This weekend sees the Irish Junior Nationals take place Galway, with ten venues hosting the 350+ young competitors. Among them is a very exciting batch of female players, with not only the quality as high as ever, but the depth of quality in the various grades also extremely impressive.
In the Girls 13&U grade, a competitive field of eight players will take to the court in Williamstown, where recent All-Ireland U14 Champions Mairead Fox (Tyrone) takes the top seed. Included in the grade is last summers 11&U World winner and runner up Chloe Philpott (Clare) & Cloda Nic Con Midhe (Tyrone), with every other girl on a given day well able to cause an upset and progress through to Sunday's Final.
Galway's Niamh Heffernan takes the #1 seed in the Girls 15&U, and last years 13&U champion will be hoping to hold off some strong contenders in her pursuit of National glory on home soil. Leixlip's two gifted players Leah Doyle & Mollie Dagg, and Tyrone trio Caitlin Conway, Ciara Mullan & Elizabeth McGarvey are all among a number of players eyeing lengthy tournament runs.
The Girls 17&U grade is the most impressive grade in terms of depth of quality, with Minor champion Fiona Tully (Roscommon) & Minor runner up Hannah Dagg (Kildare) taking the top two seeds respectively. But when you throw in 15&U World champ Megan McCann (Armagh), All-Ireland U16 champ Caitriona Millane (Limerick) & She's Ace 17&U champ Sinead Meagher (Tipperary) into the mix then you have as strong a field than ever all vying for the title.
Ciana Ni Churraoin (Galway) is hot favourite for the Girls 19&U title, with Tyrone's Eilise McCrory taking second seed, in a draw of six players, with these scheduled to take place in Michael Breathnach HC.
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