Irish double for brilliant Beth as Alpha star reigns

She won both the singles and doubles titles at the Carlton Irish Under 17 National Championships.

In the singles, Beth was seeded second behind her doubles partner Clodagh Dunne. She made light work of both Niamh Gannon and Kim Feehily to reach the semi-final.

There, she was pitted against Alpha clubmate Rachhael Woods. Beth had been beaten by the same opponents in the Leinster Under 17 Yonex Open at the end of January but got her own back with a 21-16 21-17 to set up a tie against the other twin Rebecca.

She had seen off Clodagh Dunne in three sets but couldn’t put Stephenson to the sword. Beth won 21-7 21-14 to keep up her 100% record against her fellow Alpha star.

Girls Doubles

Beth and Clodagh have already been crowned champions in the Leinster Under 17 Yonex Open and Connacht Under 17 Open in January.

It was always going to be a mountain for the Woods twins to climb if they were to upset the seedings. And so it proved as the formidable top seeds won 21-13 21-16 in the final in just short of half an hour.

There was to be no treble for Beth who, along with her partner Brian O’Mahony, was knocked out of the mixed doubles by the unseeded Paul Reynolds and Kim Feehily in a three set marathon lasting 40 minutes.