All-Ireland success for St Anne’s, Killaloe

ST Anne’s Community College first competed in the All-Ireland Schools’ Badminton finals in 1996 when the competition was held in Baldoyle.

In subsequent years, as this competition expanded to facilitate up to 40 schools in the finals, it was necessary to move to Gormanston College, which has a facility capable at accommodating 16 badminton courts.
For the last 15 years, St Anne’s teams have competed in all the boys’/girls’ categories and have been placed every year with two All-Ireland titles and a number of runners-up places.
This year, the school is very proud to have brought home two All-Ireland titles, U-14 and U-19 girls. The U-14s were very impressive throughout the day, winning their matches 4-2, 6-0, 6-0, to emerge comprehensive winners. The team members were Moya Ryan, Aisling O’Donnell, Ciara Hayes, Kealy Power and Rebekah Sartini.
The U-19 girls, with two new members on their team from last year’s team, had a tough day in which they had some very close matches but came through 4-2 in all three games. The team included Aisling Ryan, Sally Ryan, Róisín Healy, Áine Ryan and Emer O’Shea. The success augurs well for the future of the game at the college.
St Anne’s U-16 boys were third in their competition. The team was unfortunate to have had injuries and illness in the weeks leading up to the finals but Peter O’Leary, Niall Kierse, Dan Finnerty, Conor Gilmore, Stiofán McMahon and Eamon Healy will challenge again next year.
The standard at this level is very high and huge credit is due to all players involved. Sarah Devane, badminton coach, deserves great credit for her continued dedication and commitment throughout the years. The teams received great help from Killaloe Adult Badminton Club and John Daly and Barry McCarthy.