IT Tallaght land Student Sport Ireland League title
By Stephen Leonard
IT TALLAGHT recently captured the Student Sport Ireland (SSI) Badminton League title for the first time ever.
Given that winning the Division Two League crown back in 2011/2012 had previously marked the high point for the college, their achievement in topping the highest tier of the sport this season was all the more remarkable.
Under the guidance of Badminton Ireland-licenced coach Mark Topping, the team negotiated a tough campaign that culminated in a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champions IT Blanchardstown in the decider.
In the quarter finals, Tallaght saw off the stern test posed by Letterkenny IT, after team captain Patrick Martin and Irish international Kate Frost carded wins in singles competition before the latter combined with Jack Lawlor to take the spoils in mixed doubles.
IT Carlow provided the opposition in the semi finals and this proved another nailbiting showdown that saw Tallaght draw first blood when Frost edged out recent SSI/BI WS Open winner Tan Wee only to see Ian Wong restore parity.
It remained all square after the Women’s and Men’s doubles competition leaving it to the Mixed Doubles to determine who progressed.
Again Frost and Lawlor delivered the goods with a 21-15, 21-12 victory that effectively propelled them through to the decider against Blanchardstown whom they beat to land the coveted prize.
Given that a number of the players are eligible again for next year’s league, they will be hoping to become the first college to successfully defend the title.
TAGS sports
