Damien O’Driscoll is Irish Champion

Damien O’Driscoll and Campbell Jackson

The Grand Finals of the 2011 Ireland Players’ Championships were staged for the sixth time on Sunday, June 26^th., and Damien O’Driscoll {Cork} became the sixth different winner of the men’s title when he defeated Campbell Jackson {Donegal} in the final.

In the semi-finals O’Driscoll defeated Martin Murphy and Jackson defeated William O’Connor, both on 6 – 5 scorelines.

 Sharon Regains Ladies’ Title

Teresa Maher and Sharon O’Brien

The Ladies’ Championship was won by Sharon O’Brien {Kildare} who defeated Teresa

Maher {Laois} 4 – 3 in the final and the beaten semi-finalists in this event were Kay O’Carroll and Denise Cassidy.

John Shocks Ryan

Ryan Maher and John Seagrave

John Seagrave defeated Ryan Maher 3 – 1 in an all-Dublin final of the Youths’ Championship.

The beaten semi-finalists were Dean Finn and David McGeer.

David Farrel Wins Plate

David Farrell

In the Youths’ Plate Waterford’s David Farrell recorded a 3 – 1 victory over Kyle Ramsell from

Cork and the losing semi-finalists were Ryan Delaney and Conor Lowry.

 Click here for full results.

Report on Round Six

John O’Shea and Denis McCarthy

Sharon Buckley and Sharon O’Brien

Dean Forde and Ryan Maher

Denis McCarthy, Sharon O’Brien and Ryan Maher won their respective events at Round Six at the Clonmel Park Hotel in Tipperary on May 8th.

In the Men’s competition Denis McCarthy defeated the reigning champion, John O’Shea, 6 – 1 in the final after defeating Peter Quinn 6 – 2 in the semi-finals.  John O’Shea defeated David Coyne 6 – 2 in the other semi.

Sharon O’Brien had a 4 – 1 victory over Sharon Buckley in the Ladies’ decider and she now goes into the Grand Finals as the top seed.

The beaten semi-finalists were Maeve O’Connor and Lynn Morritt.

Ryan Maher has gone through the Youths’ Championship undefeated and he is the hot favourite to retain his title.

In Clonmel he defeated Ian Flannery 3 – 1 in the semi-finals and Dean Forde 3 – 0 in the final.

The other beaten semi-finalist was Dean Hoare. 

Click here for Round Six results.

Sharon Bounces Back

Gemma Kearon and Sharon O’Brien

John O’Shea

After a poor start to the 2011 Ireland Ladies’ Championship Sharon O’Brien bounced back to capture Round Five at the Abbeylei Manor Hotel with a 4 – 2 victory over Gemma Kearon in the final.

The beaten semi-finalists were Teresa Maher and Linda Harte.

John O’Shea Wins in Abbeyleix
 

Reigning champion John O’Shea is on course to retain his title after another brilliant display at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel.

In the semi-finals he defeated Campbell Jackson 6 – 2 and had a 6 – 4 victory over another previous champion, Daryl Gurney, in the final.

Denis McCarthy was beaten 6 – 1 by Gurney in the other semi.

No Stopping Ryan Maher

Ryan Maher made it four wins out of four appearances with a 3 – 1 win over David McGeer in the final of Round Five of the Ireland Youths’ Championship.

In the semi-finals Ryan defeated Dean Finn 3 – 1 while David had a similar victory over Kyle Ramsell.

Click here for Round Five results.
 

John O’Shea	Denise Cassidy	Ryan Maher and Dean Finn

Champions to the Fore !

The reigning Ireland Players’ Champions, John O’Shea, Denise Cassidy and Ryan Maher, heralded their intentions of retaining their titles when they won their respective events at Round Three at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel in Cork.

John O’Shea {Cork} defeated Ian Dobson {Limerick} 6 – 4 in the Men’s final, Denise Cassidy {Fermanagh} defeated Sharon Buckley {Cork} 4 – 1 in the Ladies’ decider and Dublin’s Ryan Maher had a 3 – 0 victory over Dean Finn {Waterford} to win the Youths’ competition.

Click here for Round Three results
 

Players’ Championship Hits New Heights

The Ireland Players’ Championship reached new heights in Tramore with 202 entries in Round Two at O’Shea’s Hotel.

Stephen Byrne and Ian Dobson

Congratulations to Stephen Byrne who defeated Ian Dobson 6 – 3 in the final of the Men’s competition which attracted an entry of 143 players.

The beaten semi-finalists were James Broderick and David Hurley.

 

Teresa Maher has jumped to number one on the Ladies’ Rankings List after winning after winning the Ladies’ competition with a 4 – 2 victory over Linda Harte.

Caroline Doyle and Gemma  Kearon were the beaten semi-finalists.

Forty players competed in the Youths’ competition which resulted in a 4 – 1 victory for Murty Brown over his Tipperary team-mate Ian Flannery.

In the semi-finals Murty defeated Jason Nolan 3 – 1 while Ian had a 3 – 0 victory over David McGeer.

Click here for Round Two results

Michael Furlong {Springhill Court Hotel} and Willie O'Connor

Kay O'Carroll

Ryan Maher

Round One to Willie

Willie O'Connor from Limerick won Round One of the 2011 Ireland Players' Championship at the Springhill Court Hotel in Kilkenny on Sunday, October 31st., with a 6 - 2 victory over Stephen Byrne {Wexford} in the final.

In the semi-finals Willie had a 6 - 4 victory overy Garrett Gray {Dublin} while Stephen had a 6 - 3 win over Ali Powell {Westmeath}.

Kay O'Carroll Wins Ladies' Competition

Cork's Kay O'Carroll took maximum points in the Ladies' event when she defeated Sharon O'Brien {Kildare} by 4 games to 2 in the final.

Kay defeated Teresa Maher {Laois} 3 - 1 in the semi-finals while Sharon had a 3 - 0 victory over Nuala Coyne {Kilkenny}.

Ryan is Determined to Retain Title

The 2010 Ireland Youths' Champion Ryan Maher showed his intent to hold on to his title when he defeated John Seagrave in an all-Dublin Youths' final.

In the semi-finals Ryan defeated Dean Hoare while John defeated Stephen Lennon.

Click here for Round One results.

Connie Finnan {Runner-up}, John O'Shea {Champion} and Michael Furlong {Springhill Court Hotel}

Maeve O'Connor {Runner-up}, Denise Cassidy {Champion} and Michael Furlong {Springhill Court Hotel}

Ryan Maher {Youths' Champion} and  Michael Furlong {Springhill Court Hotel}

Anthony McMahon (above) won the Youths' Plate with a 3 - 0 victory over Dean Forde (below) in the final.

Last Season's finalists -

John O'Shea is Men's Champion

Another new name was added to the Roll of Honour of the Ireland Players' Championship

when John O'Shea {Cork} defeated Limerick's Connie Finnan 6 - 3 in the final at the Springhill Court Hotel in Kilkenny.

O'Shea seemed to be in deep trouble when he lost his opening group match to fellow-Corkman, Peter Quinn, but he fought back to win his next two matches to qualify for the last sixteen.

Finnan won all of his group matches and went on to defeat Shane O'Connor and Denis McCarthy on his way to the final. O'Shea survived a cliff-hanger in his semi-final against Daryl Gurney and wen through on a 6 - 5 scoreline.

John O'Shea then captured the first prize of € 2,000 and the title with a 6 - 3 over Connie Finnan in the final.

Denise Retains Ladies' Title 

Denise Cassidy from Fermanagh was crowned Ladies' Championship for the second year in a row when she defeated Maeve O'Connor {Carlow} 4 - 1 in the Ladies' decider.

The beaten semi-finalists were Linda Harte and Susan McKenna.

Ryan Maher is Youths' Champion

Ryan Maher from Dublin caused a major shock in the final of the Youths' Championship when

he defeated the favourite, Paddy Meaney {Kilkenny} by three legs to one.

The beaten semi-finalists were Murty Browne and Dale McCarthy.

Anthony McMahon Wins Youths' Plate

The beaten semi-finalists were Damien Kelly and Dean Hoare.

Click Here for Results