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Juvenile Talent is “Frightening”

"The level of juvenile talent is frightening!"

Just one of the throw away comments made during the weekend as six young players earned their spots on Team Ireland during what has to be considered as one of the best Irish Junior Nationals ever. A quick glance at the draw trees will give an idea of the depth of quality we currently possess, with any of the quarter finalists in pretty much all of the grades harbouring realistic ambitions of glory.

But anyone in attendance yesterday would most certainly agree the the level of juvenile players coming through is exceptional, and indeed frightening! 

The climax of a long weekend produced an exhilarating match, arguably the match of the weekend, as Clare's Colin Corbett came from a game down, and 18-12 down in the second to snatch victory from Darren Doherty's grasp with a 19-21, 21-19, 11-9 win. Both players showed fantastic handballing ability and it was tough for their to be a loser, but credit, and a spot on Team Ireland goes to Corbett, who came through the draw quietly and deserved his win, having also taken out last years All-Ireland Minor Champion Johnny Woods in the SF.

Ciana Ni Churraoin is starting to establish herself on the senior scene, and she looked very impressive in her 19&U final win over Tyrone's Maeve McElduff, whilst McElduff's club mate Eilise McCrory produced an exhibition of serving to defeat Niamh Coleman in the Girls 17&U final.

Fergal Coughlan survived a titanic battle with Tyrone's All-Ireland Minor finalist Sean Kerr in an 11-8 tiebreak win, but could not replicate his performance as Wexford's Daniel Kavanagh took the 17&U final. Coughlan has raced into an early 10-1 lead but Kavanagh showed great fight to come from behind to steal the first 21-20. This provided the momentum for the St Joseph's club man to race ahead into a 17-7 lead in the second before Coughlan was forced to retire with an injury.

Tiarnan Agnew produced a classy performance to seal an eye-catching 21-13, 21-5 win over Galway's Peter Donohue and is certainly a name to watch in the coming years. Catriona Millane joined Agnew as the 15&U rep as she took out many big names en route to an 11-2 tiebreak final win over Armagh's top seeded Megan McCann.

In the 13&U grades, both Lorcan McBride of Tyrone & Niamh Heffernan of Galway looked a class apart as they dominated their respective grades. McBride saw off Clare's Mark Rodgers 15-6, 15-4 whilst Heffernan defeated Kildare's Mollie Dagg 15-4, 15-3 in an equally impressive showing.

Kilkenny took the Boys 11&U Doubles as Billy Drennan & Daniel Hanrahan defeated Roscommon's Phillip Halliday& Eanna Moran 15-10, 15-12, whilst Sadhbh Ni Fhlaithearta/Chloe Philpott (Galway/Clare) completed the titles with a nail biting 15-13, 15-13 win over Clodagh Munroe/Cliodhna Phillips (Tyrone/Antrim).

Click here for Full Results

Final Results:

Boys 19 & Under Final: Colin Corbett (Clare) dft Darren Doherty (Monaghan) 19-21, 21-19, 11-9

Boys 17 & Under Final: Daniel Kavanagh (Wexford) dft Fergal Coughlan (Clare) 21-20, 17-7 (Coughlan ret. inj.)

Boys 15 & Under Final: Tiarnan Agnew (Clare) defeats Peter Donohue (Galway) 21-13, 21-5

Boys 13 & Under Final: Tyrone Lorcan McBride dft Clare Mark Rodgers 15-6, 15-4

Boys 11&Under Final: Kilkenny (Billy Drennan/Daniel Hanrahan) dft Roscommon (Phillip Halliday/Eanna Moran) 15-10 , 15-12 

Girls 19 & Under Final: Ciana Ni Churraoin (Galway) dft Maeve McElduff (Tyrone) 21-7, 21-8

Girls 17&Under Final: Eilise McCrory (Tyrone) dft Niamh Coleman (Armagh) 21-10, 21-4

Girls 15 & Under Final: Limerick Catriona Millane dft Armagh Megan McCann 21-11, 18-21, 11-2

Girls 13 & Under Final: Galway Niamh Heffernan dft Kildare Mollie Dagg 15-4, 15-3

Girls 11&Under Final: Sadhbh Ni Fhlaithearta/Chloe Philpott (Galway/Clare) dft Clodagh Munroe/Cliodhna Phillips (Tyrone/Antrim) 15-13, 15-13

Other key results:

Girls 15&Under Semi Final: Armagh Megan McCann dft Kildare Leah Doyle 21-18, 21-14

Boys 15&Under Semi Final: Galway Peter Donohue dft Tyrone Antoin Fox 21-19, 21-16

Boys 15&Under Semi Final: Clare Tiernan Agnew dft Cork Cian O Driscoll 21-6, 21-8

Girls 17 & Under Semi Final: Limerick Catriona Millane dft Clare Bridin Dinane 12-21, 21-11, 11-6

Boys 17 & Under Semi Final: Wexford Daniel Kavanagh dft Cork Tadhg O'Neill 21-17, 21-3

Boys 17 & Under Semi Final: Clare Fergal Coughlan dft Tyrone Sean Kerr 19-21, 21-8, 11-7

Boys 13 & Under Semi Final: Tyrone Lorcan McBride dft Kilkenny Kyle Dunne 15-1, 15-6

Girls 13 & Under Semi Final: Galway Niamh Heffernan dft Tyrone Caitlin Conway 15-8, 15-6

Boys 13&Under Semi Final: Clare Mark Rodgers dft Monaghan Eoghan McGinnitty 15-6, 15-14

Girls 13 &Under Semi Final: Kildare Mollie Dagg dft Tyrone Elizabeth McGarvey 15-4, 15-14

Girls 17 & Under Semi Final: Tyrone Elise McCrory dft Eimear Ni Bhiadha 21-17, 21-13