The three new board members further bolster the expertise on the board of Irish Squash, which has grown considerably as a National Governing Body for Sport in recent years as we strive to fully deliver the 2022-2027 Connecting the Dots Strategic Plan.
Rose Hynes brings substantial, broad-spectrum experience from her work as a commercial lawyer, a member of senior management, and as a Chair and Director of Stock Exchange and SEC-registered companies, as well as other commercial entities across various sectors. Hynes also has extensive experience in leading successful organisations through long periods of complex transformation involving extensive stakeholder interaction. She has over 35 years of experience across all aspects of the aviation industry, both as a senior executive in GPA Group and at board level in Aer Lingus Group, and as Chair of Shannon Group and the Irish Aviation Authority.
Kevin Ahern brings over 30 years of financial services experience, most recently as the CEO of TD Securities in Ireland, leading a front office trading floor encompassing Debt Capital Markets, Rates, Equity Derivatives, Foreign Exchange, and Corporate Banking relationship management. As CEO and Country Head for 10 years, Ahern was a driver of major strategic change. A member of boards of directors in both executive and non-executive capacities for 17 years, Ahern managed the firm’s risk profile, ensuring that appropriate internal systems and controls were in place, and oversaw the adoption of the group’s culture in the day-to-day management of the firm.
Susan Kelly has over 20 years of experience in human resource management and financial services and is currently a Partner at Odgers Berndtson, a leading global executive search and organisational leadership firm. Kelly’s appointment adds further depth and breadth of experience to the board, supporting Irish Squash’s ambition for a strategically focused board planning for and safeguarding the long-term future of the sport.
Commenting on the appointments, President Rosie Barry said:
“Rose, Susan and Kevin will bring a wealth of experience to the new board in Irish Squash, underpinning our transformation to a skills-based board after the EGM in March 2024. I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to professionalise the organisation and further enhance the governance structures already in place. Their appointments are timely, coinciding with the mid-point of our Strategic Plan, Connecting the Dots 2022-2027, as we review progress made to date and refresh strategic objectives for the benefit of our squash community.”
Irish Squash CEO Scott Graham added:
“Irish Squash is well-placed to continue its growth over the coming years, and with the addition of two further highly experienced and committed directors to the board, the organisation and the sport as a whole will benefit in the months and years to come. Irish Squash has been on an upward trajectory recently, with the number of people playing squash on the rise, as well as the number of clubs, tournaments, and coaches. We will shortly be launching a youthful and energetic new brand identity and mobile-optimised website, which will help with our push to increase the number of people involved in squash, particularly young people. Our growing team of Club & Community Development Officers is available to assist clubs across a range of areas, including the establishment of junior sections, participation programme design and delivery, accessing local funding opportunities, and club development planning.
We are also making solid progress on the development of a National Centre, having submitted an application for funding under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.
On the high-performance front, with squash included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games, we are pleased to have secured seed funding to professionalise and develop our high-performance programme. With this in mind, we are currently recruiting for a Head Coach to oversee the High-Performance Unit and chart our path to future international success.”
5 players stole the show making the semi-final in their categories:
It wasn’t to be for Neil after a narrow last 4 defeat, but our other semi-finalist powered into their respective finals.
Our sole female finalist, Mary Sceney gave us a dream start as she took down Wales’s Jill Campion 3-1 to claim gold in the W65+ category. Sceney came from 1 game behind to defeat her opponent in impressive fashion. This was a really special title for Mary, who claims her 3rd World Masters title, 23 years after the first in 2001.
Nicholas Staunton was up second as he faced Mexican Marcos Mendez. Nick never got going and ultimately succumbed to the skills of the Mexican who had dropped just 13 points across his quarter and semifinals. Mendez recorded straight games win over the Irishman. Nonetheless it was a brilliant week Nicholas can be proud of.
Arthur Gaskin was next, taking on former world top 30, Egyptian – Omar Abdel Meguid. Gaskin pushed his opponent all the way in the first, losing a heartbreaker 17-15. It was a similar story in the second with another narrow 11-9 loss. Arthur showed true resilience to flip the script and claim the fourth 11-9 before the Egyptian closed out victory with an 11-6 final game. Not to be for Arthur but a magnificent run to the final.
Our last finalist Wille Hosey was unable to overcome Peter hill of Singapore, going down in 4 despite a spirited effort. Hosey was the #1 seed and displayed all the credentials of the top seed throughout the tournament. It was a wonderful showing from Wille despite defeat and he now carries immense form into our new season.
Massive Congratulations to our finalists and in particular to Mary Sceney on her fantastic World Masters title, replicating her 2001 and 2015 successes.
Well-done also to all who competed during the week and best to luck to all players in our new season.
Player Affiliation for 2024/25
We offer two approaches for player membership registration, designed to accommodate different circumstances and ensure that all players have access to the benefits of affiliation:
From the 1st of October, you will be unable to enter tournaments and leagues without a valid membership.
For assistance, please contact Tiernan Harris at [email protected]
Club Affiliation Fees
Safeguarding Requirement
All clubs will be required to fill out a safeguarding form as part of the affiliation process. This is crucial to ensure that we maintain the highest standards of child protection and welfare across all our clubs. The form can be completed here – https://forms.gle/feeJWxvpL5sLVSB26
For further information and to view the benefits of affiliation, see our Club Affiliation and Membership 2024-25 Document
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact Tiernan at [email protected].
Featured Squash Tournaments
The Irish Masters Open takes place from the 17th to 20th October at Fitzwilliam LTC and is considered one of the premier masters tournaments on the European circuit. This tournament is not to be missed if you are a competitive player over 35 years of age.
The In4 Squash Annual LGBTQ+ Tournament takes place on the 28th of September at Trinity College and is an inclusive social tournament, bringing together members of the LGBTQ+ community from around Ireland and beyond.
The Munster League closes for registration on October 4th and now features six divisions catering to everyone, from absolute beginners to seasoned pros. Connacht, Leinster, and Ulster also organise leagues, and you can find details on social media and through your provincial association.
Sutton LTC is hosting a series of one-day tournaments for U11s, U13s, and U15s. These tournaments offer juniors an action-packed day of squash, where they can play against various players and make new friends. They are suitable for all levels and are a great way for beginners to experience tournament squash.
Highfield Squash Club is hosting a Women’s One Day Open on the 20th of October. The tournament was very popular last season, attracting women from far and wide to this uniquely welcoming women’s-only event.
Check out the calendar at irishsquash.com/calendar for a full list of tournaments, or contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Membership and Club Affiliation
With the start of the 2024/25 season upon us, club affiliation and membership are now due. From October 1st, you will need to be a current member of Irish Squash in order to enter or participate in sanctioned tournaments listed on the calendar.
If you are planning to enter a tournament, please encourage your club to complete their bulk membership upload early. Alternatively, there will be an option to purchase membership directly through the Irish Squash Sporty HQ system if your club has not yet submitted you as a member.
Please contact [email protected] if you need assistance with club affiliation, bulk membership renewals, or direct membership purchases.
Respect
Inclusion is one of the six core values identified in the Irish Squash Strategic Plan, and we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where all members are respected. With this in mind, we would like to remind everyone that all members, coaches, officials, and administrators are bound by the code of conduct.
As part of our regular process of reviewing and updating policies and procedures, Irish Squash has engaged Ireland’s foremost sports law expert, Sarah O’Shea, to review the relevant disciplinary policies and the code of conduct. This process is ongoing, and we look forward to introducing new policies once they are approved.
Best wishes for the season ahead, and please contact a member of staff at Irish Squash if you need assistance.
Job Opportunity: Irish Squash Head Coach
Irish Squash is the National Governing Body for Squash on the island of Ireland. The organisation has experienced significant growth over the past year with the appointment of the sport’s first CEO and an increase in staff numbers from two full-time to three full-time and four part-time staff within the past 12 months. The number of affiliated clubs, members, coaches, tournaments, and leagues has all increased significantly.
The inclusion of squash in the LA 2028 Olympics has injected new energy and focused attention on developing a world-class high-performance programme to nurture talent and provide players with the necessary support to compete at European, World and Olympic level. Irish squash players have reached the pinnacle of the sport and there is a proud history of success at the highest levels of the game.
Irish Squash is seeking to appoint a Head Coach to oversee the high-performance programme, deliver upon the High Performance Strategy 2025–2028, and fully realise the potential within the Irish high-performance pathway.
Irish Squash Head Coach Job Description HERE
Applications close on the 21st of August 2024. A copy of the High Performance Strategy 2025–2028 will be provided to interested candidates.
Irish Squash has expanded its team of Club & Community Development Officers to three part-time staff, with Amanda Burgio set to join on July 29th.
Amanda brings a wealth of experience in sports development, club development, and participation programme design, having previously served as Club Support & Participation Officer at Volleyball Ireland. Many of the projects and programmes led by Amanda contributed to Volleyball Ireland being named National Governing Body of the Year in 2022.
Some of the highlights include organising and delivering the first-ever Women in Volleyball conference, designing a programme to empower female university students to take leadership roles in sport, and developing participation and inclusion programmes in collaboration with the Irish Wheelchair Association, Special Schools, and Local Sports Partnerships.
In addition to her professional experience, Amanda holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Business Development, a Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, along with several certificates and qualifications specific to the sports sector.
Commenting on her appointment, Amanda said: “I’m thrilled about the opportunity to join Irish Squash in their path to growth, and can’t wait to support clubs and contribute to fostering inclusivity in the squash community.”
Irish Squash is committed to professionalising the organisation and growing the sport by supporting our network of clubs and volunteers and delivering on the objectives set out within the Connecting the Dots Strategic Plan.
If your club would like development support, please get in touch with a Development Officer or another member of staff.
Club & Community Development Officers:
SQUASH is going through a resurgence in Ireland – north and south – and it’s the girls who are leading the field. In Northern Ireland eight of the top players are female.
Northern Ireland’s most famous squash champion, Banbridge’s Madeline Perry, looks back on a stellar sporting career and talks about the development of squash internationally and at grass roots level as well as the opportunities for young people locally to reach squash’s top tier.
A former Mary Peters Trust supported athlete, Madeline Perry is a real inspiration to Northern Ireland’s new crop of potential squash champions, many of whom are currently funded by Mary’s Trust.
Back in April 2024, the Irish Ladies team won the European Division 3 Championship and three of those four players hail from Northern Ireland – Hannah Craig, Emma Lundy and Hannah McGugan. Other up and coming young female players are teenagers Shriya Drawid (below) and Lydia McQuillen – both still students at school.
Full Story – Local Women Sport – Madeline Perry Story
Irish Squash is seeking to appoint a Junior Secretary and a Senior Secretary to support the promotion and development of squash for their respective age groups. These are pivotal volunteer roles that require an in-depth understanding of the game, as well as the challenges and opportunities for players across the island of Ireland.
Applications are sought by the 2nd of August.
See Details of each role and how to apply below:
Irish Squash – Junior Secretary – Advertisement – July 2024
Irish Squash – Senior Secretary – Advertisement – July 2024
Dear Club Member,
Day 1
Our young Irish stars are a few days into the 2024 world junior experience here in Houston, Texas. They had a smooth journey from Ireland, through Chicago and were then met by the extreme heat at Houston airport.
The club, Houston Squash Club, is situated on a highway in a sort of industrial area. Not a footpath in sight. Certainly no strolls for a coffee between matches. It’s a very big squash club, two glass courts and 13 traditional glass backs. All courts play well and some even have the glass side walls for extra viewing pleasure – all in all a very impressive complex, courts scattered in all directions and the bleacher seating for the super bright show court will allow for big audiences.
The opening ceremony was held on the main glass court, a nice experience for all teams being introduced one by one and then seated to listen to the American national anthem performed by a singer kitted out in full Texas style denim, boots and hat.
With one of the biggest entries to any world junior championships, there are almost 250 players. All our Irish guys were facing world class opponents, all with mammoth tasks on their hands.
Danny Lynch was first up, facing top American Zane Patel. Danny held his own throughout the match, frustrated the 9/16 seed in all departments and had good leads in the first and third. A superb performance over all, one to be happy with but in the end a 3-0 victory to the American.
Conal Jackson pushed hard against a speedy player from Hong Kong. Showing glimpses of his brilliance, Conal managed to get to 6’s and 7’s but could not get close to the game balls. Great start for the 16 year old!
Yuv Pahuja an tan Snodgrass were both on the show court, a big change. Bright light, by cameras, big opponents- literally and physically.Yuv couldn’t manage to get into his Canadian opponent, always on the back foot but did put a good game together in the 2nd!
Tristan faced Marwan Asal, younger brother of Mostafa, who plays a similar style. Battering the ball past Tristan, then battering it straight into the nick. A super uncomfortable player to play against and one that will be a force going deep into the main draw. Tristan handled himself well for sure.
Day 2
Day two got off to a flyer. Danny Lynch put on a fine display to get a 3-0 victory over a South African player, finishing off the match at almost the exact same time as Ireland slotted the drop goal to beat the springboks in the rugby, great fun whilst sitting beside the South African team.
Yuv Pahuja had a Korean opponent, a team that posses some serious talent and could go deep. Yuv played out of his skin, amazing shots kept him in the running for the first two games but the third got away quickly but confidence growing.
Conal Jackson had another gutsy display against an Indian player who looked twice his age. Going two – love down, he mustered up something special to clinch the third. The fourth was a bridge too far.
Tristan Snodgrass was playing well in his encounter with a player from Guyana, going full throttle in the first and looking good. One nil up, at the start of the second, a lunge to the front left landed awkwardly for Tristan and he was rattled by this. He played out the match to no avail after some physio treatment but we will have to assess the full extent of the damage.
It’s hotel, bus and squash courts for the foreseeable for the team and travelling support, surrounded by some inspirational matches from the world’s best, they’ll be soaking it all up and learning as much as possible. Plenty more rounds to come over the next few days before the teams event.
Day 3 & 4
Our Irish team has had mixed fortune since day two. The way the championship works this year is that you’re guaranteed four matches, the positions don’t get played out through the event.
We got a true world championship feeling with a massive mix of nations to play and an abundance of different styles, techniques and tactics on show for us to learn from.
Yuv Pahuja had two more matches, first against an athletic French player, Mathias De La Colina, who out powered Yuv in most areas. As ever, the Belfast man did display some very sweet hitting, outstanding clean winners when his timing was on, but went down in three. Yuv’s fourth match, on day four, was against a Brazilian. What a match up it was. Yuv had to wait the full day for his game, going on last of all matches in the club. This didn’t affect him though, he was on fire. Taking a 1-0 lead, the winners were being thumped into all corners when the chances were there. The second was super close. Narrowly missing out 11-9. The Brazilian pulled away in the third and fourth, being roared on by his supremely enthusiastic mother, and closed out the match in four, ending Pahuja’s event. Lots of good squash played, lots of experience and inspiration gained for the team event!
Tristan Snodgrass, after the aforementioned incident whilst playing Louis Da Silva, decided to forgo his third match and let the strain on his ankle heal. This was a smart move as he was able to play the next round fully mobile and give it his best shot. Snodgrass faced Thomas Scott, from Australia. The two lads went toe to toe, battling every point, furious high paced rallies in the first two games. Both games went the distance, but also went against the Dubliner, narrowly. 9-11, 10-12. Tristan fought valiantly in the third but Scott pulled away and finished it off, 11-6. Also bringing Tristan’s individual championship to close. Teams to look forward to!
Conal Jackson put in a strong performance in his next match, he demonstrated his ability to punish opponents with some super direct hitting, great flat straight drives hitting dying targets in the back corners with impressive consistency, following up with deft touch to the front and some decent deception. He was too good for Mohryan Baksh, dispatching him 11-1, 11-5, 11-9. Moving on to his next battle, Conal faced a more familiar foe in a Spanish player, Javier Muñoz. This was tight! The whole way through, 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, the score line tells it all. In total points, 50-49 to the Spanish. So hard to take, but that’s sport I guess. Fine margins decide so much. Conal was a class act though, a superb performance. Even the referee commented on how much he enjoyed the match.
Danny Lynch was in great form. He faced a formidable opponent in top Canadian player, Faazil Khan. Out powered for the most part, but the Galweigan certainly put up a fight. Taking the lead in the first and third but to no avail. Remaining ever resilient, Danny approached the next match with real positivity. A Columbian, Thomas Rodriguez. Much like Conal’s five set battle, Danny was trading point for point with Rodriguez and taking a share of the spoils to bring it to a fifth set. Playing in the glass court added to the drama, the white ball, bright lights, the clonk of the racket off the glass side walls and the noise. The suspense was immense. Going close to the distance in the fifth, Lynch closed it out to the joy of his team mates, 11-8. A great win. This brought Danny into Monday, the sole Irish player left. He faced a Japanese opponent on the same glass court. Again, the first game was incredibly close. 13-11 to Ren Makino. The two traded blows and perhaps Danny got a little caught up in a hitting battle, Makino attacking a little more in the second, every attack going his way to pull a two game lead. The third was better from the Irishman but not enough to stop Makino, going down in three.
All four players will now be in training mode for the team event. But we’re lucky enough to witness the matches in the main draw, today’s 1/4 finals were spectacular. I would highly recommend any squash fan to watch back, the drama and the upsets were a pleasure to behold, with capacity crowds and an amazing show court, Houston are certainly putting on a good show.
Days in build up to Team Event
As the lads prepare for the team event which starts on Friday, we’ve kept busy on the Houston courts. Training each day and sharpening the tools for what is set to be a big challenge. The four players have gotten plenty of motivation and inspiration from the immensely high quality surrounding us. Tristan trained some Aussies today, their coach is ex world no.4 Stewart Boswell, a nice little bit of extracurricular squash for him.
This event is the biggest ever gathering of international squash teams with 25 men’s teams and 17 ladies teams. Our pool stages, we have drawn the home favourites, USA, and the current European champions, France. With just three teams in each of the 8 pools, we have our work cut out but looking forward to the challenge.
Finals day today saw two amazing champions crowned – Mohamed Zakaria is officially the youngest ever men’s junior world champ, at just 16. Amina Orfi, the first to win 3 years in a row, she just turned 17. Future, if not current, greats of the game without doubt!!
The big surprise in the event was Korean Joo Young Na, a sensation, reaching the final. Particularly inspiring as Korea is not a squash stronghold, proving it’s possible from any corner of the globe.
Our closing ceremony for the individual event was this evening, the club owner and promoter, Jahanzeb Khan, treated all players to an outstanding feed in a Middle Eastern style restaurant, great chance for all players to mingle and hopefully make some friends that could last a lifetime.
We have a rest day tomorrow, a light practice only, and then it’s down to the serious business of the best part, the team event.
Team Event – Pool Stages
Three days of the world team championship event have passed and we have both of our pool games finished. This groups of U19 boys have been exceptional, a real credit to their country. All players have been enthusiastic, given their all in each match and their positivity has been instrumental in making the event so enjoyable.
The first team we played was the USA, a team stacked with top players and a funny line up. Typically, as the rules state, you play your strongest player at no.1, and second at no.2.. etc. the Americans line up had the individual events no.3/4 seed playing at number 3 on their team, a bit unusual.
But alas we took to the court with Yuv Pahuja first on against said opponent, Rishi Sirvastava, the U19 US junior open champion. The pace was frantic. Every ball was coming at Yuv a lot quicker than he had played against before and all his trademark winners were being returned with interest. He battled hard, chased down what he could and put on a good show. But the end result was 3-0 to Rishi.
Tristan Snodgrass up next, playing the American national champion, Rustin Wiser. This kid does not look like your typical squash player, more like a rugby player in his build. But he can move. Putting all his skills in display, he never really let Tristan settle. Very smooth and fast swing, with a nice hold, it was hard for Tristan to find a way to dominate the centre of the court. After going two love down, Tristan focused more on his basic squash, hit better targets and took the lead. He was playing with a lot of heart and got to 7-7 but Rustin pulled away to take the victory.
Danny Lynch was up next playing the top string match. He took on Zane Patel, who he had faced in the individual championship. Knowing how tough Zane is, this was a great challenge. All rallies were hotly contested, long and gruelling. The pace super high with some very entertaining squash. Zane played the first two games like a man possessed, he was leaping into every ball and cutting in volley drops from well in front of the T line. But Danny fought hard and got close, especially in the third game but it wasn’t to be.
We lost the tie 3-0.
Our next match against the European Champions, France, what a pool to be in, tough going. As a team, we just took it point by point and focused on our performance, controlling whatever we can.
This was our earliest match and we lined out with Danny, Tristan and Conal, playing order was 3.1.2. Conal up first.
What an opening game, Jackson coming out of the blocks firing, using attacking shots to great effect, counter drops and nice backhand hold and flicks. He worked himself into game ball territory, 4 times! But the French resistance was impressive and Conal ended up losing the opener 14-12. The second game ran away a little and the third was back into battle mode. Going all the way to 9-9, some great squash coming from the Dubliner. He fought hard but couldn’t get it over the line, unfortunately losing 3-0.
Danny Lynch was playing Amir Khaled-Jousselin, the rising star of French squash. Amir was the won who clinched the U19 euros title for France, with a giant win over Englands Abdulah Eissa. But with increasing confidence and performance, Danny was keen to show what he’s capable of. He took the game to the Frenchman, exhilarating squash, corner to corner stuff. Every rally competitive. A few crucial points going the way of the French, and Danny was 2-0 down but very much in the match. The third game, Danny had Amir keeled over a few times, considering the fitness of this player it showed how much work Danny had put into him. At 9-9, I definitely thought we’d be seeing a 4th game. Danny played an immaculate wide cross court, pretty much dying at the back of the court but somehow the referee awarded a stroke to France, baffling decision, and Amir needed just the one chance to convert match ball.
Tristan was playing Antonin Romieu, another famously good French player. Once a British open semifinalist. This guy was super quick and Tristan knew all about in the opening game. Nearly every drive Tristan hit was cut off with a volley. To control the T was a real mission. Romieu was moving Tristan a lot and clinical with his finishing also. Going two love down, the third game had more promise. Getting a bit of a lead, 6-4 up, things could have swayed the Irish players way with a couple more points. But again, the tenacity of the French, he dug in for the punishing rallies and found more winners than Tristan. Another 3-0 but a great battle.
The tie ended 3-0 but a display the lads can be proud of. Bridging that gap to the worlds best will be very possible if we can keep our players exposed to playing a such a high pace.
We continue into the next section of the draw, a top 16 spot no longer possible for us. But we will fight for every match and see how we fair out.
Team Event – Placings
What a day. The finest of margins can be so relevant in sport, for us, today couldn’t have been much closer as we topped our group to play for 17th place at the worlds.
Our morning match was against Germany. A team we had some history with from the European Championships this year. At that event we beat Germany in group stages but didn’t get out of our group, they ended up in 5th position, it was brutal. Today we beat them again and it looked like history may repeat itself. Tristan had a dominant performance, winning convincingly, 3-0. Danny played out of his skin, losing a real battle with the no.1, a great showing. And Conal had the pressure of the decider. Playing a super unorthodox power house of a hitter, Conal got off to a bad start, losing the first. However, his game plan was simple, he just needed to stick to his guns and he would get through. What a brave performance from the 16 year old, he did what was needed, winning three close games to take the win
Our second tie was against the Philippines, who Germany had beaten 2-1. Yuv got us started, playing against an athletic mover and solid squash player. He gave everything he had but in the third game it was evident that Yuv was in some pain, he unfortunately lost 3-0, but got some vital points on the board.
Danny had another rip roarer of a match. Full court action, some ridiculously good retrieving from both, apt that the match went the distance. Both players running on fumes, Danny unfortunately didn’t convert. Conal stepped up for the third match and thumped the no.3, a solid 3-0 performance but we were still devastated by the loss, it was all going to points count back to decide the group. We were level on match wins, level on game wins with Germany and topped the group by 5 single points, so incredibly close!
We now face off in another group with Spain and Switzerland, our final two matches.
Final Day
Another relatively early start for the team today, breakfast in the hotel for 0700, not something that we will miss much, same spread of scrambled eggs and potato cubes for two weeks, served on polystyrene plates, plastic cutlery and coffee in polystyrene cups, not a reusable item in sight.
The team in great spirits, looking forward to the challenge of the day! We had our 10am match against Spain, this time we played Tristan at 1, Yuv at 2 and Conal at 3. The guys have been putting in huge efforts so it’s great having a team of four to mix and match for different situations.
We were on the glass court today, it plays very well and has a cosy surrounding, players were very happy playing here! Tristan was up first against the incredibly awkward Marc Alterriba. Tristan was off to a flying start and got a few nice back wall nicks to help settle the nerves. The Spaniard fought back and clinched a tight opener. Similarly tight squash in the second, better tactics from Snodgrass to sneak it 12-10. Across the match, the tone never changed, long battling rallies, trading points, going the distance with huge efforts from both sides. Unfortunately it went the way of the more accurate Spaniard, 3-1.
Conal up next, a familiar foe in Javier Fraser Munõz. They had a giant battle in the individual event. Conal losing 11-9 in the 5th.
Today Conal was a little slow to start, going 5-0 down. Fighting, as ever, he clawed it back but lost the opener. In the second, he found his accuracy, hurting the left handed Spaniard with clinging counter drops on the right side wall. The third and fourth games were close but did not go the way of the Irish, both 11-6.
Yuv had an uphill battle with Adrian Revert Escutia. This guy was too quick, pouncing on anything Yuv hit loose and was pretty clinical in doing so. A valiant effort from the Irishman, gaining potentially valuable points in a tough contest.
Our final match of this years world championships was against Switzerland. A strong team, very consistent and fit. The tradition when playing teams at championships is generally to swap pennants or pins from your governing body. We have pins and pennants, the Swiss have toblerone, it’s a great swap, often hoovered up with 30 minutes of the tie finishing.
This evening, Danny, Yuv and Tristan played. Danny had a tough one, losing 3-0 with maybe his only sub par performance of the event, he has played extremely well throughout but wasn’t at the races today, mental and physical fatigue perhaps, combined with a Swiss player who was very stingy with errors and chased down every ball!
Yuv played a blinder in the opening game, going 8-0 up! And taking the first game. He played some exciting squash and forced the Swiss to go ultra defensive. His defensive lobs turned out to be very tricky and Yuv did play some great shots from a height but having to do so time and time again drew some errors out of the Belfast man. Tight all the way and a big effort but no joy for Ireland.
Tristan played a giant named Lasse. This Swiss player must be 6ft4 or 6ft5, anything in the middle was being punished and he had a very tidy backhand technique that allowed him to cut the ball in very well. First game was one sided, 11-1. But the next two were super close, 11-8, 11-8 and could have went either way. Just those slight lapses of concentration proving vital.
A three love loss for Ireland but an over all top twenty finish, which was above our seeding! What an experience, so many lessons learned, so much inspiration to keep improving. And what a bunch of lads, memories for life!!
Massive Thank you to David Noone for the Updates
Follow progress live – here
