The IT Sligo Badminton Team secured 2nd place at the International Student Badminton Tournament, which was held recently at the University of Limerick’s Sports Arena.
IT Sligo’s team mark was 37.5 out of 42, while the winning team University of Ulster scored marginally better with 37.8 out of 42.
26 college teams entered the Tournament from nine European countries. The competition was managed by Badminton Ireland.
Civil engineering student at IT Sligo, Joseph Earley, had the highest average points of the competition – winning all of his games, including the Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles finals (D Section). Significantly, he was placed ahead of Jamie Neil – the Scottish Number One Senior Badminton Player and a world-class competitor.
Also in the finals were IT Sligo mechanical engineering student Alan McDonagh, who won the Men’s Doubles finals and was runner-up in the Men’s singles (D Section); IT Sligo lecturer, Victoria Stevens, who won the Ladies Doubles and played in the mixed doubles finals (B section); IT Sligo Health Science and Physiology student, Joan Daly who was runner-up in the Mixed Doubles (D section); Software Development student and Club Captain Joseph Keown who took third place in the A section; Martin Murray and Colm Frizzell who reached the semi-finals in the Men’s Double; and Rachael Quinlivan who reached the semi-finals in the Mixed Doubles.
IT Sligo Badminton Team Club Captain Joseph Keown said: ‘One of our club’s aims is to become widely recognised as an Institute that can compete successfully at all levels of badminton – and this ISBT tournament result has motivated us even more.”
Paul O’Connell, Irish Rugby international and Munster Captain, meets the IT Sligo Badminton Team at the University of Limerick Sports Arena during the International Students Badminton Tournament on 22-25 October. The IT Sligo Team narrowly missed top position by less than half of one point. Pictured from L to R:-Victoria Stevens, IT Sligo lecturer; Rachel Quinlivan, Screen, Sligo; Joan Daly, Westmeath; Colm Frizzel, Ballinacarrow, Sligo; Joseph Keown, Calry, Sligo, (Team captain); Alan McDonagh, Ballymote, Sligo; Joseph Earley, Aughnasheelin, Co. Leitrim, Martin Murray, Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon.
The IT Sligo team consisted of:
- Joseph Keown (Captain), Calry, Sligo
- Victoria Stevens, Lecturer
- Joseph Earley, Aughnasheelin, Co. Leitrim. Studying Civil Engineering
- Rachael Quinlivan, Screen, Sligo. Studying Health Science & Physiology
- Joan Daly, Tyrrells Pass, Co. Westmeath. Studying Health Science & Physiology
- Alan McDonagh, Ballymote, Sligo. Studying Mechanical Engineering
- Martin Murray, Kilteevan, Co. Roscommon, Studying Early Childhood Care and Education
- Colm Frizzel, Ballinacarrow Sligo. Studying Mechatronics.