Table Tennis National Championships

The Irish Senior National Championships were held at ALSAA, Dublin Airport on Sat 10th March. In the Men’s Singles semi-finals three current senior internationals battled for a place in the final, as  John Murphy, Peter Graham and Keith Knox were joined by Daryl Strong from Omagh. Murphy beat Knox 3-1 and Graham beat Strong 3-1 to set up a repeat of the Ulster Open last month. In the final Dublin’s Murphy, now playing in Sweden, beat Belfast’s Graham 3-1 to record his first Senior National’s title and confirm his No.1 Irish Senior ranking, on a 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9 scoreline.  In the quarter final stage Murphy beat Marcus McDonnell of Dublin, Graham beat Sam Hanley of Dublin, Strong beat Phil Wallace of Queens and Knox beat Gavin Maguire of Dublin.

In the Ladies Singles Irish Senior No. 1 Amanda Mogey from Belfast beat Fiona Dennett from Cheshire to record her first Senior National’s title also, on a 11-7, 11/9, 6-11, 11-6 scoreline. Mogey beat the recent winner of the Malta Veterans Open, Teresa Devaney from Dublin in one semi-final while Dennett beat another veteran Jenny Harrison from Essex in the other. John Murphy, Peter Graham, Keith Knox head off to play in the Standard Division of the European Championships in Belgrade, Serbia from the 25th March to the 28th March 2007, with Arthur Brett as the Non Playing Captain. The Irish Senior Ladies play in the Challenge Division and will be represented by Tara Fusco (playing captain), Amanda Mogey and Fiona Dennett.

Results  
Mens Singles

Semi Finals: J. Murphy (Dublin)  beat  Keith Knox (Trillick) 3-1;  P. Graham (Belfast)  beat D. Strong (Omagh) 3-1

Final: Murphy beat Graham 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9)

Womens Singles

Semi Finals: A. Mogey (Glengormley) beat T. Devaney (Dublin) 3-0;  F. Dennett (Cheshire) beat J. Harrison (Essex) 3-1

Final: Mogey beat Dennett 3-1 (11-7, 11/9, 6-11, 11-6)

Mens Doubles: P. Graham & J. Murphy beat K. Knox & P. McCleery (Crossgar) 3-1
Mens Veterans: D. Pemberton (Dublin) beat K. Burke (Athlone) 3-1
Mens Under 21s: K. Knox (Trillick) beat G. Knox (Trillick) 3-0
Class 2: S. Hanley (Dublin) beat R. Gavin (Galway) 3-1

For further infomration, contact Michael Healy 085 1743970.