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Match Report · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 131

Badminton v 1st Ahorey
19/01/2009
(Northern Ireland Cup, Quarter Final)

Knocknamuckley were drawn at home to local company 1st Ahorey, the same side who had put Knocknamuckley of the same competition last year. With Knocknamuckley having never won a match in this sport. The Knocknamuckley side had a fresher look to it than previous years, and showed two changes from the game against 1st Ballymoney, with Matthew Kimmons and Gregg Harrison coming in for the experienced Seth Mathers and Graham Cowan. The format was slightly different than in the National Competition, with the match containing four singles matches, followed by two doubles matches. The matches are best out of three sets, with a set being played up to 21 points.

Match 1
Kimmons v Jenkins

Matthew Kimmons, who was making his debut for the badminton team, took on Lee Jenkins in the first match, and made the best possible start to his badminton career for Knocknamuckley, winning the opening set 21-15. Kimmons continued his fine form in the second set, taking it 21-16. This gave Kimmons the match, and put his side into a 1-0 lead.

Match 1 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 0 1st Ahorey

Match 2
Harrison v McAlinden

Gregg Harrison was involved in the next match, taking on Dean McAlinden. Both players played very well in a tightly contested match, going point for point. In the end it was McAlinden who took the first set by the narrowist of margins, 21-19. The second set followed much the same pattern with very little, if anything, seperating the players. After Harrison having to endure the dissappointment of missing out on the first set by such a small margin, he was forced to re-live it, again losing out 21-19.

Match 2 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 1 1st Ahorey

Match 3
I.Irwin v Logan

The third game saw Knocknamuckley's youngest player, Ian Irwin, play against Michael Logan. Logan looked the slightly more accomplished player, and won the first set by 21-11, and then wrapped up the match 21-13 in the second.

Match 3 1st Knocknamuckley 1 v 2 1st Ahorey

Match 4
Poole v Granville

Knocknamuckley were now in the familiar position of trailing in a badminton fixture. Andrew Poole was next up for Muckley, facing Joseph Carville. Carville took the close opening set 21-18, and things were beginning to look bleak for Knocknamuckley. After such a tight opening set, a tight second set was fully expected, however, Poole seemed to raise his game immeasurably and blew his opponent of the court, 21-8, and continued this form in the last set to take it 21-9, and pull his company level at 2-2.

Match 4 1st Knocknamuckley 2 v 2 1st Ahorey

Match 5
Kimmons & Harrison v Jenkins & McAlinden

With the match all-square, it was time for the doubles matches.

The first doubles game saw Kimmons and Harrison from Knocknamuckley paired against Jenkins and McAlinden from Ahorey. In a very even opening set the Muckley pairing triumphed 21-18. In the second set, Knocknamuckley began to play the better badminton, and won out 21-14.

This put Knocknamuckley 3-2 up with only one game remaining.

Match 5 1st Knocknamuckley 3 v 2 1st Ahorey

Match 6
I.Irwin & Poole v Logan & Carville

Ian Irwin and Andrew Poole, paired up for the final match knowing that a win would see them through, and gain their companies first ever badminton win.

As would be expected this was a very fiercly contested match, and it was the Ahorey pairing who won the first set 21-16. Knowing that a win in this game would win them the tie, the Knocknamucley pair fought back and won the next set 21-19. In the final set there was very little to choose between the two teams, and in the end it was Ahorey who took the set, 21-18, and the game.

Match 6 1st Knocknamuckley 3 v 3 1st Ahorey

With the scores level at 3-3 after the six matches, the match was determined on number of points scored by each side during the six games. After some careful adding up, only 15 points seperated the two sides across the six games, with Knocknamuckley triumphing by 261 points to 246, in what was a very even contest, for a momentous victory.

Result 1st Knocknamuckley 261 v 246 1st Ahorey

Team: Harrison, I.Irwin, Kimmons, Poole.