Team Ireland’s 1-Wall challenge is on winning ways with Eoghan McGinnity and Niamh Heffernan winning today Saturday 11th August, on this the third day of the championships.
McGinnity after yesterday comprehensive QF win over Mark Crehan 21-0, 21-8 faced the tough Jason O’Toole in the semi-finals this morning. This turned out to be an epic of a match with very little between both players. It was nip and tuck all the way with only a couple of aces separating both players throughout the game. Both players had a few chances to clinch the first but Eoghan took his third chance in style with a low kill into the left corner to win 21-20.
The second game was equally as tight but the hungrier O’Toole took the second 21-15 to setup a tie-break to the large on looking crowd’s delight. McGinnity started at an emphatic pace with some outstanding kills. Rallies were long but Eoghan was in top class form from the start and quickly went into a 6-0 lead. No matter how hard Jason tired McGinnity was on fire and extended his lead to 9-0. In the end he took the third 11-0. McGinnity now faces Eimhin O’Diolluin on Monday at 2pm local time in the final.
Niamh Heffernan of Galway started her campaign with a great performance at the QF stage of the 1-Wall 17&U grade when she overcame Cailosa Ni Dhuill 21-10, 21-2. This scoreline does not indicate how tight this game was with some great serving and long rallies in both games. Niamh now plays Mollie Dagg on Monday at 8am.
Ireland’s official 1-Wall reps in the Open grade don’t see action until Monday. The 4-Wall Championships don’t start till Monday 13th August with most of the team Ireland players not into action until Tuesday.
Day 3 Key Results (1-Wall) – Saturday 11th:
- Boys 17&U Singles SF: Eoghan McGinnity (Team Ireland) dft Jason O’Toole 21-20, 15-21, 11-0
- Girls 17&U Singles QF: Niamh Heffernan (Team Ireland) dft Cailosa Ni Dhuill
Day 4 Key Fixtures (1-Wall) – Sunday 12th:
- Girls 15&U Singles QF: Mairead Fox (Team Ireland) v Katie Barrett
- Boys 19&U Doubles QF: Shane Dunne/Tiarnan Agnew (Team Ireland/Clare) v Peter Donohue/Cian Conneely
CLICK HERE FOR MEN’S 1-WALL OPEN DRAW