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Quality lineup in 19&U Grades

This years Boys 19&U grade has a real depth of quality about it, with several top 17&U players making the jump up to the older age group in an attempt to grasp that final elusive spot on Team Ireland. 

The field is one of the most open in years, which will lead to an exciting finish on Sunday, with the 19&U Final scheduled to close out the tournament as the last match on centre court.

Top seed is Tyrone’s Johnny Woods, the reigning champion. Woods is a powerful and athletic young player, who totally dominated the Minor scene in 40x20, 60x30 & One-Wall in 2014, and will have his eyes firmly on more glory.

There are however a few notable names in the top half of the draw that can cause Woods trouble. Clare’s Fergal Coughlan is one such name, having fallen short to Woods in a number of key minor deciders in 2014 across the codes. Galway’s Jamie Kelly was the surprise package last year, storming through the Boys 17&U grade from the preliminary round to take his maiden National title. Kelly saw off Coughlan in a tiebreak last year, and should seeds hold through, a tasty QF between the pair will give Coughlan the opportunity to exact his revenge.

Monaghan’s talented Darren Doherty props up the bottom half of the draw, and the Emyvale man will be keen to claim the Team Ireland spot after coming agonizingly close in the Junior Nationals 40x20 decider. Doherty reached the final of the Clan Eireann Open last weekend in Armagh, interestingly enough falling to Tyrone’s Pol Clarke in the Final. Clarke is seeded #3 this weekend and will be full of confidence with his excellent win, his first in a Men’s Open grade.

Two more key Tyrone men remain in the bottom half of the draw and will be dangerous opponents, last years 17&U Finalist Niall Allison and 2014 15&U champion Sean Kerr, who makes a big jump up in grades, but has the talent to cause upsets.

The Girls 19&U grade sees Galway’s Ciana Ni Churraoin head the field. Ni Churraoin has had a sensationally dominant juvenile career, and will be keen to seal victory in her final juvenile event on Irish soil, having already made big strides in the Ladies Open grade both at home and internationally. She faces the winner of Minor 40x20 Doubles champion Clodagh Nash of Clare, and Laois’ Niamh Dunne in the sole QF encounter.

The bottom SF is an all Ulster affair between Tyrone’s Maeve McElduff & Armagh’s Niamh Coleman. McElduff’s experience, having playing in the Ladies Open section last year should stand her in good steed, where she almost completed a remarkable comeback in the dying seconds before falling just short to the Netherland’s Miranda Scheffer in the QF’s. Coleman has had an illustrious juvenile career herself winning National One-Wall titles in each of the last three years, including last years 17&U title.

The Girls 19&U final will be the penultimate match on centre court at 2pm on Sunday afternoon.