The 2014 European team Championships commenced on Wednesday 30th April in Riccione on the Italian east coast just south of Rimini. Ireland’s womens team are number 2 seeds in Division 1 while our mens team are in Division 2 seeded number 4.
For live streamed on the Glass/Gallery Court – CLICK HERE
reland’s womens team played in the 3/4th place play off this morning v. Czech Republic. Ireland were short their number i and world number 9 Madeline Perry who got injured in the semi final vs. England on Friday. This meant that the inexperienced Ciara Moloney was in at number 3 for only her 2nd cap at senior level.
Ciara played first and while up against a professional player
Anna Klimundova played really well. She lost the first 2 games but won the 3rd well but went down 3-1.
Next up for Ireland was the experienced Aisling Blake from Sligo playing Olga Ertlova. Aisling playing very controlled squash won well 3-1 to level the match.
Now all down to Laura Mylotte an experienced player but not a full time player. She was playing Lucie Fialova who played in last weeks IRISH OPEN in Dublin. Laura a tough player played well but unfortunatly went down 3-0.
So 4th place for Ireland’s womens team and but for the injury to Madeline Perry it surely would have been a bronze medal after 2 silver medals over the past 2 years.
For the 4th time in these Championships ireland drew 2 all. and for the 2 nd time won the tie on countback. At 1 and 2 Carlow’s Arthur Gaskin & Brian Byrne lost. Byrne lost a tight match 3-2, 11-9 in the 5th. 19yr old Michael Craig won at 3 in a great match 3-0 after a 18-16 first game. All down to the 42 yr old Steve Richardson from Ballymena who won in 4 games to give Ireland victory and 13th place overall in the championships.
Match overview
| Order |
Event |
Italy M |
– |
 Ireland M |
Score |
Points |
|
|
Duration |
| 1 |
MS2 |
|
– |
|
8-11 11-5 11-9 8-11 11-9 |
1-0 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
MS1 |
|
– |
|
11-9 13-11 11-6 |
1-0 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
MS3 |
|
– |
|
16-18 5-11 8-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
MS4 |
|
– |
|
8-11 4-11 11-7 9-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
In the semi final played on Friday morning Ireland lost to tournament favourites England 3-0. Madeline Perry had just won the 3rd game and was 2-1 down to Laura Massaro when she got injured and had to retire. Aisling Blake played Alison Waters who she beat in the final last year but lost on this occasion 3-0 as did Ciara Moloney who was making her debut in the championships but Sarah Jane Perry was too much for her and she lost 3-0.
So if the seeding goes as expected Ireland will play the Czech Republic for the bronze medal tomorrow. Good luck to them.
Also on Friday morning Ireland played Austria in 5-8 place play off. Arthur Gaskin had a 3-1 loss in a tight match with 3 games going to 12-10. Brian Byrne had a super 3-0 victory as did Michael Craig. Unfortunately Conor O’Hare lost 3-0 but on this occasion Ireland won the countback after twice losing on countback to Sweden & Wales.
So last day tomorrow with Ireland’s ladies going for bronze.
On Thursday, the 2nd day Ireland’s women team lost the pivotal fixture in Group B to 3rd seeds France 2-1. Aisling Blake won 3-1 but madeline lost a tight match to world number 5 Camille Serme and Laura Mylotte lost 3-1. A semi final now with number 1 seeds England. The Czech Republic fill the other Semi final spot and will play France.
Later on Thursday evening Ireland’s men were unlucky to lose on countback to Wales. This was the second time after also drawing with Sweden 2-2 on Wednesdayevening. Number 1 Arthur Gaskin had a super 3-0 win Peter Creed 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. Steve Richardson had another great win 3-1. Unfortunately both Brian Byrne and Michael Craig lost. So it is on to 5-8 place play off with a match vs. Austria.
After 2 great victories Ireland’s men and women had contrasting fortunes on Wednesday evening with the women’s team having a 2-1 win over Wales with a great 5 set victory for Laura Mylotte
On Wednesday morning both Irish teams had comprehensive victories over Denmark 3-0 for the women and the men beat another Scandinavian country, Norway 4-0. See full results below.
The womens team is:
1 Perry Madeleine
2 Blake Aisling
3 Mylotte Laura
4 Moloney Ciara
The men are in a group with Norway (Wed 9.00) and Sweden (Wed 17.00) and are number 1 seeds in group 4. The team members are:
1 Gaskin Arthur
2 O’Brion Brian
3 Craig Michael
4 Richardson Steve
5 O’Hare Conor
6 Conroy Sean
SATURDAY 3rd MAY
Match overview
| Order |
Event |
Italy M |
– |
Ireland M |
Score |
Points |
|
|
Duration |
| 1 |
MS2 |
|
– |
|
8-11 11-5 11-9 8-11 11-9 |
1-0 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
MS1 |
|
– |
|
11-9 13-11 11-6 |
1-0 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
MS3 |
|
– |
|
16-18 5-11 8-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
MS4 |
|
– |
|
8-11 4-11 11-7 9-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
FRIDAY 2nd MAY
Match overview
| Order |
Event |
Ireland M |
– |
 Austria M |
Score |
Points |
|
|
Duration |
| 1 |
MS4 |
|
– |
|
6-11 6-11 9-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
MS1 |
|
– |
|
10-12 12-10 10-12 3-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
MS2 |
|
– |
|
11-8 11-8 11-3 |
1-0 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
MS3 |
|
– |
|
11-5 11-8 11-7 |
1-0 |
|
|
THURSDAY 1ST MAY
Match overview
| Order |
Event |
Wales M |
– |
Ireland M |
Score |
Points |
|
|
Duration |
| 1 |
MS2 |
|
– |
|
11-5 11-5 11-2 |
1-0 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
MS1 |
|
– |
|
7-11 9-11 9-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
MS4 |
|
– |
|
7-11 7-11 11-9 0-11 |
0-1 |
|
|
|
| 4 |
MS3 |
|
– |
|
11-8 6-11 11-5 11-5 |
1-0 |
|
|
Standings of Men – Division 2 – Pool D
|
|
Points |
Played |
Won |
Draws |
Lost |
Matches |
Games |
Points |
| 1 |
 [SWE] Sweden M |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
– |
2 |
22 |
– |
7 |
298 |
– |
229 |
| 2 |
[IRL] Ireland M |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
– |
2 |
19 |
– |
11 |
305 |
– |
248 |
| 3 |
 [NOR] Norway M |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
– |
8 |
1 |
– |
24 |
153 |
– |
279 |
Show draw…
WEDNESDAY 30TH APRIL
Unfortunately Ireland lost out to 5th seeds Sweden 3-1 with the experienced Steve Richardson the lone victor @ no. 4
Match overview
| Order |
Event |
Ireland M[IRL] |
– |
[SWE] Sweden M |
Score |
Points |
|
|
Duration |
| 1 |
MS3 |
| Michael CRAIG |
<a href="http://esf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=8
| |
