MURPHY REIGNS AT ULSTER OPEN TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
25 November 2013
Last Saturday the cream of Irish Table Tennis displayed some table topping performances at the Ulster Senior Open Championships staged at Queen’s University Belfast’s Physical Education Centre. The Table Tennis Ulster (TTU) flagship event of the season saw a massive entry as players battled hard in search of top honours.
Steeped in history, as TTU celebrated 90 years of Table Tennis, over 150 entrants took part in what turned out to be a day of action packed, thrill infused top level sport. Speaking prior to the event Arnold Morgan, Chairman TTU, said, “It’s especially important for TTU to provide this event annually to players of all ages, gender and ability. In recent years the sport has grown from strength to strength and it is extremely encouraging to see all the entrants participate. At a time when players are battling for places in the Commonwealth squad for Glasgow 2014 they really have to step up their game to the highest levels. I am certain that those fighting for a Northern Ireland shirt this season will not disappoint this weekend at this premier event.”
Play began early with the Class 2 event in which Ulster had a few medal hopefuls. They certainly did not disappoint. Conor Fahy, Dublin, was the number 1 seed in this event and he looked in tip top condition before falling victim of Belfast’s “Fast Phil” Wallace at the semi final stage. In the other half of the draw Philip Jamison, Larne, blew hot and cold but turned up the heat as he defeated Connaught’s Kevin Devaney in the semis to make it an all Ulster final. Wallace proved too sharp for Jamison in the final and took gold with a 3-1 win.
The Under 21 Men’s and Women’s events allowed Ireland’s young hopefuls to battle hard against each other throughout the session. In the boys event Ulster’s hopes lay with Newtownabbey’s Zak Wilson but he went down 2-3 to Dublin’s Ryan Farrell in what was a hard fought contest. However for 14 year old Wilson it showed that he can compete and dominate age categories well above his station. The girl’s event was an exciting showdown for all involved as Ulster’s Hannah Lynch Dawson showed all exactly how it’s done. In a flawless show of aggressive play Lynch Dawson removed all her opponents that dared stand in her way to defeat Deidre Murphy in the final. This young star certainly proved her worth by winning the event without dropping a single set throughout.
In the Masters event, which is restricted to the old and the bold of forty years old plus, all eyes where upon Dublin’s Tibor Pofok. The left handed wizard used all his experience to eliminate his opponent Kevin Devaney in the semi’s with a fine repertoire of top spinning from both wings. In the other half of the draw Irish internationals Kevin Mackey and Dave Pemberton drew swords but Pemberton proved too consistent for the agitated Mackey. With a left handed duo taking part on the court Pofok proved too be the steadier minded as he defeated Pemberton in what turned to be a fine display of “ life really does begin at forty”.
By mid afternoon the pairings for the Men’s and Women’s doubles took to the tables. Ulster showed a strong presence in these events. Claire Nelson, a past international player, made an appearance partnering Ulster’s Emma Ludlow. In a tense match,at the final stage, it was Ludlow and Nelson who out gunned Amanda Mogey and Rebecca Finn to claim the title. Men’s doubles always shows surprises and it lived up to its’ legacy. Ulster’s High Performance coach John Murphy, partnered a young Owen Cathcart and made it to the semi final stage before succumbing to Ulster’s Daryl Strong and Peter Graham. Adjacent another crack Ulster pairing of Ashley Robinson, on a weekends leave from his professional table tennis team in Germany, and the ever present Wilson proved too strong for Ryan Farrell and Tibor Pofok and dispatched of them with a 3-1 win. In the final Robbo and Wilson took charge and overcame Graham and Strong with a 3-1 victory. Youth was on their side.
The Ladies event was evidently full of sporting talent. All players involved had a wealth of talent on board and all had international caps in recent years. Ashley Givan was the number 1 seed but was always going to have stiff competition from the field. Ulster’s Erin Thompson and Emma Ludlow where halted in their paths in the top half of the draw leaving Givan to face Marta Zareba in her semi final. She progressed with a convincing 3-0 win to the final where she met Katie McGlone who had just disposed of her semi final opponent, Hannah Lynch Dawson. In a final that showed just how much Ladies Table Tennis has progressed in Ireland in recent years it was Ulster’s Ashley Givan who steadied her play and drove through McGlone with a convincing 3-1 win to be crowed the Ulster Open Ladies Champion.
The Men’s Singles began with group play that would see all that showed any sign of weakness removed at an early stage. Players from all over the country and beyond hit hard as they strived for glory. The last 16 was full of “ping pong” dilemma and only the brave made it through to the quarter final stage. Ashley Robinson lost a tight encounter with his fellow professional team mate, Gavin Maguire, while Ulster’s John Murphy edged through to the semi final defeating Tom Davis. Vladisalavs Agurjanovs used his powerful attacking play to edge out Ulster’s Peter Graham to set up his semi final challenge with Ryan Farrell. With a packed crowd relishing in some of the most explosive play witnessed in Belfast it was Murphy and Agurjanovs who were left to take part in the final showdown. As the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Chris Stalford, who respectfully attended to present the awards, sat down to witness the play the Men’s Singles final kicked off in front of a packed venue. Murphy used all his talents to prevent Agurjanovs to gain the initiative and took the first 2 sets to open up what appeared to be a comfortable lead. However, with a new founded burst of energy, Agurjanovs drove Murphy back from the table and won the next 2 games. This left the crowd with a 5th set decider to add to the already tense atmosphere. With plenty of long attacking rallies and many a baited breath moment it was John Murphy who used just about every trick in his back pocket to claim the much coveted title of Ulster Open Men’s Singles Champion, a moment in his career that he is likely never to forget.
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