Catriona Casey is the 2016 She's Ace Ladies Open champion after defeating Eilise McCrory in the final at Aughagower HC, Mayo this weekend. Catriona (centre) is pictured with 17&U champion Sinead Meagher and 15&U champion Niamh Heffernan.
Casey had earlier defeated Martina McMahon 25-17 in the SF, whilst McCrory advanced to the final after Aisling Reilly was forced to withdraw after dislocating her finger during play. In the final, Catriona showed she was a class apart with a dominant display against talented teenager McCrory, who herself had an impressive tournament, with victories over Aishling O'Keeffe & Ciara Mahon before Reilly's withdrawal.
In the earlier games of the Finals Night in Aughagower, Fiona Tully & Hannah Dagg contested the Ladies A/Open Drop Down Final in a cracking battle. Both girls were eligible for the 17&U grade but accepted an invite to play in the Open grade, and thoroughly justified their inclusion, only being defeated by Aisling Reilly & Catriona Casey respectively over the weekend en route to the final. In the end it was Tully who edged over the line 25-22.
The 15&U grade was arguably the more competitive grade this weekend, with fantastic talent and matches on show from the QF's onwards. Kildare's Leah Doyle ousted Caitlin Conway & Catriona Millane en route to the final but found Galways Niamh Heffernan too hot to handle in the final. Heffernan, who defeated Mollie Dagg & Cora Conlon earlier in the day, raced into an early lead which she never relinquished as she took home the title.
Tipperary's Sinead Meagher claimed the 17&U title in another final that could have went either way in a terrific tussle with Armagh's powerful young player Megan McCann, winning out 25-21.
In other finals played in venues across Mayo, Kilkenny's Roisin O'Keeffe was excellent in claiming the 13&U title, Roscommon's Siobhan Tully battled her way through a competitive field to win the Ladies B, & Galway's Maria Kerrigan took the honours in the Ladies Challenger grade.
Saturdays Four-Wall Results:
Ladies Open Final:
Catriona Casey dft Eilise McCrory 15-1, 15-0
Ladies A Final: (Open Drop Down)
Fiona Tully (Ros) dft Hannah Dagg (Kild) 25-22
Ladies B Final:
Siobhan Tully (Ros) dft Aisling Fitzgerald (Clare)
Ladies Challenger Final:
Maria Kerrigan (Gal) dft Catherine Kelly (Tyr)
Girls 17&U Final:
Sinead Meagher dft Megan McCann 25-21
Girls 15&U Final:
Niamh Heffernan dft Leah Doyle 25-10
Girls 13&U Final:
Roisin O'Keeffe (Kilk) dft Orla O'Brien (Clare) 25-14
Sunday's One-Wall Results:
Mother & Daughter Doubles Final:
Michelle Warren & Michaela McCartan (Tyr) dft Collette & Laura Finn (Sligo)
Beginners Challenge Final:
Michelle McCoy (Down) dft Charlene Lively (Down)
Team of 4 Final:
Team McCartan (Michaela McCartan, Linda Seoige, Mollie Dagg, Claire Reynolds) dft Team O'Keefe (Dearbhail O'Keeffe, Aisling Mullin, Eithne Munroe, Aifric Ni Ghibne)
