Ireland Squash club based at Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Clubs of Derek Ryan, Nigel Peyson, Brian Byrne, Rory Byrne, Dara O’Flynn and Aidan Sharkey played in the European Club Championships this past week.
The Women’s team representing Ireland from the same club were Aisling Blake, Laura Mylotte, Claire O’Brien, Katie Wilson, Ciara Moloney, Roisin Brennan.
Ireland’s Men’s team in Pool C, played Germany’s Paderborn team and Spain’s Ajedrez Tijon club.
Against Spain on Thursday, Ryan, Brian Byrne, Rory Byrne and Nigel Peyton all won their matches, to secure a 4-0 win.
The German club was however much too strong winning by a similar scoreline, Ireland losing 0 sets to 3 in each match.
Coming 2nd in the group (6 groups), Ireland were in a playoff for 7-12th places.
Losing to a Scottish club Newlands 1-3 was heartbreaking, as the 1st match was lost 2 sets to 3. A turn of just 1 set would have secured victory for Ireland.
Playing for 10th, 11th, 12th spot, Ireland drew 2-2 with Belgian side Impuls Lifestyle, but secured the win on more sets won - Brian Byrne securing 1 set in the match he lost.
Ireland secured 11th place out of 19 entered.
2 victories over Spanish and Belgian sides ae a good return from this European event.
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Irish Ladies in a Pool group with 3 other National Champion Clubs - from Austria, Finland and hosts Hungary, won all their Pool matches, and topped their group.
3 to a team, Aisleng Blake, Laura Mylotte and Claire O’Brien won their 3 opening matches in straight sets, against a top side from Finland.
Against Hungary’s Rozsadombi club, no set was dropped by the Irish ladies - Roisin Brennan taking Claire’s place for this match.
Against Austria’s all-stars Vienna Energie club, which had also defeated both Finnish and Hungarian sides, Aisling Blake won her tie 3 sets to 1.
Laura Mylotte won be the same margin, while the Austrians took the final match against Claire o’Brien. A 2-1 win gave Ireland the match, and the top spot in the group.
With 4 groups, Ireland were in a playoff for 1st to 4th places, which was superb in this strong European event.
Ireland lost to French favourites Assoc. Squash de l’Hermine, who went on to win the event.
Against Bordesholm from Germany the Fitzwilliam club lost 2-1. In one of the deciding matches, Ireland had won the first set, before losing the following 2 sets, indicating how closew this game was.
Ireland’s final position was 4th out of 13 strong European Club sides. Excellent.
To put this into context, this is Equivalent to reaching the Champions League Semi-Finals in Soccer.
Listowel man John Kennelly was staying with his wife, Marie, and accompanied by his adult son and daughter, at the Etoile Meridein Hotel Paris – near James Joyce Pub.
