From April 3rd to 6th, the Irish U13 and U15 squads traveled to Nantes to compete in the 2025 edition of the 5 Nations Cup, going head-to-head with some of Europe’s top young squash talent.
The adventure began early Thursday morning with a bleary-eyed 3:30am start at Dublin Airport. Excitement buzzed through the group—especially for those donning the Irish shirt for the very first time. The team landed in Nantes before breakfast and headed straight to La Maison du Squash, the tournament venue, for a practice session to get familiar with the courts and surroundings.
La Maison du Squash proved to be a fantastic host throughout the weekend, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for players, coaches, and parents alike. After training, the team enjoyed some well-earned downtime with a fun evening at the bowling alley—a perfect opportunity for team bonding.
It was lights out early that night, as the early start was catching up with everyone. Spirits were high, and the team was ready to take on the competition ahead.
The team arrived early at La Maison du Squash for the opening ceremony, followed by a quick warm-up session to prepare for the first challenge of the weekend—England.
The U13s were first on court, with several players making their international debuts. Despite facing a very strong English side, our players settled in well and found their game. Special mention goes to our No. 1s, Saibh Darcy and Jamie Morrissey, who both came heartbreakingly close to taking a game.
Next up were the U15s, clearly inspired by the grit shown by the U13s. Every player delivered a strong performance, pushing their opponents and showing real fight. There was some excellent squash on display, with a special shoutout to Danny Jones (Sutton LTC) and Nathan Walsh (Freshford and Celtic SC), both earning their first caps for Ireland. They rose to the occasion, playing bold, attacking squash. Danny even pulled off the trick shot of the tournament to earn a point for the team!
Final Scores:
U13: England 6 – 0 Ireland
U15: England 6 – 0 Ireland
Saturday morning brought another big challenge as both Irish squads faced off against hosts France.
The U13s were up first, with debuts for Eoin O’Brien (Sutton Lawn Tennis Club) and Ruby Carroll (Limerick Lawn Tennis Club). Both players gave it everything, battling hard and showing real determination against top-class opponents.
The U15s followed, facing some of Europe’s finest junior talent. Despite the tough opposition, the team rose to the occasion and showed serious grit and skill. Gabby Curran (Belfast Boat Club) and Ben Lynch (Galway LTC) stepped into the lineup for this one, both putting in strong, composed performances and making life difficult for their French opponents.
Final Scores:
U13: France 6 – 0 Ireland (1-18)
U15: France 6 – 0 Ireland (1-18)
U13s were first on court, and the squad delivered some brilliant performances. Harry Knox (Celtic Squash Club) impressed with a commanding 3-1 win, while Josh Archer (Belfast Boat Club) cruised to a 3-0 victory—both showcasing a level of squash beyond their years. Jamie Morrissey (Celtic Squash Club), Saibh Darcy (Sutton LTC), and Aurora McDonnell (Mountpleasant LTC) also put in high-quality performances that kept the pressure on throughout their matches.
But the standout clash—and a top contender for match of the day—came from Daisy Morrissey (Celtic Squash Club). In a nail-biting 3-2 thriller, Daisy edged out her opponent in a match that swung back and forth: up 1-0, down 2-1, then mounting a spirited comeback to seal it for Ireland. A special shoutout to the travelling parents who (unofficially) played every point of that final set from outside the glass!
With the tie ending 3-3, it came down to countback—Wales narrowly edging it 12-9.
Determined to flip the narrative, the U15s came out firing. Nathan Walsh, Danny Jones, and Michael Lai (Mountpleasant LTC) delivered dominant 3-0 wins, giving Ireland a crucial edge. The girls—Laya Sabry, Ashrakat Elmahgoub, and Zoe Nyhan (all Mountpleasant LTC)—fought hard, with Ashrakat and Zoe grabbing those all-important points needed to push Ireland over the line.
This time, it was Ireland who took the countback win with an 11-9 score!
Final Scores:
U13: Ireland 3 – 3 Wales (9-12 on countback)
U15: Ireland 3 – 3 Wales (11-9 on countback)
The final day of the tournament came around all too quickly, with both Irish teams set for one last challenge—taking on Scotland in a Sunday morning battle to close out a fantastic weekend of squash.
U13s kicked things off, determined to finish strong. There were solid performances across the board from Saibh, Jamie, Josh, Aurora, Eoin, and Ruby. Eoin O’Brien opened the scoring for Ireland, sealing the win with great returns and some slick trickle boasts. Over on the other court, Ruby Carroll followed up with another win, coming through 3-1 after a marathon third game that ended 17-15—showing serious grit and mental toughness.
Next up, it was time for the U15s to bring the weekend to a close. Danny Jones and Nathan Walsh once again delivered excellent wins, demonstrating maturity beyond their years and creating plenty of attacking opportunities. Ben, Ashrakat, Zoe and Gabby all played with heart and determination, ending the tournament with strong performances they can be proud of.
Final Scores:
U13: Ireland 2 – 4 Scotland (6-13)
U15: Ireland 2 – 4 Scotland (6-13)
A fantastic weekend showcasing some of Ireland’s brightest young talent at U13 and U15 level—an exceptional group of players we’re sure to see plenty more of in the years to come!
Full scores:
