Double delight as Sinead bags two titles in Leinster

Commonwealth Games athlete Sinead Chambers from Lisburn will swap her training gear for a graduation gown this week as she graduates with a first class degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Ulster. Sinead has spent three years training for her dream job of physiotherapist whilst balancing her commitments as an International Badminton player, culminating in her selection as a member of Team Northern Ireland for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.Sinead and her 116 fellow teammates from Northern Ireland will travel to Glasgow for the 20th Commonwealth Games, which open on 23 July. Photo: Aaron McCracken/Harrisons

The Alpha girl, who will be missing from the European Mixed Team Championships when they get underway in Leuven Belgium next month - that despite having been a member of the victorious team which took them through in the qualifiers, was the top seed in the Women’s Doubles.

Along with partner Jennie Magee (nee King), they didn’t disappoint. The pair were never really troubled beating Ashleigh Coyne and Kellie O’Flynn 21-12 21-7 in the quarter-finals.

Lucie Corcoran and Crona Rooney seemed to be still recovering from their three-setter in the previous round to cause the top seeds any problems with Sinead and Jennie through to the final 21-13 21-9.

Ciara O’Connor and Gemma Tobin, the number two seeds, had nearly seen their hopes of reaching the final disappear as they came close to losing the opening set of their semi-final before coming through 24-22 21-12 and they were always playing catch-up to the top seeds, who won 21-15 21-18 in just short of half-an-hour.

The Mixed Doubles was always going to be a much tighter event with the brother and sister partnership of Sinead and Ciaran in the top seeded berth and Tony Murphy partnering Jennie Magee at number two.

Stuart Lightbody and Crona Rooney had knocked out the seeded John Amond and Laura Hennessey in straight sets and there was little between the Chambers and this pair in the opening set of this semi-final clash. However, the top seeds were able to secure their place in the final 21-19 21-14 while in the bottom half of the draw the seeded Daniel Magee and Ciara McCooey ended their participation in the competition, beaten by Murphy and King 21-19 21-12.

The final saw both partnerships finding it difficult to make a real impression as all four players know each other’s games so well and the Chambers had just enough to win 21-18 21-18.

Ulster players had high hopes of also capturing the Mens Doubles title with Ciaran Chambers and Ryan Stewart seeded number one and Stuart Lightbody and Tony Murphy No3/4. However, the latter pair were taken all the way by Satchal Madden and Paul Reynolds before coming through 21-18 21-19 and they then could not see out the contest against number two seeds Daniel Magee and Niall Tierney, having taken the opening set 21-18, but losing the next two 18-21 14-21.

In the final, it was Magee/Tierney who were to win by the skin of their teeth 21-19 21-19 against Ciaran and Ryan.