Red-hot Rooney looks the man to beat

DEFENDING champion John Rooney brings form and a new level of self-belief with him to the Munster Senior Open Squash Championships, which begin tonight.

At last weekend’s Dunlop British Open, the 27-year-old Galway man emerged from the qualification rounds to earn his maiden appearance in the main 32-man draw of this prestigious competition among the world’s elite.

Rooney, with a world ranking of 99, then overcame two players ranked significantly above him, before eventually bowing out against world number seven, James Willstrop of England.

With such an impressive run behind him, it would appear that he’s the man to beat in Cork this weekend at the Silversprings Squash Club in Tivoli.

Last year, Rooney had an emphatic victory over fellow Irish international, Derek Ryan, and this year Ryan is again seeded to be the main threat.

A former world top-10 player, Ryan retired from the world professional circuit a few years ago, but considering how he dominated the Irish game for so many years, a reversal of last year’s result cannot be ruled out.

The tournament, which has new joint sponsors in the form of local companies, Dunphy Dispatches & Irish Camper Vans, is the traditional season-opening event of the Invest Like the Best Irish squash tour.

The finishing positions take on additional significance this year, which probably accounts for the strongest entry for many years.

The world team championships take place in India in December and Irish number one, Liam Kenny, along with Rooney and Ryan, would be considered definite selections for the Irish four-man team.

Carlow’s Arthur Gaskin is the man in the number four position and is seeded at three this weekend. His potential third place play-off with fourth seed, Ballymena’s Stevie Richardson, could well be significant in this regard.

Further down the seedings, Carlow brothers, Brian and Rory Byrne, Sligo man Keith Moran and Niall Rooney, younger brother of John, are among those who may challenge.

In the other sections, Ulster’s Kerri Shields and Cork youngster Eleanor Lapthorne are expected to challenge for the ladies’ A title, while three other men’s and one other ladies’ sections will be keenly competed for.

The action gets underway at 6pm tonight in both the Silversprings Squash Club and Sunday’s Well Boating and Tennis Club.