It was a clean
sweep for Eastpoint at the Irish top 12 in Cork. the club's
six cadets finished in places one to six. some might say that
there were at least three of the top 10 not there but in any
tournament this was still a magnificent achievement and one
that crowns an outstanding year. I don't remember a year where
six players from the same club featured so much in all the Irish
Junior ranking tournaments in one age group.
As you might
expect if you were following the tournaments this season the
finishing positions were not as you might predict exactly. MARK
O'Flynn won the tournament with no losses and only a few scares
but the others are like the ever shifting sands.
It was Gavin who took his turn on the podium with an excellent performance to finish second. He only lost one and that was to Mark. Conor Morgan surprised a few people with a storming third place finish. In doing so he dropped only 3 games. Those to Mark and Gavin and one to Shane Foster. Niall McDonnell lost to Conor but beat Shane and lost out in the count back to Conor. Shane finished fifth but not only did he beat Conor but he was the only one to bring Mark all the way in a thrilling five setter that was the match of the cadet tournament. Shane lead Mark two sets to one and looking down the barrel of the gun Mark had to produce his best set of the tournament to stay in the match. Shane finish fifth because he lost to Ryan Flood. he led two-one and 9-6 in the fourth but let it slip and never regained his momentum in the final set. Andrew Holohan finished sixth having lost only to all his club mates.
It was another indication of the ever improving groups strength which will I am sure be bourn out next season in the junior tournaments. There was a disappointment in the under 12s when Sam Hanley played excellently to take the title from Neal OFlynn. John Murphy played superbly to win the Junior title.