Division 3: Highfield A 7 – 16 Ennis

Remaining Fixtures – League Table

STRONG PERFORMANCE IN HIGHFIELD KEEPS ENNIS CBS’ DOUBLE DREAM ALIVE

Compliments of Colm Murphy

Ennis CBS travelled to Highfield in Cork City last Thursday, hoping to continue their encouraging start in Division Three of the Munster Squash League.

With Mike Conlon missing from his number one spot, Martin Sexton came in at number five to face Highfield teenager, Jack Long. In a rich vein of form in Munster recently, Sexton concentrated his attacks on the back corner while Long was clinically efficient in dispatching loose ball around the middle. Sexton took the first 15-12 and the exchanges remained very close but Sexton’s trademark low backhand volley kills proved decisive on 15-12, 15-13 scorelines for a 3-0 win.

Oisin Casey played at four with Tim O’Callaghan in opposition. Casey played his familiar brand of consistent and tight driving to the back corners to win 15-10 in the first, before leading 14-11 in the second game. O’Callaghan showed impressive resilience to bring it to a tiebreak and then level the match with a precise drop. Casey comfortably took the third before a flurry of superb dropshots from the Highfield man levelled it on a 15-9 scoreline. The deciding game was neck and neck early on before some ‘tins’ gave Casey a 10-6 lead which he developed to a 15-10 win in an excellent contest.

Colm Forde was Ennis CBS’ number three versus Brendan Connelly. With Forde adopting a patient style early on, Connelly was afforded chances to attack hard and low from the back wall. This he did very efficiently in a 15-8 win. Thereafter, Forde was attuned to the demands in this higher division and, with boasts bringing a more decisive cutting edge to his play, he worked his way to a 3-1 win.

David Forde was the CBS’ number one on this occasion with the skilful Ger Hogan as his opponent. Both men were adept technically and long rallies were the order of the day as the first two games were shared. Forde’s rallying was tight and straight, denying Hogan many chances to volley from the ‘T’ and the Ogonnelloe man took the third 15-8. With a marginal edge in fitness conferring an advantage to Forde, he duly drove on to a 3-1 win.

Cathal Lynch and Eoin Murphy from Highfield was the number two match. Young Murphy is ranked #5 in the Irish Junior ranking and he certainly displayed his abilities on the night. The first game was tight, with Murphy putting Lynch on the defensive into the corners. The Clarecastle man had his own attacking threat and kept right in touch before being edged out 15-12. The second game was another intense affair with Lynch within a point of victory before Murphy swept back to a 16-14 tiebreak win. Lynch fought on and forced the young Highfield player into some tremendous rallies but he just couldn’t peg back the rising star who took a 3-0 win.

Overall, it was a tremendous result for Ennis CBS – 16 pts from a possible 20. With the visit of Thurles imminent and two matches with holders, Waterford Celtic, before next March, the path to ultimate success in the Division remains very open for several clubs.