Ryan sensationally beaten in final

DEREK RYAN was sensationally beaten by third seed Steve Richardson in the final of the Irish Senior Men’s National Squash final at Fitzwilliam in Dublin yesterday.

Ryan ranked 44 in the world , was defeated 3-1 (4-9, 9-5, 9-1,9-6) by the 30-year-old Ballymena native who was winning the title for the first time.

It was a fifth final defeat for Ryan the top seed for the event, who has won seven national titles at this grade. He was also defeated in the final twelve months ago by Liam Kenny. Ironically his last title came at the expense of Richardson two years ago.