Double success for Matthew at Open event

Matthew Cheung was a double winner in the Munster Under 11 Championships beating David Downey, the No2 seed in a close three setter with Cheung coming out on top 21-18 18-21 21-12 and then partnered Chloe Woods to the Mixed Doubles title beating Seamus Bradley and Adele O’Brien 21-10 21-16.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Oct 2013, 12:30 BST
Matthew Cheung wins Double at Munster Under 11 Open.Matthew Cheung wins Double at Munster Under 11 Open.
Matthew Cheung wins Double at Munster Under 11 Open.

Matthew is just 8 years old and this was his first major title in the sport. In addition to playing at the Alpha club in Lisburn, he is a pupil at Stranmillis Primary in Belfast.

Chloe Woods seeded No1 in the Girls singles was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Jean Daly 21-13 21-19 but was to see her victor go on to lift the singles crown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Alpha’s Matthew Lightbody lifted a hat-trick of titles at the Munster Under 15 Championships despite only being seeded No2 in the Boys Singles with Paul Reynolds in the top spot. However, it was Lightbody who was rarely troubled in the singles dropping only 25 points on his way to the final. Having already this season featured prominently in the Ulster Under 17 Championships Matthew was in control throughout the two sets and ran out an easy victor 21-14 21-16.

The singles finalists teamed up in the Boys Doubles and seeded No1 they were to face Thomas Howard and Brian O’Mahony in the final, after the latter pair had caused an upset in the semis knocking out the No2 seeds Kyle Magee and Matthew Smyth 21-18 in the deciding set.

But the dominance of the singles finalists came through to give Lightbody and Reynolds the title 21-6 21-8.

Seeded No1 Matthew Lightbody and Rachael Woods failed to drop a single set on their way to lifting the Under 15 Mixed Doubles title. In the semis the Alpha pair knocked out Tomas Howard and Karen MacNamara, victors over Adam Mcallister and Beth Stephenson 21-18 11-21 21-17 and Mark and Niamh Gannon in the final 21-12 21-15.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Girls Singles was a much closer affair with the top seed Clodagh Dunne progressing to the final while No2 seed Rachael Woods had to stave off the challenge of Alpha clubmate Beth Stephenson in the semi-final. Rachael had the edge in the decider and booked her place in the final. There was nothing to separate both players in the deciding set but it was Clodagh who was to edge ahead in the vital final stages to take the crown 21-18. There was further disappointment for Rachael Woods in the doubles when in partnership with sister Rebecca their challenge ended at the semi-final stage, the only consolation being that Alpha’s Beth Stephenson partnered Clodagh Dunne to a 22-20 21-18 victory in the final.