Angus Kirkland, COO Irish Squash; Aisling Blake, Madeline Perry, Liam Kenny and Michael J. Hynes, Chair Irish Squash.

Ladies Final Madeline Perry (1) bt Aisling Blake (2) 9/0 9/7 7/9 9/4 (48mins)
Men’s Final Liam Kenny (1) bt John Rooney (2) 11/8 11/4 6/1 (ret)
Mens B Roland Budd (1) bt David Knox (3) 9/5 9/5 9/4
Men’s Over 35 David Ayerst (1) bt Dara O’Flynn 2/9 9/6 9/6 10/8
Men’s Over 40 Eoin Ryan (2) bt Keith Bullen (1) 9/6 9/5 9/6
Ladies Over 35 Rosie Barry bt Michele Jackson (2) 10/8 9/1 6/9 9/1

Madeline Perry, Rory Gillen of sponsors Invest Like The Best and Liam Kenny.

Third Round Results
Men’s A
Liam Kenny (1) bt Arthur Gaskin (4) 11/8 11/4 11/6
John Rooney (2) bt Derek Ryan (3) 11/8 11/1 11/4
Stevie Richardson (3) bt Peter Emmanuelle 11/3 11/8 11/13 11/9
Rory Byrne bt Niall Rooney 13/11 11/6 11/1
Kevin Moore bt Rory Gilligan 11/5 11/8 11/9
Neal Murphy bt Kevin Knox 8/11 11/3 11/5 11/5
Nigel Peyton bt Nick Staunton 11/7 8/11 12/10 7/11 11/8
Ronan Peyton bt Sam Olwill 11/5 8/11 11/8 11/7

The juniors who attended the pre-final clinic pictured with some of the participating coaches, Elvy d'Costa and

Women's A
Madeline Perry (1) bt Tanya Owens 9/1 9/2 9/0
Aisling Blake bt Laura Mylotte 9/6 9/3 9/3
Kerri Sheilds bt Claire O’Brien 9/2 9/4 9/3
Zoe Barr bt Julie McMurray 9/10 9/7 9/0 4/9 9/6
Rosin Brennan bt Michelle Jackson 9/3 9/4 2/9 6/9 9/5
Jody Hannon bt Cathryn Abernethy 5/9 10/9 9/510/8
Joan Gorham bt Sarah Murphy 9/0 9/4 9/6
Cheryl Ennis bt Emer O’Brein w/o

First Round Results
Men’s A
Liam Kenny (1) bt Sam Olwill 11/5 11/3 11/2
John Rooney (2) bt Kevin Moore 11/9 11/3 11/3
Derek Ryan (3) bt Rory Gilligan 11/6 11/10 (2-0) 11/5
Arthur Gaskin (4) bt Kevin Knox 11/7 11/1 11/5
Stevie Richardson bt Ronan Peyton 11/9 11/3 11/3
Niall Rooney bt Nigel Peyton 11/ 9 11/1 11/10
Rory Byrne bt Nick Staunton 11/10 11/5 11/8
Peter Emmanuel bt Neal Murphy 9/11 5/11 11/7 11/5 11/8

Women's A
Madeline Perry (1) by Sarah Murphy 9/0 9/2 9/0
Aisling Blake (2) Emer O’Brien W/o
Laura Mylotte (3) bt Cheryl Ennis 9/0 9/0 9/0
Tanya Owens (4) bt Joan Gorham 9/1 9/1 9/1
Kerri shields (5) bt Cathryn Abernethy 9/0 9/2 9/1
Zoe Barr (6) bt Michele Jackson 9/4 9/1 9/3
Julie McMurray bt Roisin Brennan 9/5 9/1 9/0
Claire O’Brien bt Jody Hannon 9/4 9/2 2/9 9/7

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