Badminton
Girls Badminton Report 2022 - 2023
A Minor, Junior and Senior team were entered for both the league and cup. The format meant that on one day their league and cup would be played with the top teams progressing to a Ulster League and Cup Finals day.
The Minor League and Cup team consisting of Louise Kearon, Kate Henderson, Lucy O’Hara Bouvet and Sian Nix were unstoppable.
In the cup they defeated Wallace 6-0 and then Ballyclare in the final 6-0 to win the cup.
In the league they did not lose a game against Coleraine, Wallace and Royal and Prior and progressed to the final and beat Royal and Prior 5-1. This meant they were Division 1 Ulster Champions and progressed to the All Ireland Finals
In the All Irelands they faced Mount Sackville as the Leinster representative. The girls played some fantastic badminton and won 5-1 to be crowned Irish Minor Champions.
The Junior League team consisting of Amber Buchanan, Zoe Kearon, Anna Mathers and Katie Samspon defeated Sullivan Upper School 6-0, Bloomfield 6-0 and Wallace 6-0. In the league final against Royal and Prior after a close match Friends won 4-2. This meant they were Division 1 Ulster Champions and progressed to the All Ireland Finals.
In the All Irelands Friends were up against it, facing St Marys College Naas who have an Irish representative and a very strong team. The girls put up a good fight, Katie Sampson won her match 30-17 but unfortunately the team lost 5-1.
In the next match against the Munster representatives Colaiste Treasa Cork it was a very tight affair, Amber and Zoe both won their singles and Anna and Katie were defeated. After the doubles the scores remained 3-3 and on count back on points, Friends were defeated by 18points.
The Junior Girls Cup team Luisa Rooney replaced Katie Sampson and they were victorious against Ballyclare and Strathearn to progress to the final against Royal and Prior.
The game finished 3-3 and on count back had won an extra game to win the cup and bring home some silver wear along with the league trophy.
The senior squad of Laura Bell, Jasmine Buchanan, Alana Jiandani and Olivia Rooney in the league defeated Coleraine 6-0 and Wallace 5-1. Against a strong Hunter House team the match finished 3-3 and on countback FSL won by 1game. This meant they progressed to finals day against Royal and Prior. Unfortunately on the day they were narrowly defeated 4-2. Due to this great performance and finishing runner up Friends represented Ulster in the B division final in the All Irelands.
In Gormanston for the finals, Friends had three matches, defeating Kilkenny College 5-1 and Tarbert Comp School Kerry 5-1. Before their final game they were made aware of a rule stating that only one national standard player is allowed to play in the B league. Due to Friends’ having Laura Bell and Jasmine Buchanan the team had to forfeit the first singles and first doubles match in every match. The team won their final game 4-2 and would have topped their group but due to the ruling it meant Friends’ were deducted games and ended up finishing in 3rd position.
In the Cup again good performances defeating Coleraine 5-1 and Wallace 4-2 meant they reached the final. Again they faced a strong Royal and Prior team, the game like the league final was very close but this time it finished 3-3. On countback Friends were unlucky to lose out by 1 game which meant they were runners up.
This was another very successful year for girls badminton, impressively all teams reaching the All Ireland finals.
This year, there was individual success for Laura Bell who is part of the Irish u19 squad.
Louise Kearon who is currently ranked 2nd in Ireland in u13 Badminton and has had success winning the Leinster open u13 singles and doubles.
L Hughes
