Happy return as Irish claim US medal haul

THE victorious Irish team returned on Thursday from this year’s USHA Junior Four-Wall National Championships, held at the Lattof YMCA, Des Plaines, Chicago, Illinois, with an impressive haul of eight titles.

Leading the Irish charge was young Cork ace, Killian Carroll (Mallow), who claimed both the Boys 17 & Under Singles and Boys 17 & Under Doubles titles. Carroll had a convincing win over Illinois’ Eric Matiasek in the Singles final, on a scoreline of 21-8, 21-7.

The young ace then partnered Tyrone’s Conor McElduff (Brackey), to defeat Illinois duo, Eric Matiasek and CJ Laffey, in the Doubles final, on a decisive scoreline of 21-6, 21-3.

Cork’s Denis O’ Neill (Liscarroll), ensured further joy for the Rebel County, when he bagged the Boys 15 & Under Singles title, defeating Tyrone’s Pol Clarke (Brackey), in an all-Irish final, on a convincing scoreline of 21-8, 21-12.

Rounding-off a successful tournament for the Irish in the Boys categories, Tyrone duo, Johnny Woods (Brackey) and Ryan Mullan (Carrickmore), netted the Boys 13 & Under Doubles title, when they defeated the Irish/American combination of Tyrone’s Pauric Mullan (Carrickmore) and California’s Coleman McGrath, on a descisive scoreline of 21-5, 21-5.

In the Girls categories, it was a case of double-delight for young Wicklow ace, Shauna Hilley (Coolboy), who claimed both the Girls 19 & Under Singles and Girls 19 & Under Doubles titles.

Hilley demolished Florida’s Cara Arsenault in a one-sided Singles final, on an emphatic scoreline of 21-1, 21-2 and then partnered Cork’s Catríona Casey (Ballydesmond), to defeat Tyrone’s Maeve McElduff (Brackey) and Galway’s Ciana Ni Churraoin (Indreabhan), in an all-Irish Doubles final, on a decisive scoreline of 21-6, 21-2.

Casey also bagged the Girls 17 & Under Singles title, defeating New York’s Sandy Ng, in a one-sided final, on a convincing scoreline of 21-4, 21-6.

There was some consolation for Ni Churraoin when she netted the Girls 15 & Under Singles crown, defeating California’s Brittyn Bidegain in a one-sided final, on an emphatic scoreline of 21-3, 21-3.