The National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown played host to the Student Sport Ireland Badminton League finals on Wednesday March 1st with IT Blanchardstown crowned champions after defeating Cork IT ‘A’ on a 3-2 score in a gripping final.

IT Blanchardstown began the final in emphatic fashion winning the men’s and women’s singles. IT Blanchardstown top male player Luke Moore didn’t get it all his own way in the men’s singles with Andrew Dunlea proving to be a difficult opponent before Moore eventually won 21-12, 21-16. IT Blanchardstown scholarship student Megan Bredin showed her class in the women’s singles and was too strong for Claire Cahill winning 21-5, 21-2.

Cork IT ‘A’ roared back in the men’s and women’s doubles winning both comfortably. The men’s doubles pairing in the red and white of Cork IT Andrew Dunlea and Paul Kingston crushed Farly Chan and Junman Tsung 21-2, 21-0, and the Cork IT ‘A’ women’s doubles pairing of Maeve Twomey and Claire Cahill were in a similar mood as they romped past Maria Westwood and Jessie Cheung 21-6, 21-3 to tie the game up at two games all.

Luke Moore and Megan Bredin paired up for IT Blanchardstown in the decider, while Cork IT ‘A’ were represented by Maeve Twomey and Paul Kingston. A great game of badminton followed with all four players retrieving well and hitting some fantastic winners, IT Blanchardstown just had the edge on their opponents and claimed the title on a 21-15, 21-14 score line and 3-2 overall.

IT Blanchardstown had defeated last year’s champions Dundalk IT in the quarter finals and IT Carlow in the semi-final, while Cork IT ‘A’ made the final on the back of quarter final win over Dublin Business School and a semi-final win over their college mates Cork IT ‘B’ in the semi-final.

Student Sport Ireland Chairperson Carmel Lynch presented the cup to IT Blanchardstown captain Megan Bredin and praised all the players who competed on the day and thanked Badminton Ireland for their co-operation in running the event.

Student Sport Ireland Badminton League Results

Quarter Finals
Cork IT ‘B’ 3 Dublin Business School 1
Cork IT ‘A’ 4 Athlone IT 1
IT Carlow 3 Griffith College Dublin 2
IT Blanchardstown 3 Dundalk IT 2

Semi Finals
Cork IT ‘A’ 3 Cork IT ‘B’ 2
IT Blanchardstown 3 IT Carlow 2

Final
IT Blanchardstown 3 Cork IT ‘A’ 2