National Champion Conor Moran impressed in the opening round, but was unable to carry that momentum into his second match. Facing off against world No. 64 Rui Soares, Moran once again showcased his immense potential and shot-making talent. The Portuguese veteran, however, used his experience to weather Moran’s aggressive style, especially in a tightly contested second game that went to extra points. Despite Moran’s spirited effort, Soares secured a straight-sets victory to progress to round three.
Top Irish seed Hannah Craig also saw her tournament come to an early end. Drawn against top seed and world No. 21 Tesni Murphy, Craig pushed the Welsh player in a high-quality encounter that had squash fans on the edge of their seats. The opening game was a nail-biter, ending 14-12 in Murphy’s favour. Craig responded with grit, levelling the match in the second game. Both players dazzled with world-class shot selection and athleticism, but ultimately, it was Murphy who edged ahead to clinch the win and move on to the next round.
With the exits of both Moran and Craig, Irish hopes for a home soil success in this year’s competition have come to an end — but the performances of both athletes gave fans plenty to cheer and promise much for the future.
The quarter-finals of the Cannon Kirk GillenMarkets Irish Open take place on Thursday, May 22nd, with all eight matches streaming live on the SQUASHTV Live Streaming YouTube channel, starting at 2pm local time.
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt. [4] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) 3-1: 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 (59m)
[1] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt. Samuel Osborne – Wylde (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8 (58m)
[7] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt. Shahjahan Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-0 (49m)
Tom Walsh (ENG) bt. [5] Patrick Rooney (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7 (57m)
[8] Rui Soares (POR) bt. Conor Moran (IRL) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 (40m)
Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) bt. [2] Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-2: 5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 (66m)
[6] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt. Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 3-1: 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8 (50m)
[3] George Parker (ENG) bt. Emyr Evans (WAL)3-0: 11-8, 11-1, 11-8 (36m)
[4] Torrie Malik (ENG) bt. Hana Ismail (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 13-11 (53m)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt. [7] Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-2: 11-7, 11-3, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7 (57m)
[2] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt. Lowri Roberts (WAL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 (37m)
[6] Marta Dominguez (ESP) bt. Jessica van der Walt (AUS) 3-2: 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6 (47m)
Xin Ying Yee (MAS) bt. [5] Joelle King (NZL) 3-2: 5-11, 9-11, 6-3 ret. (35m)
[1] Tesni Murphy (WAL) bt. Hannah Craig (IRL) 3-1: 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4 (46m)
Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt. [8] Enora Villard (FRA) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (34m)
Madeleine Hylland (NOR) bt. [3] Grace Gear (ENG)3-0: 11-1, 11-9, 11-6 (27m)
[7] Rory Stewart (SCO) v Charlie Lee (ENG)
[1] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Tom Walsh (ENG)
[8] Rui Soares (POR) v Melvil Scianimanico (FRA)
[3] George Parker (ENG) v [6] Simon Herbert (ENG)
[4] Torrie Malik (ENG) v Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
[6] Marta Dominguez (ESP) v [2] Georgia Adderley (SCO)
[1] Tesni Murphy (WAL) v Xin Ying Yee (MAS)
Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) v Madeleine Hylland (NOR)
The 24-year-old had not played a PSA Tour match of any kind for more than a year. He did, however, come into this event as the Irish national champion, having upset his country’s No.1, Sam Buckley, in an epic, 103-minute final in February. That match took place on Court 1 at Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, and Moran was back on the very same court for today’s encounter with Azana, a player ranked almost 150 places above him in the world.
If there was any doubt about whether Moran would be overawed, either by his ranking deficit or the occasion, that was quickly squashed as he raced into a 9-5 lead in game one, closing it out 11-6 on a crisp forehand volley winner down the line.
He then held his nerve to take game two 11-9, and made the perfect start to game three, winning the first three points to settle any nerves that may have been lingering.
3-0 soon became 9-3 and a backhand drop into the tin from Azana handed the Irishman seven match balls.
He only needed one, though, reaching out to hit a deft forehand volley drop down the line, ending proceedings and earning himself a first World event win on the PSA Squash Tour.
That result followed a comfortable win for Hannah Craig against fellow Irishwoman Breanne Flynn. Flynn had been sidelined with a foot injury sustained in March, making this event her first appearance back on court since then.
Wildcard Hannah McGugan, a teammate of Craig’s in Ireland’s recent bronze medal run at the European Team Championships, faced world No.60 Xin Ying Yee but was unable to progress, falling in straight games.
There will be no place in round two for Sam Buckley, despite a valiant effort in an eventful late-night battle with England’s Tom Walsh. The Irish men’s No.1 had stunned Marwan Elshorbagy at the recent European Team Championships, and was hoping to take out another English player here in the form of Walsh, a close friend and training partner of Azana.
Playing on the unique green court, Buckley made the perfect start by winning game one 11-6, only to be bageled in the second.
Walsh then took game three 11-5 but was 6-4 down in the fourth when play was switched to Court 2, with the referee deeming Court 1 unsafe to play due to the amount of sweat falling from both players onto the floor.
After warming up a new ball, Buckley closed out the game 11-7, drawing huge cheers from the crowd, who had packed onto the balcony and around the glass door below.
Ultimately, though, his comeback charge would fall short, as Walsh kept his composure well, establishing an early lead in game five and never letting Buckley back into the contest, firing a backhand volley winner into the nick on match ball, letting out a huge roar of emotion.
In Round two, Irish duo Craig and Moran will take on women’s top seed Tesni Murphy and Portugal’s Rui Soares respectively. Round two action from court 1 will stream live on the SQUASHTV Live Streaming YouTube channel on Wednesday, May 21st, kicking off at 2pm local time.
Samuel Osborne – Wylde (ENG) bt. Mazen Gamal (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-1, 11-7 (42m)
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt. Brice Nicolas (FRA) 3-1: 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6 (58m)
Emyr Evans (WAL) bt. Salah Eltorgman (CAN) 3-1: 11-8, 5-11, 13-11, 11-7 (40m)
Shahjahan Khan (USA) bt. David Bernet (SUI) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-9 (49m)
Conor Moran (IRL) bt. Jeremias Azaña (ARG)3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-3 (34m)
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) bt. Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-9, 11-9
Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) bt. Yannik Omlor (GER) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 (52m)
Tom Walsh (ENG) bt. Sam Buckley (IRL) 3-2: 6-11, 11-0, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4 (60m)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt. Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (32m)
Hana Ismail (EGY) bt. Alison Thomson (SCO) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (37m)
Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt. Asia Harris (ENG) 3-2: 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 (44m)
Jessica van der Walt (AUS) bt. Jacqueline Peychär (AUT) 3-0: 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 (31m)
Hannah Craig (IRL) bt. Breanne Flynn (IRL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-1 (24m)
Xin Ying Yee (MAS) bt. Hannah McGugan (IRL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-1 (17m)
Madeleine Hylland (NOR) bt. Kiera Marshall (ENG) 3-2: 11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9 (69m)
[1] Greg Lobban (SCO) v Samuel Osborne – Wylde (ENG)
Charlie Lee (ENG) v [4] Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI)
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) v [5] Patrick Rooney (ENG)
[7] Rory Stewart (SCO) v Shahjahan Khan (USA)
[8] Rui Soares (POR) v Conor Moran (IRL)
Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) v [2] Jonah Bryant (ENG)
[3] George Parker (ENG) v Emyr Evans (WAL)
Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) v [6] Simon Herbert (ENG)
[4] Torrie Malik (ENG) v Hana Ismail (EGY)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [7] Saran Nghiem (ENG)
[6] Marta Dominguez (ESP) v Jessica van der Walt (AUS)
Lowri Roberts (WAL) v [2] Georgia Adderley (SCO)
[1] Tesni Murphy (WAL) v Hannah Craig (IRL)
Xin Ying Yee (MAS) v [5] Joelle King (NZL)
[8] Enora Villard (FRA) v Akanksha Salunkhe (IND)
Madeleine Hylland (NOR) v [3] Grace Gear (ENG)
The Ireland Women’s team of Hannah Craig, Hannah McGugan, Aimee McConnell, and Lydia McQuillan claimed the bronze medal at the European Team Championships Division 2 in Wrocław, Poland.
The team emerged from Pool B with wins over Portugal and Slovenia, which saw them progress to the medal matches. A narrow loss to the Netherlands teed up a match against Italy in the battle for bronze.
Hannah Craig was up first against Cristina Tartarone of Italy. Tartarone took the first game 12-10, Craig fought back in the second winning 11-9. The back and forth continued but in a nail biting finish Craig took the fifth game 11-9 to get Ireland off to a winning start. Aimee McConnell sealed the win with a convincing 3-0 win over Beatrice Filippi in just 23 minutes.
The result was a major positive for the squad, with Aimee McConnell and Lydia McQuillan both earning their first senior caps for Ireland showing the strength in depth of the squad.
Ireland Men Relegated Despite Win Over World #7
The Ireland Men’s team finished 11th in Division 1, resulting in relegation to Division 2 next year. The team of Sam Buckley, Conor Moran, Michael Creavan, Oisin Logan, and Sean Conroy got off to a promising start as Conroy opened the scoring with a win over Rory Richmond of Scotland.
Sam Buckley, with a world ranking of 116, was next on court, playing exceptional squash against world number 18, Greg Lobban. A five-game thriller unfolded over the next hour, with Lobban eventually edging out Buckley. Narrow losses by Michael Creavan (against Alan Clyne) and Conor Moran, ranked 217, (against Rory Stewart, ranked 55) meant that Ireland lost the tie.
Motivated by a chance to reach the top 8, and buoyed by their performance the previous day, Ireland faced 44-time champions England with grit and determination. Oisin Logan suffered an early loss to world number 66 Tom Walsh.
Next up, Sam Buckley took on world number 7, Marwan Elshorbagy. Buckley had the Englishman under pressure from the outset, with the pair trading blows in a tight first game. Elshorbagy edged it 20–18, then took the second quickly. However, Buckley staged a remarkable comeback, taking the next three games 11–4, 11–9, 11–7. The win will go down as one of the greatest upsets in European Team Championship history and serves as a huge confidence boost for Buckley and the entire Ireland squad.
Michael Creavan followed, facing world number 33 Curtis Malik. Creavan took an early lead, winning the first two games 11–8, 11–7. England looked shaken, staring down the barrel of an early exit. But to his credit, Malik fought back and claimed the next three games 11–5, 11–8, 11–3. Creavan can be proud of a performance that raised his game to new heights.
Conor Moran was the final Irish player to take the court, facing rising star and world number 35, Jonah Bryant. Moran lost the first game 11–2 but had Bryant under pressure in the second and third, holding the lead at times with opportunities to win. However, it wasn’t to be, as Bryant sealed the win for England.
After the emotional high of pushing two of the top teams so close, Ireland struggled in the 9th–12th place playoffs, as fatigue began to take its toll. They tied with Belgium and lost to Hungary on Friday. A win over Israel wasn’t enough to retain a place in Division 1.
It was a rollercoaster campaign for the Ireland men’s team. However, they gained valuable experience and showed they are capable of competing with some of the world’s best players.
Full results here
SquashLevels and Squash Ireland have developed a partnership and are excited to share the benefits it will bring to you as a player. SquashLevels is a global squash rating system that provides up-to-date ratings, rankings, seedings, and other valuable information for players at all levels.
With SquashLevels, you can track your progress over time, compare your performance with other players, and see where you stand in both global and national rankings.
To support this, we will be sharing members’ historic match results from Squash Ireland tournaments and leagues from the past season, as well as future results, with SquashLevels. This will enable them to calibrate and produce more accurate ratings and rankings.
Squash Ireland’s Data Protection Policy has been updated to reflect the sharing of results with SquashLevels, in the interest of providing improved services to our members.
For more on SquashLevels click here
This year, Prague is playing host to the U19 Championship—an event that’s fast becoming a standout on the European junior squash calendar. For many, it’s a highlight of their playing careers, a week with some of their fondest juniors memories. Spanning 10 days, the event is split into two parts: the first half dedicated to individual competition, the second to the team championship.
Both the men’s and women’s events featured 64-player draws, with only each nation’s top talents competing. That meant every match was a battle—rarely an easy run for anyone.
The competition was spread across two venues. The primary site was the impressive Hector Centre, home to five glass-back squash courts lined up in a row, which served as the event’s vibrant hub. Beyond squash, Hector boasts tennis, badminton, padel, beach volleyball, a gym, and on-site accommodation—though squash was very much the star this week. A secondary venue, a squash and bowling centre across town, hosted a handful of matches.
Credit to the Czech Federation for organizing a seamless event, including securing a fantastic hotel just minutes from Hector—a nice treat for the players.
The individual championships had its ups and downs for all players. There were huge highlights, some performances that need forgetting quickly, and some major 5 set battles that went both ways. For all involved, it was an invaluable learning curve. How best to progress from here is the mission.
All results can be found at esf.tournamentsoftware.com .
U19 Boys – Final Ranking
16th place – Aaron Knox
24th place – Christian Dromgoole
45th place – Danny Lynch
50th place – Conal Jackson
61st place – Frank O Flynn
U19 Girls – Final Ranking
23rd place – Lydia McQuillan
25th place – Ella Erickson
30th place – Ella Walsh
38th place – Zoe Yeomans
45th place – Riley Slade
The event was closed out with the men’s and women’s finals. Both had impressive French winners, showcasing an incredible level of squash and inspiring many of the spectators!
The team event starts on Thursday for Danny, Conal, Christian, Lydia, Ella and Ella. An exciting week ahead!
An event that didn’t quite meet Danny’s own high expectations, but did provide some great performances and battles that will stand to him in the team event. He ended with three wins and three losses, showing moments of real grit. An agonizing first-round defeat, followed by a heartbreaking 12–10 fifth-set loss (after holding match balls), were tough pills to swallow. But his ability to bounce back mentally and refocus was perhaps his biggest win of the week. Sometimes the making of an athlete is how they react!
Thrown in at the deep end with the No. 3 seed in round one, Conal gave a good account of himself, making the opponent work for his victory. Then came a series of grueling five-setters—three in a row, two of which he won. By his final match, fatigue had taken its toll, bringing to a final loss. Still, a solid performance that sets him up nicely for the team event.
Off to a flyer with a 3–1 win in round one, Christian followed up with a closely contested four-set loss. Day two brought a strong win over Maltese Julian Scerri [17/24], pushing him into tougher territory in the draw. Though he didn’t notch another win, his top-25 finish and trademark tenacity made for a strong outing.
What a start from the Waterford man—two wins on day one, including a nail-biting 11–8 in the fifth against a top French opponent to break into the top 16 – and providing his teammates with the nervous excitement that only these events can bring. A performance to be proud of for us all! Though he faced Europe’s best in the later rounds, he never lost heart. His poise and fight at just 16 years old bode well for the future.
A few tough opening matches for Frank. He was always competitive in the games, always fighting hard. Frank played superb squash in parts, and it all came together in the later stages where he closed out the event with two commanding 3–0 victories. A strong finish to a valuable learning experience.
Making her Irish debut, the American-based Ella did not disappoint. A clinical first-round win was followed by a valiant effort against a top English player. Pushing her in each game, Ella lost 3-0 but showed what she’s capable of. A narrow 11–9 fifth-set loss in round three stung, but she rebounded in style—winning the rest of her matches and gearing up confidently for the teams event.
Lydia opened with a commanding win, before a narrow round-two loss which set up an unfortunate all-Irish clash against teammate Ella Walsh in round three. Lydia came through that in straight games and continued with strong performances. After two tough losses, her final win—15–13 in the fifth—was a thriller and a great note to end on.
A huge round-one comeback win for Ella—down two games, she clawed back to win 11–9 in the fifth. Brilliant effort from the Dublin based player. Tough luck followed, running into the second seed (for the second year in a row) – held a good account of herself but was out in 3 games – and then drawing Lydia in round three. She bounced back with a dominant 3–0 win over a Croatian player and a spirited match against a higher-seeded Norwegian. Plenty of positives to take forward.
Still just 16 years old, Zoe showed impressive maturity winning three from six! Her event began with a loss to the eventual finalist, England’s Emily Coulcher-Porter—a player with the rare skill of using opposite hands on either side of the court, avoiding backhand. Zoe’s standout moment came in a commanding win over a German rival who had previously troubled her. Always nice to see improvements coming along, positive event for sure!
A tough event for the athletic Mount Pleasant player, with early matchups against powerful opponents. Riley posses plenty of speed, but struggled to answer to some of the big hits. She also had the misfortune of drawing teammate Zoe—never ideal in a large event. But Riley saved her best for last, taking down a tricky Norwegian opponent in a five-set thriller on the final day. Valuable lessons learned.
Squash Ireland is the National Governing Body for Squash on the island of Ireland. The organisation has experienced significant growth with the number of affiliated clubs, members, coaches, tournaments, and leagues increasing.
The development of a events strategy is a key strategic priority for Squash Ireland along with the delivery of a wide range of tournaments, leagues and social events being a core and fundamental aspect of Squash Ireland’s mission.
An experienced and highly organised Event Manager is required to drive participation, growth and engagement in this key strategic area for the sport.
In addition, with an expanding performance programme, a diligent administrator is needed to manage all aspects of high-performance logistics, from the junior performance academy to the senior elite programme.
Role
The successful candidate will implement the Competition and Event related elements of Squash Ireland’s Connecting the Dots 2024-2028 Strategic Plan and develop a complimentary Events Strategy in addition to managing all aspects of high-performance logistics.
Reporting Structure
The Events & HP Logistics Manager will report directly to the CEO. They will be required to develop strong working relationships with Squash Ireland staff and a wide range of volunteers, club officials, and committee members, as well as funders and stakeholders, including the World Squash Federation, European Squash Federation, Sport Ireland, and Sport Northern Ireland.
Key Responsibilities
• Overall responsibility for project management and delivery of tournaments, leagues, and events on the Squash Ireland Calendar (e.g., Irish Open for Junior, Senior, and Masters, PSA Tournaments, Schools and Third-Level Competitions, Annual Awards, AGM, launches, and ad-hoc events). The successful candidate will be required to work closely with committees and key volunteers to support the successful delivery of events.
• Develop a fit for purpose competition structure and event hosting strategy.
• Organise a series of social tournaments to increase participating amongst social/leisure junior and senior players in collaboration with Development Officers and key volunteers.
• Design and deliver a competitive structure for schools and third-level students.
• Lead the bidding process for high profile and prestigious international events and ensure successful delivery.
• Enhancing the quality and standards of tournaments and events through initiatives such as the delivery of Tournament Director training.
• Management of an all-glass show court maximising its usage and benefit for the sport, including storage, transport, build, insurance and presentation.
• Increase and support the volunteer network through developing excellent working relationships with committees and volunteers involved in delivering squash locally and nationally.
• Review tournament policies and ensure consistent implementation of policies and procedures across all sanctioned tournaments.
• Lead the development and management of the event entry system and ICT systems and ensure full integration with website, rankings and memberships system.
• Liaison with host venues or local organising committees on aspects like scheduling, pricing, seeding, accommodation, catering, insurance and marketing/communications.
• Overseeing the income and expenditure budgets for all events.
• Secure commercial partners and identify opportunities to add value for sponsors at events.
• Drive growth in participation and engagement in tournaments, leagues, and events at all levels, from junior to masters.
• Manage all aspects of event marketing, communications, media and broadcast. • Increase and develop new event revenue streams.
• Manage all high performance logistics for international competitions and training from junior to senior level, including players targeting LA Olympic qualification.
• Work closely with the Head Coach and Junior National Coaches to provide logistical and administrative support for the new junior performance academy.
Essential Requirements
• Be eligible and willing to work in Ireland.
• Full unrestricted driver’s licence and sound driving record.
Essential Skills and Experience
• A third-level qualification in event management, sports management and/or related qualification.
• Significant experience in a similar or comparable role.
• Proven ability to deliver major sporting events of national and/or international significance.
• Excellent attention to detail along with project management, administrative, and time-management skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with an ability to work positively with volunteers.
• A strong understanding of event management IT systems with the ability to lead project teams in the development and improvement of systems
• Strong marketing and commercial acumen with an ability to develop marketing campaigns and activate sponsor agreements.
Further Information
• Full-time position
• Flexible and remote working arrangements can be agreed upon
• A flexible approach is required, with regular out-of-hours and weekend work, as well as domestic travel
• Salary dependent on experience
• One-year contract (extension subject to continued funding)
The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory:
• Garda Vetting/Access NI Checks.
• Reference Checking Procedures.
How to Apply?
Applications must be sent by email with the subject line: [ATTN: Events & HP Logistics Manager]. When applying by email, please include a letter of introduction detailing your skills and experience relevant to the role and your Curriculum Vitae outlining your skills and work experience. Please send these materials no later than the 04th May 2025 to Squash Ireland at [email protected].
Squash Ireland is an equal opportunity employer, celebrating diversity and championing inclusivity. If you require any reasonable accommodations to assist you in participating in the employee selection process, please simply let us know.
Squash Ireland is delighted to announce GillenMarkets and Cannon Kirk as the title sponsors for the upcoming Irish Open, scheduled to take place from May 20th to 24th at Fitzwilliam LTC in Dublin. This year, the tournament has been elevated to a Professional Squash Association (PSA) Copper status event, featuring a $75,000 prize fund, split equally between the men’s and women’s draws.
The upgraded status is set to attract top-tier international talent, providing an exceptional platform for both seasoned professionals and rising stars. World No. 22 Tesni Murphy leads the women’s draw as the top seed, while World No. 19 Greg Lobban enters the men’s draw as the favourite, with Jonah Byrant World No. 35 returning to defend his title.
Among the Irish contenders are Hannah Craig, Sam Buckley, Conor Moran, Breanne Flynn, and Hannah McGugan, all of whom will have the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best on home soil.
Notably, Irish No.1 Hannah Craig recently secured her maiden PSA Tour title at the Paraguay Open and has climbed as high as World No. 63, underscoring her readiness to make a significant impact at the Irish Open.
On the men’s side, Sam Buckley and Conor Moran have been making great strides in their game and continue to climb the world rankings in what is a pivotal year ahead of the announcement of the LA 2028 Olympic qualification process.
Meanwhile, Breanne Flynn hopes to make a strong return following an ankle injury that sidelined her for several weeks, while Hannah McGugan aims to gain valuable competitive experience against some of the world’s top-ranked players.
Tournament Director Dara O’Flynn expressed enthusiasm about the event’s growth: “The support from GillenMarkets and Cannon Kirk has been instrumental in elevating the Irish Open to a PSA Copper event. This enhancement not only boosts the tournament’s prestige but also provides our Irish players with a valuable opportunity to compete at a higher level on home soil. We anticipate thrilling matches and
encourage fans to come and support our players.“
“Alongside our title sponsors, we are very grateful to Fitzwilliam LTC and their members, who have been wonderful hosts for what is a marquee tournament in the Irish sporting calendar.”
Squash enthusiasts and sports fans are encouraged to attend the Irish Open to witness world-class squash action and support Ireland’s top talent.
For more information on the tournament draw, participating players, and schedule, visit www.psasquashtour.comOn Saturday April 12th, Sutton Lawn Tennis Club and ALSAA will host the Juniors Interprovincials 2025. The most talented juniors from each province will compete in U11, U13 and U15 categories, for a day of thrilling matches.
U11 and U13 Boys and Girls will compete in Sutton Lawn Tennis Club, starting 10am.
U11 Boys
10am – Munster vs Connacht & Leinster vs Ulster
12pm – Leinster vs Connacht
2pm – Munster vs Ulster
4pm – Munster vs Leinster & Ulster vs Connacht
U11 Girls
10am – Leinster vs Ulster
12pm -Munster vs Ulster
2pm – Munster vs Leinster
4pm – Munster vs Ulster (rotate)
6pm – Leinster vs Munster (rotate)
U13 Boys
12pm – Munster vs Connacht & Leinster vs Ulster
2pm – Munster vs Ulster & Leinster vs Connacht
4pm – Ulster vs Connacht
6pm – Munster vs Leinster
U13 Girls
10am – Connacht vs Leinster A & Munster vs Leinster B
12pm -Munster vs Leinster A
2pm – Connacht vs Leinster B
4pm – Munster vs Connacht
6pm – Leinster A vs Leinster B
U15 boys and girls team will compete in ALSAA, starting 10am.
U15 Boys
10am – Munster vs Connacht & Ulster vs Leinster
12.30pm – Munster vs Ulster & Connacht vs Leinster
3pm – Connacht vs Ulster & Munster vs Leinster
U15 Girls
10am – Munster vs Leinster B
12pm – Leinster A vs Leinster B
2pm – Ulster vs Leinster A
4pm – Ulster vs Leinster A (rotate)
The 2025 Irish Senior Nationals delivered a weekend of gripping action at Fitzwilliam LTC, with dramatic encounters, upsets, and dominant displays across all divisions. Conor Moran stole the show in the Men’s A final, while Hannah Craig successfully defended her title in commanding fashion. Meanwhile, Brian Knox lived up to expectations in the Men’s B, cementing his status as the top seed.
Men’s A Final: Moran Stuns Buckley in Marathon Thriller: In what will be remembered as one of the most dramatic finals in recent history, Conor Moran triumphed over top seed and defending champion Sam Buckley in a five-game epic. Buckley looked set to retain his title after taking the first two games convincingly (11-8, 11-4), but Moran refused to back down. The Dublin native clawed his way back into contention with a tight 14-12 third-game win before dominating the fourth (11-3). The decider was an absolute nail-biter, with Moran holding his nerve in extra points to clinch the title 17-15, dethroning Buckley and claiming his place at the top of Irish squash. Fifth seed Sean Conroy took the final podium place, pipping Michael Creaven in another full-distance thriller.
Women’s A Final: Craig Goes Back-to-Back with Straight-Game Victory: Hannah Craig proved once again why she is the dominant force in Irish women’s squash, securing her second consecutive national title with a straight-game victory over Breanne Flynn. The Ulster star showcased her clinical finishing and composure in key moments, edging a competitive first game 13-11 before pulling away in the next two (11-7, 11-6). Craig’s back-to-back triumphs further solidify her reputation as the premier female player in the country, with Flynn once again finishing runner-up to her international teammate despite a spirited performance and dominate run to the final. Craig was joined on the podium by her fellow Ulster star, as Hannah McGugan dispatched Aimee McConnell in straight games to take third place.
Men’s B Final: Knox Claims Title as Top Seed The Men’s B division also saw its fair share of high-quality action, with top-seeded Brian Knox emerging victorious over fellow Waterford player Adam Power. In a match that remained tight throughout, Knox proved too steady, taking the final in straight games (11-9, 11-5, 11-9).
A Weekend to Remember – The 2025 Irish Senior Nationals once again delivered an unforgettable weekend of squash, with new champions crowned and old champions reaffirming their dominance. Moran’s resilience in his stunning comeback, Craig’s continued supremacy, and Knox’s composed run in the Men’s B ensured that fans were treated to high-stakes action from start to finish. As the dust settles, anticipation already begins for next year’s edition, where returning stars and rising talents will look to write the next chapter in Irish squash folklore.
The stage is set for what is expected to be an epic tournament!
The Irish Masters Open 2024 is kicking off tomorrow in Fitzwilliam LTC and Mount Pleasant LTC, in Dublin. 126 players from 12 countries will compete for the title in 12 categories ranging from O35/40+ to O75/80+.
Irish athletes are determined to claim the title at the Irish Masters Open 2024, following strong performances at the WSF World Masters earlier this year.
Full calendar and results can be found here.
Squash enthusiasts are welcome to the event venues to enjoy the action live. Matches will also be streamed live on our Youtube channel Squash Ireland TV.
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