Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

The First National Development Boccia Championships was held on the 18^th August in Ballinteer Community School with 8 Athletes selected to compete.  Throughout the year, teams of Boccia Players competed together in the national League championships.  As a result of the league a number of the players were selected individually to compete in the development nationals.  The athletes were selected on their level of ability according to the classification bands within the game and their ability to play.  In total 15 athletes from a total of 82 players received an invite to the championships with 8 accepting the invite.

The Players selected for the championships were:

John Cooney - Ardee

Joseph Duff - Ardee

Kieran Hogan - Carlow

Dermot Madsen - Sandyford Dublin

Mairead Connolly - Sligo

David Walsh - Ardee

Dan Kennedy  - Dublin

Kelly Kinsella - Meath

Dan Kennedy and Joseph Duff in Action

All players showed a very high level of play throughout all their individual matches with each player trying to gain as many points to clear their pool.

With 6 players going forward from the pools, all games were very tightly fought.  One of the youngest players on the day, Dan Kennedy (11) proved his ability on the court by getting to the finals.  This was Dan’s first competition, but he didn’t let it phase him as he was able to edge ahead in his final match and claim 3^rd place to Mairead Connolly from Sligo.

The battle for 1^st and 2^nd was yet another close match with runner up from the pools Dermott Madsen claiming victory by one point from Joseph Duff.  Unfortunately for Joseph this was his first and only loss of the day having won all his 4 match up to the final.

Dermot was presented with his gold medal by the current BC1 Boccia World Champion Padraic Moran (Bray Co. Wicklow).  The National Boccia Manager Jacquie Connolly congratulated all the players and paid tribute and reference to Padraic having started his Boccia Career at this level.  She said that all players here today had huge potential, and with hard work could get to where Padraic is today.

On behalf of Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland, Congratulations to all the competitors who took part.  A big thank you also to the referee’s who officiated the matches.

For more information, please contact Brenda O’Donnell, National Development Officer at 01 6251160 or Brenda.hopkins@cpsi.ie.