Strangford end of season charity competition and individual championships.

 Strangford table tennis club staged another successful charity competition to raise funds for Marie Curie Hospice which this year also incorporated the League individual championships. It was a particularly successful night for Joe Mc Conville now the longest player still competing in the League. He had gone through the League campaign unbeaten and now topped it off my winning the individual championship title to end the season as the League’sNo1 player.   

The earlier rounds were all fiercely contested with 8 groups of 4 players going through to the main event and consolation knockout. It was a busy night for the tournament referee Jimmy Stirling but his faultless performance in keeping the competition on tract dealing with everything that came his way throughout a long night of table tennis contributed successfully to a very enjoyable competition for the competitors and spectators.  Seeded at 1 Mc Conville topped group 1 and did Pat Mulholand the number two seed in group 2. Jim Mills the 3^rd seed also on form topped group 3 with Vignesh Musthusamy from the Banbridge club always a popular visitor to Strangford table tennis club in group 4. As was anticipated with all groups in action and players waiting for their turn to play the organising committee refreshment room was also a busy venue.  As the competition reached the quarter finals of the main event a familiar pattern was emerging with Mc Conville arriving at the semi –final stage following a victory over Terry Murphy. On table 2 Vignesh Musthusamy forehand attack too good on this occasion for John Mc Cusker who did well to reach this stage on the competition without much practice. Jim Mills and John McEvoy was close affair but in the St John’s players experience was the deciding factor in his victory.  Pat Mulholland still recovery from eye surgery also moved to the semi –final after an epic battle with Colin McKinty to complete the semi final line up.

 The consolation had also progressed to the semi final stages and with home players in the mix it was to prove an excellent competition for the Strangford club. Owenbeg player Geraldine Magill had already booked her semi final place and gave a good accounted of herself against the more experienced current holder Peter Madine losing in straight sets. Now it was the turn of the Strangford duo of Nuala Hynds who dedication to practice has certainly paid off and had booked her semi final place at the expense of team mate Michael Deeny and a meeting with another teammate Cormac O’Reilly. But Cormac had his eye on a final place and was just too good for Nuala on this occasion.

In the main event Joe Mc Conville needed all his experience to deal with the attack Vignesh Musthusamy in a 3 set match.  Jim Mills has had a good season as had his semi-final opponent Pat Mulholland. This match was nip and tuck all the way before Mulholland booked his final place.

Consolation Final. Peter Madine and Cormac O’Reilly.

Peter Madine has been in excellent form all season and has steered his team the semi-final of the handicap cup. Equally Cormac turning back the years and always available to play when his team needs him was ecstatic to have reached a final of a competition in his own words a gift from the stars. He certainly gave a good account of himself but the result was never in doubt with Peter retaining the consolation shield. Congratulations Peter on an excellent achievement.

Senior Event (Individual Championships).  Final Joe Mc Conville V Pat Mulholland.

The seeding committee had got it right so far but everyone in the hall knew this match could be too close to call. In a previous tournament final Pat had emerged the victor but this was the one that Joe wanted and had waited a long time to get his hands again on the WF Magee Cup. Joe won the first set 11.6 the second was close with the Mulholland backhand kill regularly finding winners to take the match to 10 all. but Joe held on to win 12-10 in the 3^rd set Mc Conville was always in control and cheered on by the home crowd come home 11.5. He had waited 58 years for this moment and had contested 8 previous finals before the cup was back with a legend of the local game. Congratulations Roller.  

The Lecale League committee would like to thank Strangford table tennis club for the staging this competition and for providing the refreshments.