Cork's Catriona Casey is the 2015 She's Ace Queen after an absorbing final win over Antrim's Aisling Reilly in Castlebar. The largest number of competitors ever in an Irish Ladies Open field took part in an exciting new format that brought increased number of games, and variety of opponents over the two days. After Saturdays group stages, the Open grade was whittled down to the SF stages where Casey saw off Martina McMahon, and Reilly saw off Maria Daly to set up yet an other final between the worlds top two ladies.
A large crowd remained for the final match of the weekend, which had six venues hosting 40x20 Handball on Saturday, then saw 100+ females take part in Sunday's One-Wall section. The first game was a cracker, with scores level on a few occasions, and never more than 3/4 points seperating either player, before Casey made a move in the latter stages to seal the first 21-15. Reilly went 3-0 up in the second as she tried to respond immediately, but Casey never let here build a lead and went 9-5 up. Both players had numerous occasions to score points, but long rallies and some exquisite attacking play from both ladies was a treat for the spectators. In the end, Casey again seized the intiative in the latter stages to close out the match 21-9.
40x20 Finals Recap:
11&U: Hazel Finn (Mayo) dft Chloe Philpot (Clare)
14&U: Bridin Dinane (Clare) dft Leah Doyle (Kildare)
17&U: Doireann Murphy (Clare) dft Eilise McCrory (Tyrone)
Ladies Challenger: Linda Seoige (Galway) dft Maguerite Keeling (Wexford)
Ladies B: Niamh Dunne (Laois) dft Roisin Ni Conghaile (Galway)
Ladies Open: Catriona Casey (Cork) dft Aisling Reilly (Antrim) 21-15, 21-9
One-Wall Finals Recap:
11&U: Clodagh Munroe (Tyrone) dft Sadhbh Ni Fhlaithearta (Galway)
Team Event: Team Millane (Catriona Millane, Laura Finn, Aoife Floyd, Dearbhla Nic Con Midhe) dft Team Neville (Mary Neville, Eilise McCrory, Heather Burke, Kellyann Ryan)
Mother & Daughter: Aine & Eimear Ni Bhiadhi (Galway) dft Cathy & Ciara Mullan (Tyrone)