Barry Devlin is the new St Pat’s Open Junior A champion following a hard-fought 90-minute final against local player Paul Fitzpatrick.
Devlin came through a strong field, beating Patrick Clerkin (15-3, 15-10) and Padraig Cahill in straight games before coming through an exciting final on a 14-15, 15-5, 11-8 scoreline.
Fitzpatrick defeated Roscommon’s Chris Doolin 15-6, 15-12 in the first round and doubles partner Eddie Halligan in the semi-final.
Brackey clubman Devlin played his usual exciting attacking game and after dropping the first to Fitzpatrick, who was killing consistently in front court, he upped the ante and ran out a deserving winner after a real dogfight of a final.
Cahill had shocked Mark McGowan 15-10, 15-14 in the first of the quarter-finals, with Halligan coming through in a tiebreaker against Donegal’s Paul Murray.
Meanwhile, Kells right-hander Peter Flanagan played some eye-catching handball en route to the Junior B title.
Serving brilliantly throughout the weekend, Flanagan never dropped a game. He dominated his semi-final against Christopher McKenna of Monaghan – who had impressed against Cavan’s Ryan Brennan earlier on – from the service box and continued his form in the final against Kingscourt’s Cormac McMahon.
Flanagan got off to a good start and, utilising a smooth style in the back court, was never in danger.
McMahon defeated Shane Briody in the semi-final.
At juvenile level, Monaghan took the honours with two titles, with Wicklow scooping the third.
Terry McElvaney proved the star turn in the Under 17 grade, running through three matches with the minimum of fuss. His smooth side-arm style and ability to kill the ball consistently saw him through against Cavan’s James Galligan in a one-sided decider.
Ramunas Ramamanauskas (Monaghan Harps) was very impressive in winning a very competitive Under 15 division. The powerful right-hander came through a tough test against Eugene McGeough (Bawn) in the quarter-final and defeated Roscommon’s Gary Kelly in the semi.
He defeated Conor Egan in the decider. Egan had come through an 11-10 tiebreaker against clubmate Colm Walsh in the semi-final.
At Under 13 level, Wicklow ace Dan Curry made the long journey from Coolboy worthwhile by taking the title; however, he was made to fight for long periods in the final by St Pat’s 13-year-old Ben Conaty.
Curry, one of the best prospects in the country, showed off an amazong repertoire of shots on his run to the final. However, Conaty almost upset the formbook, playing clever and composed handball to record 13 aces in the first game.
Curry’s class and experience came to the fore in the second game, however, as he ran out a comfortable winner.
 

	Barry Devlin