Munster success for Clare badminton teams

CLARE juvenile badminton teams did the county proud at the recent Munster Inter-county Competition in Killarney where they competed at U-11, U-13, U-15 and U-17 levels.
This is the second year the competition was held and there was keen interest in the matches as well as a great atmosphere in the hall throughout a very long day.
The U-11 team, with some players new to competitive action, lost out to a very strong Cork side. The U-11 panel consisted of Sadhbh Fennessy (an Droichead), Brídín Dinan (Annachneal), Niamh Blake, Saoirse Flynn (both Miltown Malbay), Katie Browne, Aaron Moloney, Patrick Bugler, Ronan Foley (all Ennis), Cian Flanagan and Saul Boyd (both Miltown Malbay). The team was managed and coached on the day by Eamon Flynn who was ably assisted by Joanne Flynn.
The U-13 team comfortably retained the title won by the county last year and great individual performances by both Cathal Ruane and Maurice Molloy at first and second boys’ singles definitely helped their cause. The panel consisted of Moya Ryan (an Droichead), Karen McNamara, Róisín Dwyer, Lana Browne, Áine Ryan, Sally Molloy (all Ennis), Cathal Ruane, Maurice Molloy, David Moloney, Brendan Dolan (all Ennis) and Kieran Galvin (Ardnacrusha). Team manager was Hilary O’Sullivan and she was assisted by team coach Liam O’Halloran.
The U-15 team played superbly against very strong opposition to also retain the title won by the county last year. There were some great individual performances as well as nail-biting moments along the way before Ennis narrowly edged out a very able Tipperary side to clinch the title. The panel consisted of Ciara Dwyer, Amy McNamara, Megan Bredin, Emma Kavanagh, Cian Ruane, Ciarán O’Brien, Eoin Flynn (all Ennis), Róisín Rynne (Ardnacrusha), Darren Marsh-Chaplin, Matthew Troy (both Broadford) and Seán Hanrahan (Miltown Malbay). The team was managed and coached on the day by Al Bredin.
The U-17 team had some great wins on the day but faced very strong opposition in their section and ultimately lost out in the battle for a placing. The panel consisted of Sinéad Flynn, Susie Molloy, Jack Bugler, Sarah-Jane O’Connell and Sophie Marron (all Ennis), Aisling O’Brien (Ardnacrusha), Stefan Marsh-McMahon, Shane Taylor, Diarmuid Moloney, Shane Keniry (all Broadford), The team was managed on the day by Tony Flynn.