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Ulster Team Preview: Junior Interpros 2010

25 April 2010

Competitors from all four corners of Ireland will gather at the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen to compete in the Junior Interprovincial Championships on 1^st May. The Championships have been organised by the Fermanagh Table Tennis Association in conjunction with Table Tennis Ulster and Fermanagh District Council who have very kindly agreed to sponsor this years Championships. Ulster heroically won the overall Victor Barna Memorial Shield last year with inspired performances from every single team member.  The Ulster team will hope to repeat this magnificent feat this year, however will have to fend off the challenge from Leinster, Munster and Connacht who all pose a serious threat to the overall Interprovincial crown. A large contingent from the Ulster team hail from Fermanagh, therefore it is fitting that this event should be held at the Lakeland Forum in their home County.

Ulster will be strong favourites in the U17 Boys with Irish Number 1 Paul McCreery (UK School Games Champion and Six Nations Champion) leading from the front. Local players Ashley Robinson (Irish Number 2 from Clogher) and Stephen Slater (Lisbellaw) both have had very successful seasons along with Cavan’s Darren Reilly and look on course to retain their title.

The U12 Boys spearheaded by local Fivemiletown player Jonathan Porter also have a fantastic chance to claim gold. Irish Number 1 Porter is ably assisted by Irish Primary School team mates Ryan McConkey (Monaghan) and Mark Gordon (Fivemiletown) with all three players recently competing for Ireland at the recent Six Nations Primary Schools Championships.  This experience should stand them in good stead against the might of Leinster and Munster. Cavan’s Eric Shekleton, an Irish primary school representative from last year completes the line up. Shekleton recently claimed the silver medal at the Irish Junior National Championships showing the strength of depth in this team.

Similarly the U12 Girls team have a very strong squad with newly crowned Irish National U12 Champion and Irish Number 1 Laura Finn (Carryduff) leading the team along with her younger sister Rebecca. The talented duo of Hannah Lynch-Dawson (Cavan) and Emma McSorley (Belfast) complete the line up and there are high hopes for these young stars. However this category is particularly strong with Leinster having another sister duo in Katie and Elayna McGlone and Munster having the talented Sarah Cooney and Irish National semi finalist Valentina Puotkalis.

Ashley Givan (Dungannon) has had a fantastic season claiming both the Senior National title and the National Cadet Title and looks unstoppable at the cadet age group. Along with Belfast’s Annalise Walker and Emma Ludlow and Monahan’s Sally McConkey this team has an excellent chance to claim gold under the tutorage of Irish National Women’s Coach Arthur Brett. The strongest threat for the Gold medal could come from Munster who have a strong all round squad and feature Irish Number 2 cadet Edel O’Reilly.

The U14 Boys could spring a surprise with Irish Number 2 Neil Irwin (Tyrone) in fantastic form after his recent exploits playing for TV Hude in the German Youth League and his silver medal at the Irish Junior National Championships at this age group. Both Leinster and Munster have formidable squads at this level however with some luck and some grit and determination, the boys could well challenge for honours at this level.

Perhaps the hardest category for Ulster will be the U17 Girls with both Leinster and Munster comprising of very strong teams. Ulster have a very young team with two members of the team still cadets, however Roisin O’Reilly (Cavan) is currently in a rich vein of form after reaching the semi final stage at the recent Irish Junior National Championships and on the day could cause an upset or two against higher ranked opponents.

With so many talented players in action, and so many exciting battles at every age group between the four provinces, this tournament promises to be an exciting climax to the domestic season. Parents/Spectators are very welcome to come cheer the team on at the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen with the first match scheduled for 9.30am against Connacht, with subsequent matches for Ulster against Munster at 12.30pm and the final show down against Leinster at 15.30.

by Amanda Mogey

Teams

U17 Boys                                U14 Boys                 U12 Boys

Paul McCreery                        Neil Irwin                  Jonathan Porter                      

Ashley Robinson                     Kieran Reilly             Eric Shekleton

Stephen Slater                         Edwin Lewis             Ryan McConkey

Darren Reilly                           Trevor Knox             Mark Gordon

NPC: Brian Orr                       NPC: Oliver Reilly       NPC: Gervis Knox

U17 Girls                                U14 Girls                U12 Girls

Roisin O’Reilly                       Ashley Givan             Laura Finn

Susie Ferguson                      Annalise Walker       Hannah Lynch-Dawson

Cherith McBride                     Emma Ludlow            Emma McSorley

Erin Thompson                      Sally McConkey         Rebecca Finn

NPC: Amanda Mogey            NPC: Arthur Brett      NPC: David Kyle

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