The final match-ups of the 2010 USHA Junior Nationals will, as expected, feature Irish players in most title showdowns in San Diego, California.
Down's Lorraine Havern secured the 19 and Under Singles title already, with a tiebreaker victory over New York's Sandy Ng.
In a shock opening game, Havern lost the first, 21-19 as Ng pulled off some amazing killshots and rattled Havern early. In the second game however, Havern dominated from start to finish and made no mistake in finishing 21-8 to set up a third game decider.
After some gripping play, Havern hit the last three aces, the last of which was a brilliant right corner kill to win the game 11-6 and take the 19 and Under crown. Assistant manager Ashley Prendiville was delighted with the Down girl's resilience.
‘After losing the first, Lorraine really lifted her game and showed great fighting spirit, especially in the tiebreaker,’ said Prendiville.
‘It's been a tough week for her, battling tonsillitis, but she gave everything she had in each game and I'm delighted for her.’
Tyrone's Aoife Kelly also collected silverware in the 13 and Under Singles, following her 21-3, 21-2 victory over Canada’s Myroslava Koval.
Irish team players, Lauren O'Riordan (Roscommon) and Catriona Casey (Cork) clashed in the 17/15 and Under grade and the young Roscommon lady put it up to her Rebel opposition early in the first, taking a 7-1 lead before Casey came back into proceedings to take the opening game, 21-14.
The Ballydesmond clubwoman lifted her game in the second and despite the best efforts of O’Riordan, Casey proved too strong and eventually took the match 21-4.
In the Boy’s 19 and Under, Tyrone’s Caolan Daly and Mayo’s Stephen Cooney will go to battle once again tomorrow in a rematch of the thrilling encounter at Kingscourt last month.
In his semi-final meeting, Daly had an easy 21-3, 21-9 win over California’s Eric Matiasek, while Cooney was forced to play at top speed in his encounter with Mexico’s Daniel Cordova. Cooney took the first game 21-10, but lost the second 17-21, before a gripping tiebreaker saw him seal his final spot with an 11-6 victory.
Cork’s Killian Carroll will face California’s Brant Bidegain in the Boy’s 17 and Under Final, after his 21-2, 21-9 win over San Jose’s Julio Garcia. Tyrone’s Conor McElduff pushed Bidegain to the limit in the other semi-final, but just fell short in an 11-6 tiebreaker defeat.
In the Boy’s 15 and Under, Monaghan’s Darren Doherty sealed his place in the final after a semi-final win over Wexford’s Galen Riordan, but it wasn’t plain sailing for the Emyvale youngster as Riordan went 10-0 up in the first.
Doherty, however, fought back to take the first 21-14, going on to win the second 21-7. He will now face one of the USA’s most promising young players, Tyler Stoffel, in the final.
