Ireland Women Claim Gold at ESF European Team Championships

Our women’s side of Hannah Craig, Breanne Flynn, Hannah McGugan and Emma Lundy brilliant captured the ESF European Team Championship – Division 3 title in Romania over the weekend.

It was an incredible display of teamwork, talent and skillset to sweep the opposition away and claim gold for team Ireland.

The Irish girls dropped just one game in the entire tournament against Ukraine during the pool stages, but went won better in the final, overcoming Ukraine in straight games to collect the trophy and secure promotion to division 2 next season.

The whole team notched wins on the board during the opening phases of the tournament where Ireland defeated Ukraine and hammered Luxembourg to secure top spot in Pool A. Ireland then dispatched Malta with ease (3-0) in a combined 49 mins to secure a semi-final spot against Sweden.

Our top ranked senior women in the country, Hannah Craig and Breanne Flynn put the Swedes to the swords in emphatic fashion to set up a final showdown against a side we had already beaten in the Pool stages.

Once again, a convincing showing from Flynn and Craig secured the gold for Ireland, in straight games.

Following relegation last season, coach Kenny Flynn stated that “promotion is the aim” heading into this tournament, which the girls duly delivered. This was a terrific bounce back and a true show of character from the Irish women to put themselves back amongst Europe’s elite.

Congratulations to the whole team and their coach, Kenny Flynn and manager Jenny Dillon on this wonderful achievement.

3 of the side, Hannah Craig, Breanne Flynn and Hannah McGugan now head to Fitzwilliam LTC on Tuesday for the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Squash Open 2024 which will be live on Premier Sports 2 from 5pm on Tuesday.