Mia O’Rahilly Egan, Ken Strong & Thuy Linh Cashman
In the Under 18 Girls group stages the seeded players did not have it all their own way with unseeded Lucy Craig and Lucy McIvor both winning through to the quarter finals. At this stage
Lucy Craig won the first two sets against Thuy Linh Cashman and looked like causing another upset. Thuy Linh however played her way into the match and came through in 5 sets.
Lucy McIvor, although on the losing side, also showed fine form against Mia O’Rahilly Egan with the first two sets being very competitive.
The semi finals saw Mia play Silke Heinen (who had played very well in defeating Pravesha Ragi) and Zofia Wawrzyniah take on Thuy Linh. In a high quality encounter, Silke was dominant in the first two sets against Mia winning both 11/7 and seemed likely to cause an upset against the National Champion.
Mia fought back to take the match to a decider with some fine play of her own winning the next two sets 11/7, 11/8.
In the fifth set Mia led from the off and took her place in the final winning it 11/5.
In the other semi final it was a similar affair with a close 5 setter between fellow Corkonians Thuy Linh and Zofia.
This time it was Thuy Linh who edged through in another close battle taking the fifth set 12/10.
In the final Thuy Linh won the first set 11/8 before Mia took sets 2 and 3, 11/9, 11/3. Thuy Linh was not going to give in and played suberbly to take the 4th set 11/6.
It was a close 5th set with Mia emerging the victor on her second match point taking it 11/9.
Art McLaughlin with Ken Strong
In the Under 18 Boys event Art McLaughlin and Alan Pattison got byes into the 2nd round Group stages.
Some of those who upset the odds and claimed higher ranking scalps in the first round groups included Eric Olsson, Jonathan Mooney, Max Skelton, Conor Nugent, Maitiu Heckmann, Conor O Sullivan and Conor Callan.
The top player from each of the second round groups advanced to the quarter final knockout stage.
In the quarter finals Art, Alan and Ormeau’s James Skelton all won to take their allotted seeding position in the semi final.
The one upset was in the all Connacht match between David Taylor and Thomas Joyce with David avenging his loss at the Nationals 3 weeks ago, winning 11/9 in the 5th to take his place in the semis v Art. Here his run ended as Art scored an impressive 3/0 victory. In the other semi Alan, was tested by James winning 13-11,13-11,11-9
In the all UCD final at one set all, Art took the next two sets 11/6, 11/6 to take the title showing that at the moment he is the dominant player in this category.
The Under 13 Girls event saw Rachel Taylor and her Primary Schools International teammate Emily Flynn come through to the final, beating Anjali Singh and Alice Looney in the semis. Top seeded Rachel won the final to take her first National Ranking title.
Gellert Morasvcil with Ken Strong
In the Under 13 Boys event Gellert Morasvcil, , Matthew Mooney, Tom Irwin and Fionn Hickey made up the semi finalists. While top seeded Gellert won his semi against Matthew, Tom upset Fionn in the bottom half.
In a close encounter in the final Gellert prevailed by a 3/2 scoreline.
On Sunday it was the turn of the Under 15s and Under 11s
The Under 11s saw a small entry and this Hopes event was combined with 8 boys and 2 girls taking part in the round robin event. It was played in a great fun atmosphere and they all received medals for taking part.
Pravesha Ragi with Tony Martin
The Under 15 Girls saw Pravesha Ragi, Silke Heinen, Thy Li Cashman and Isabelle O’Sullivan reached the semi finals with Pravesha and Silke advancing to the final. Meeting for the second time in two days and in a reversal of Saturdays result, Pravesha took the title 3/0 with some impressive play.
In the Under 15 Boys event James Skelton became favourite following the withdrawal of Thomas Joyce and he duly made his way into the semi finals where he was joined by his brother Max, Jonathan Mooney & Dillon Byrne.
In arguably the boys match of the weekend James beat Jonathan in a tight 5 set tussle which produced many high quality ralllies. Meanwhile Dillon came through the other semi against Max. In the final James and Dillon shared the first two sets before James showed his mettle to take the title by winning the next two sets 11/5, 11/8.
Thanks to the top table team: Maria Maume, Con O Ceadaigh and Tony Martin, all the umpires and the UCD crew for hall set up and take down.
Full results ATTACHED