Connacht Squash

Wecome to the home page of Connacht Squash, the governing body of squash in Connacht

Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open 2010
Both Madeline Perry and Ashling Blake into the quarter finals on Friday.
See shot by shot account of all matches at squashsite.co.uk

Elvery's Sport Connacht Junior Open - Junior Tour 1
Tournament will take place at GLTC 25th - 26th September 2010.
For online entry click here.
Please note that the Connacht Squash AGM will take place at 2.00 p.m.on Saturday 25th.

75th Anniversary of Irish Squash - Gala Dinner on Saturday 2nd October
2010 is the 75th Anniversary of the foundation of Irish Squash. This is being celebrated by way of a Gala Dinner on Saturday 2nd October 2010. The location will be the Conrad Dublin Hotel, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.
Past presidents of Irish Squash will attend together with people who have made major contributions to Irish Squash over the years.
Tickets available from:
Galway area: Michael Hynes (087-2371971, reachforhynes@eircom.net) or
North Connacht: Brian Mahon (087-2894767, mahonten9in5th@eircom.net)

Congratulations to Derek Ryan and Barbara Sanderson on winning World Masters Titles
Congratulations to Derek Ryan and Barbara Sanderson who took the O40 and 070 respective titles in the World Masters Championship in Cologne, Germany at the weekend. See Irish Squash site for full details and pictures.

Madeline Perry wins the Grays Australian Open
Congratulations to Madeline Perry who won the Grays Australian Open over the weekend.
She overcame world #2 Jenny Duncalf in the semifinal and prevailed over world #4 Alison Waters in the final 11-5, 12-10, 6-11, 4-11, 13-11 (75 minutes). A brilliant performance by any standards and we applaud her achievement.

Irish Squash is now on FACEBOOK - click on Facebook icon at the top of the home page of Irish Squash.

Proposed new format for All-Ireland Club Championships
Comments to Irish Squash before the end of August (for next Board Meeting 30th August when final decision will be made)

Conor O'Shea selected on Irish Boys' Team for the World Junior Championships - Quito, Ecuador, July 27th - August 7th
Contratulations to Conor O'Shea (GLTC) who has been selected on the Irish team for the Junior World Championships which take place at the Quito Tennis and Golf Club in the Ecuadorian Capital.
Quito is 25 Km south of the equator and at an elevation of 2,800 metres (9,188 ft) is the highest legal capital in the world. Fortunately the average noon temperature in July-August is only 19 Centrgrade.
In addition to customised individual training programmes, the team will undergo altitude aclimiatisation at the high performance centre at the University of Ulster. This is equipped with a decompression chamber. We wish Conor and the rest of the team every success.Full details available here.

Connacht Rep Required
We now require a Connacht Rep. to sit on the board of Irish Squash. The task involves attendance at Board Meetings (approximately 9 per year) and compiling the Connacht Reports to the Board meetings. It is not a particularly onerous task and provides an excellent opportunity to gain experience in squash administration.
Anyone interested in the position, please contact Edwin Brennan at GLTC.

Liam Kenny announces his retirement
Liam Kenny recently announced his retirement from representative squash. Although born in Australia, he represented Ireland for many years. He reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 31 in April 2007. He was five times an Irish National Champion in 2001 and in 2004 to 2008. He played on the Irish team in the European Team Championships from 2001 to 2008 as well as the World Championships in 2001, 2005 and 2007. He was a class player and a gentleman on and off the squash court. We wish him well in his future career.


Irish Squash Annual General Meeting
Irish Squash held their AGM on Sunday last, June 13th in Sport HQ.
The following are the officer positions filled at the meeting.
President: ......................... John O'Connor
Chairman:.......................... Michael J Hynes
Treasurer:............................Rory Gillen
Secretary:........................... Emma Toolin
Senior Convenor:.................Ed Dunne
Coaching Secretary:.............Eddie Murphy
Junior Administrator:.............Lee Healy
Refereeing Secretary:............Brian Williams
National Children's Officer:....Gerry Connaughton
Leinster Representative:.........Tariq Zaki
Ulster Representative:.............Frank Marks
Munster Representative:.........Dermot McNamara
Connacht Representative:.......Vacant
Tournament Secretary:...........Vacant

Edwin Brennan has stood down as secretary. He has been an outstanding secretary for the past four years and we are all grateful for his enormous contribution to squash in Ireland over that period.
Beatrice Byrne has also stood down as Leinster Rep. after many dedicated years of service and we thank her for that.

Big win for Aisling Blake
Aisling Blake (Sligo and Connacht) won the recent Hemubo Squash Trophy in the Netherlands. She only dropped two games in the competition and is now playing her best squash ever. Following this win, she should improve on her current world ranking of 25.

Congratulations to Aisling Blake and Laura Mylotte
Connacht Squash salutes Aisling Blake and Laura Mylotte who were members of the Irish Ladies Team that finished in 4th place in the recent European Senior Championships in Aix-en-Provence. The other members of the team were Madeline Perry and Zoe Barr (both Ulster). Madeline had a fabulous tournament winning all here matches and beating the world #2 Jenny Duncalf (Eng.) on two occasions. Congratulations to all on a magnificant achievement.

Canadian Visitors
A team of 13 Canadian squash players from Ottawa visited Galway Lawn Tennis Club recently and played a selection of players from the club. The Canadian players ranged from A to D grades. Most of the matches were close (3-1 or 3-2) with only one 3-0 win for GLTC and one 0-3 loss. GLTC eventually won narrowly on a 7-6 scoreline. Overall a most enjoyable event and an excellent opportunity to test our skills against new players we have never played before. All who played really enjoyed the matches and the social event in the Salthill Hotel that followed the squash. The Canadian players had already played in Naas and were going on to play in Coleraine, Belfast and Dublin.

All Ireland Schools Finals
The All Ireland Schools Finals were held on Friday 23 April at Galway Lawn Tennis Club.
It was a very successful day thanks to the participating schools, the parents and the excellent organisation by Edwin Brennan (Tournament Director)
Congratulations to the Connacht Schools who featured in the prize winners.
St. Pats NS Galway won the Boys U-13 title while the Girls from Mount St. Michael, Claremorris were runners-up in the Girls U13 category. All four provinces were represented in the the winning schools.
Full results are:
Category--------Winners------------------------------------------------Runner-up
Boys U-13-----St Pats NS, Galway (C) -------------------Scoil Ailbhe, Thurles (M)
Girls U-13-----Santa Sabina, Sutton (L)--------------------Mount St. Michael, Claremorris (C)
Boys U-15-----St Fintans, Sutton (L)----------------------Campbell College, Belfast (U)
Girls U-15----- Presentation Secondary, Thurles (M)-------Santa Sabina, Sutton (L)
Boys U-19----- Methody College, Belfast (U)--------------C.B.S, Carlow (L)

Garavan's West of Ireland Squash Open 2010 (ILTB Tour 7)
PSA Section Finals
In the final world #65 Alan Clyne (Scotland) defeated world #93 Piedro Schweertman (Holland) 3-0 (11/4, 11/8, 11/5)
A Section Finals
In the final Niall Rooney defeated Neil Martin 3-0 (11/6, 11/9, 12/10)
Ladies Final
In the ladies final, Laura Mylotte defeated Carlisle based Veronica Bell in a close fought and most entertaining match 3-1 with scores of 9/11, 11/6, 11/6, 11/7.
B Section Final Anthony Lyons defeated Alex Broadberry 3-0 (11/3, 11/7, 11/3)
C Section Final David Buxonat defeated Joe Lacey 3-0 (11/7, 11/0, 11/7)
D Section Final Martin O'Sullivan defeated Maurice Walsh 3-2 (11/8, 9/11, 6/11, 11/3, 11/6)


Full results of all matches are available on the Tournament Software site.
See Daniel Zilic's wonderfully incisive Blog where you will find a blow by blow account of the finals together with some general comments on the tournament. He pays a well deserved warm tribute to Tournament Director, Edwin Brennan.
This site is really worth a visit even if you were there at the tournament for all four days!
(Alternatively you can link into this at www.squashsite.co.uk).
Dan is that guy who typed continuously on his laptop during the matches - the results are now there for all to see.
Thanks Dan.
Connacht Squash and the Tournament Organisers thank Garvan's for their generous sponsorship.
They also thank Irish Squash and the Sports Council for their continued support for this Tournament.

Interprovincial Masters' Championships Results
The Masters' Interprovincial Championships were held in Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Friday and Saturday 19-20 March. As usual a weekend of superb squash with a nail-biting finish. Both the mens O-45 and O-55 events went to the wire with the destination of the trophy being decided by the final match between the #2 players of Ulster and Munster. Summary results are as follows:
Ladies O-40
Winner were Leinster with Munster in the #2 position and Ulster third.
Ladies O-50
Winners were Connacht with Ulster in the #2 position and Leinster third.
Men O-45
Winners were Munster with Ulster in the #2 position, Leinster third and Connacht fourth.
Men O-55
Winners were munster with Ulster in the #2 position, Leinster third and Connacht fourth.
Full details of all matches available HERE
See selection of pictures in pictures page.


SL Controls Connacht Senior Open Results
The Connacht Senior Open ended with a victory for Derek Ryan over Arthur Gaskin (3-0).
Rory Byrne finished in third place with a win over Niall Rooney (3-0).
Other results 5th and 6th Paul Bell W/O Steve Richardson - 7th and 8th Keith Moran beat Conor O Hare (3-0).
Anthony Lyons took the B Final with a 3-0 score v Andrew Lawrie.

Connacht Players do well at the Irish Junior Nationals
Connacht players won 3 National titles and 2 runner ups at the Irish Junior Nationals which were held at Mount Pleasant and Old Belvedere over the weekend of 12-14 February.
Rachel Quigley won the Girls U11, Roisin O'Shea won the Girls U13 while Fiona Power was runner up in the Girls U15.
Conor O'Shea prevailed over Sean Conroy to take the Boys U17 title while Jennifer Hegarty lost to overall winner Cathryn Abernethy to take the runner up spot in the Girls U19.
Well done to all of them.

Connacht Senior Closed, Galway Lawn Tennis Club 5th and 6th February 2010
Mens A - final - Niall Rooney beat Keith Moran 3/1
Semi-final - Niall Rooney beat Aidan Sharkey 3/2 Keith Moran beat Rory Gilligan 3/1

Mens B - final - Edwin Brennan beat Andre Davies 3/2
Semi final - Edwin Brennan beat TJ Mullins 3/1 Andre Davies beat Paul Brady 3/1

Mens C - Final - Tom Tracey beat James Barrett 3/1
Semi final - James Barrett beat Ronan Kelly 3/1 Tom Tracey beat Helen Reapy 3/0

Mens D final - Paul Butler beat David Mannion 3/1


John Rooney wins his 5th County Galway Sports Stars award
Following his recent success in winning the Irish Senior Nationals title, John Rooney was presented with his 5th County Galway Sports Stars award at the Banquet held in the Ardilaun Hotel on 23rd January. John is currently ranked #1 in Ireland. Brother Niall is currently ranked #4 in Ireland and we all salute their contributions to Irish Squash over the years.

John Rooney wins the Irish Senior Nationals title
Congratulations to John Rooney on winning his first Irish Senior Nationals title at Fitzwilliam at the weekend.
John had an emphatic win over Steve Richardson in the semi-final on Saturday evening and played controlled squash in the final to beat Arthur Gaskin 3-0. The Connacht contingent in the packed gallery celebrated with John and his family.
See the pictures.
In the ladies A final Sligo Aisling Blake had to eventually give way to world number 8 Madeline Perry. Aisling has every reason to be pleased with her performace as all three games were very close with scores of 11/8, 12/10 and 11/9.

Congratulations also to Laura Mylotte who beat Zoe Barr 3/1 to take 3rd place in the ladies A. Despite an extended lay-off due to injury, Laura put up a gallant performance against world number 8 Madeline Perry in the semi-final.

Irish Junior Open 2009
Congratulations to the organisers of the Irish Junior Open 2009 for running a magnificant tournament:
Edwin Brennan (tournament organiser). Ger Holohan (tournament administrator), Lee Healy (tournament refereee)
Sincere thanks to all the players especially the overseas players who travelled long distances.
Thanks also to the many GLTC members who helped over the weekend.
A link to the full results is available on the Tournaments Results page.


Connacht Masters Open 2009
Tournament was held on November 20-21 Galway Lawn Tennis Club.
A link to the full results is available on the Tournaments Results page.

Sincere Thanks
Connacht expresses its sincere thanks and admiration to those who made it to the Connacht Masters' Open and made it the success it turned out to be with some super matches on Friday evening.
Over 90% of those originally entered arrived and played their matches.
Their courage, perseverence and patience in the face of adversity is to be admired.
Some people spent up to 10 hours on the road.
We express our deep sympathy to the Cork player who announced his withdrawal as the water cascaded in his front door. We look forward to seeing him here in Galway again next year.
M. J. Hynes