Carrickmore club saw their name back on the Tyrone Senior Singles Championship roll of honour for the first time in 19 years when Darragh Daly delivered his first Hugh Duff Memorial Cup title win in Beragh on Saturday evening. Daly, who has been knocking on the door of major county honours for a number of years, losing out in 3 Premier league finals, made his breakthrough with a resolute display against Breacach’s Conor McElduff.
The opening game saw Daly very much on top early on and his greater fluency from centre court saw him open up a commanding 16-7 lead. However, McElduff then altered his strategy and with a series of strong low serves and showing greater accuracy from rear court, bounced back to make it 15-16. However, he was unable to sustain the onslaught and Daly showed greater nerve to hold out and win the game 21-16.
The second game provided an intense affair with both players missing clear-cut chances early on and it was McElduff who began to open up better and he soon held a 15-11 advantage. The remainder of the game proved finely balanced and eventually saw the duo tied at 20-20. A critical miss from front court by McElduff to close out the game and send the tie to a tie-break, then provided Daly with serve and he held his nerve to deliver an excellent pass hot down the right side to win the match and claim the 2014 honours, a well deserved victory for the Carrickmore clubman.
Collette Duff, wife of the late Hugh Duff, was present to present the Cup alongside county chairman, Paul Allison, to bring the curtain down on the Senior Singles Championship for the season.
The Mens Open Senior Doubles Championship quarter finals also got underway this weekend and brought an epic tussle involving youth versus experience in Beragh following the Singles decider. Gabhain McCrystal and Pol Clarke came into the Open doubles championship on the back of a US National 19 & Under doubles triumph and faced Niall Kerr and Chris Curran, who between them had won 12 Tyrone Senior Doubles Championship titles. As the scoreline suggests it was a tough contest with terrific offensive play and retrieving, with Curran and Kerr eventually holding out for a 21-20, 20-21, 11-6 victory. they now meet Ryan Daly and Barry Devlin in the semi final of the series on Thursday evening with the last of the two quarter final ties to be decided in the next couple of days.
Saturday 25th January 2014, Beragh, 5.30pm:
Chris Curran/Niall Kerr dft Gabhain McCrystal/Pól Clarke 21-20, 20-21, 11-6
Sunday 26th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 5.00pm:
1. CaolanDaly/Darragh Daly v Martin Toner/Conal Curran
To be refixed before Wednesday: Gary McCrory/Patrick McCrory v Conor McElduff/Johnny Woods.
Mens Senior Doubles Championship Semi Finals:
Thursday 30th January 2014, Beragh, 7.30pm:
5. Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
6. Chris Curran/Niall Kerr v Barry Devlin/Ryan Daly
Mens Senior Doubles Championship Final:
Thursday 6th February 2014, Beragh, 8.30pm:
7. Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6
In the Junior Doubles Championship, the action continues on Sunday with 3 ties to decide the semi final line-up, scheduled for next Thursday evening.
Mens Junior Doubles Championship Quarter Finals:
6. Eamon McCrory/Seamus McCrory v Anthony McElduff/Sean McCrory
Sunday 26th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 6pm:
7. Kenny Curran/Finbar Fullen v Conor Keenan/Gerard Keenan
Sunday 26th January 2014, Carrickmore, 6pm:
4. Rory Grogan/Niall Allison v Barney McAleer/Brian McCrory
Mens Junior Doubles Championship Semi Finals:
Thursday 30th January 2014, Carrickmore, 7.30pm:
8. Winner Match 4 v Conor Kerr/Mark McCartan
9. Winner Match 6 v Winner Match 7
Mens Junior Doubles Championship Final:
Thursday 6th February 2014, Beragh, 7.30pm:
10. Winner Match 8 v Winner Match 9
Saturday 25th January 2014, Beragh, 5.30pm:
Chris Curran/Niall Kerr dft Gabhain McCrystal/Pól Clarke 21-20, 20-21, 11-6
Sunday 26th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 5.00pm:
1. CaolanDaly/Darragh Daly v Martin Toner/Conal Curran
To be refixed before Wednesday: Gary McCrory/Patrick McCrory v Conor McElduff/Johnny Woods.
Mens Senior Doubles Championship Semi Finals:
Thursday 30th January 2014, Beragh, 7.30pm:
5. Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2
6. Chris Curran/Niall Kerr v Barry Devlin/Ryan Daly
Mens Senior Doubles Championship Final:
Thursday 6th February 2014, Beragh, 8.30pm:
7. Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6
In the Junior Doubles Championship, the action continues on Sunday with 3 ties to decide the semi final line-up, scheduled for next Thursday evening.
Mens Junior Doubles Championship Quarter Finals:
6. Eamon McCrory/Seamus McCrory v Anthony McElduff/Sean McCrory
Sunday 26th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 6pm:
7. Kenny Curran/Finbar Fullen v Conor Keenan/Gerard Keenan
Sunday 26th January 2014, Carrickmore, 6pm:
4. Rory Grogan/Niall Allison v Barney McAleer/Brian McCrory
Mens Junior Doubles Championship Semi Finals:
Thursday 30th January 2014, Carrickmore, 7.30pm:
8. Winner Match 4 v Conor Kerr/Mark McCartan
9. Winner Match 6 v Winner Match 7
Mens Junior Doubles Championship Final:
Thursday 6th February 2014, Beragh, 7.30pm:
10. Winner Match 8 v Winner Match 9
The Tyrone Attic Stairs Mens 35+ Singles Championship, having started out with 16 contenders, is almost down to the semi final stages with just one quarter final tie remaining.
2013 Champion, Martin toner, booked his place in the semi finals with a win in a tough game with Conor Kerr, winning through 21-9, 19-21, 11-5. He will meet Chris Curran in the semi final after he defeated Rory Grogan 21-9, 21-6 while recent Junior Champion, Eamon McCrory, is also into the last four again following his 21-14, 21-12 win over Finbar Fullen. Niall Kerr and Kenny Curran will meet in the last of the quarter finals, with that tie due to be played on Monday evening.
The semi finals will then go ahead on Tuesday evening in Loughmacrory, starting at 7.30pm
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Round 1:
Monday 20th January 2014, Carrickmore, 7pm:
7. Conor Kerr (BR) dft Conal Curran (LM) w/o
6. Ruairi Grogan (CM) dft Mark McCartan (BR) 21-15, 17-21, 11-5
Monday 20th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 7pm:
2. Kenny Curran (LM) dft Barney McAleer (CP)
4. Finbar Fullen (LM) dft Barney Corcoran (BR)
8. Martin Toner (LM) dft Paul Curran (LM) 21-8, 21-11
Monday 20th January 2014, Beragh, 8pm:
5. Chris Curran (LM) dft Seamus McCrory (BR) 21-6, 21-9
3. Eamon McCrory (BR) dft Anthony McElduff (BR) 21-4, 21-12
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Quarter Finals:
Thursday 23rd January 2014, Beragh, 8pm:
10. Eamon McCrory (BR) dft Finbar Fullen (LM) 21-14, 21-12
Thursday 23rd January 2014, Loughmacrory, 7.30pm:
11. Chris Curran (LM) dft Ruairi Grogan (CM) 21-9, 21-6
12. Martin Toner (LM) dft Conor Kerr (BR) 21-9, 19-21, 11-5
Monday 27th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 8pm:
9. Niall Kerr (BR) v Kenny Curran (LM)
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Semi-finals:
Tuesday 28th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 7.30pm:
13. Winner Match 9 v Eamon McCrory (BR)
14. Chris Curran (LM) v Martin Toner (LM)
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Final:
Tuesday 4th February 2014, Loughmacrory, 8.30pm:
15. Winner Match 13 v Winner Match 14
2013 Champion, Martin toner, booked his place in the semi finals with a win in a tough game with Conor Kerr, winning through 21-9, 19-21, 11-5. He will meet Chris Curran in the semi final after he defeated Rory Grogan 21-9, 21-6 while recent Junior Champion, Eamon McCrory, is also into the last four again following his 21-14, 21-12 win over Finbar Fullen. Niall Kerr and Kenny Curran will meet in the last of the quarter finals, with that tie due to be played on Monday evening.
The semi finals will then go ahead on Tuesday evening in Loughmacrory, starting at 7.30pm
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Round 1:
Monday 20th January 2014, Carrickmore, 7pm:
7. Conor Kerr (BR) dft Conal Curran (LM) w/o
6. Ruairi Grogan (CM) dft Mark McCartan (BR) 21-15, 17-21, 11-5
Monday 20th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 7pm:
2. Kenny Curran (LM) dft Barney McAleer (CP)
4. Finbar Fullen (LM) dft Barney Corcoran (BR)
8. Martin Toner (LM) dft Paul Curran (LM) 21-8, 21-11
Monday 20th January 2014, Beragh, 8pm:
5. Chris Curran (LM) dft Seamus McCrory (BR) 21-6, 21-9
3. Eamon McCrory (BR) dft Anthony McElduff (BR) 21-4, 21-12
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Quarter Finals:
Thursday 23rd January 2014, Beragh, 8pm:
10. Eamon McCrory (BR) dft Finbar Fullen (LM) 21-14, 21-12
Thursday 23rd January 2014, Loughmacrory, 7.30pm:
11. Chris Curran (LM) dft Ruairi Grogan (CM) 21-9, 21-6
12. Martin Toner (LM) dft Conor Kerr (BR) 21-9, 19-21, 11-5
Monday 27th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 8pm:
9. Niall Kerr (BR) v Kenny Curran (LM)
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Semi-finals:
Tuesday 28th January 2014, Loughmacrory, 7.30pm:
13. Winner Match 9 v Eamon McCrory (BR)
14. Chris Curran (LM) v Martin Toner (LM)
Mens 35+ Singles Championship Final:
Tuesday 4th February 2014, Loughmacrory, 8.30pm:
15. Winner Match 13 v Winner Match 14
