Academy claim silver in Ulster table tennis event

BALLYMENA Academy picked up a silver medal last Thursday in the Ulster Schools Table Tennis Cup.

In the U19 Boys event, the Galgorm Road boys comfortably defeated the Royal School Cavan 5:1 in the quarter-final.

This set up a clash with local rivals Ballyclare High who had knocked them out at this stage last year. Revenge was sweet for the Braid lads as they emerged victors by a 5:4 score line.

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In the final they met reigning champions Fivemiletown College who boasted Ashley Robinson, Irish senior international, and Jonathan Porter – Irish Junior international. Despite their best efforts the Fivemiletown team proved too strong for the Academy winning the final 5:1.

A further silver medal was picked up in one of the individual tournaments. At U19 level Adam McIlmoyle came through a difficult qualifying group. Academy Strongtower lad Calum Burns also won his group.

Both had victories in the quarter finals to set up a semi-final clash between the two club mates with McIlmoyle winning in five sets 13-11, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8.

In the final McIlmoyle met Fivemiletown’s Irish international Ashley Robinson losing the final 11-2, 11-5 and 11-8.

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In the U16 event three players made the knockout stages with Johnny Moore losing out in the last 16 and Jordon Hood and Peter Neeson losing in the Quarter finals. Neeson deserves special mention as he pushed the eventual winner Neil Irwin to five sets losing the fifth set 11-9.

For a full rundown on all the action from the County Antrim Table Tennis League, see this week’s Ballymena Times.