Squash Ireland invites applications from Northern Irish athletes for the Sport Northern Ireland Athlete Awards 2025-26.
The award is designed to help reduce the financial burden of maintaining a professional lifestyle for players with the potential to achieve elite-level success at the Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games level.
For the 2025-26 Athlete Award year, Sport NI will focus on athletes who are on a trajectory toward the LA 2028 Olympic Games and/or can deliver world-class performances at future Commonwealth Games.
Guidance notes are available here—please read carefully.
Application Process:
For any enquiries regarding the suitability of applications, please contact [email protected].
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.
Squash Ireland has selected both men’s and women’s teams for the 2024 WSF World Team Squash Championships in Hong Kong, taking place from December 9 to 15.
This is the first time the tournament will feature concurrent men’s and women’s events, as previous editions alternated between the two annually. The men’s team includes Sam Buckley, Conor Moran, Oisin Logan, and Michael Creaven, while the women’s team comprises Hannah Craig, Breanne Flynn, Hannah McGugan, and Ciara Moloney Doheny.
To support the players’ fundraising efforts, donations can be made here. Follow Squash Ireland on social media for updates.
Squash Ireland, formerly Irish Squash, has published the organisation’s first High- Performance Strategy for the period 2025–2028. The strategy is being released on the anniversary of squash’s formal inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympic programme by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Click here to view the Squash Ireland High Performance Strategy 2025 – 2028.
This strategy marks a significant shift in Squash Ireland’s approach to high-performance squash as the sport prepares for its debut in the Olympic Games. Its development was supported by extensive consultation and research, setting ambitious targets at the European, World, and Olympic levels.
A key objective for Squash Ireland is to qualify athletes for the LA 2028 Olympic Games and increase the number of players ranked in the world’s top 100, with a target of four. Securing substantial additional investment in the high-performance programme is essential for implementing the systems and structures necessary to achieve this strategy. Squash Ireland plans to launch a patrons programme and sponsorship strategy to support its high-performance goals and other objectives.
To kick-start the strategy, Squash Ireland is investing in world-class coaching by recruiting a high-performance Head Coach to provide player support and leadership for the high-performance programme.
Squash Ireland CEO Scott Graham said:
“Ireland has a proud history of competing at the highest levels in squash, reaching as high as number 3 in the world on the women’s side and number 7 on the men’s side. That success has instilled a belief among young players that they too can compete at the very highest level. With the inclusion of squash in the LA 2028 Olympic Games, we have a huge opportunity for young players to pursue a career in squash and strive to become Olympians. As a fast- growing and ambitious National Governing Body, we are committed to backing the players and putting the systems and structures in place to ensure long-term international success.”
“The development of this strategy has taken several months, and I want to thank everyone who contributed, particularly the members of the high-performance working group: Angus Kirkland (Chair), Arthur Gaskin, Derek Ryan, Gareth Brown, Eoin Ryan, and Ken Flynn.”
Sport Ireland’s Director of High Performance, Niamh O’Sullivan, commented:
“Squash Ireland has set clear and ambitious targets for its sport over the coming four years. Sport Ireland is encouraged by the National Governing Body’s plans to maximise the potential of its athletes, clubs and coaches. Our vision for international success by athletes and teams is that it is systemic and sustained; and critically, underpinned by high-functioning National Governing Bodies. I look forward to continuing to engage with Squash Ireland as their plans develop over the next cycle.”
Craig entered this $6,000 event as the number one seed and sought to take advantage of her first round bye.
The Lisburn native made light work of Chile’s Antonia Vera Sepulveda in the quarter final, dropping just 5 points in a comfortable straight games victory.
Hannah proved why she was the #1 seed for the event when she grinded out a 3-1 victory over her #3 seed Mexican opposition in the semi-final winning the last two games comfortably, 11-3, 11-4.
The Irish woman’s best was yet to come as she faced the #2 seed, Lucia Bautista in a titanic final. This was a very tense affair which went to the wire. Luckily for Hannah, she showed immense mettle to win the decider 11-7 and claim her first PSA title in South America.
After turning pro this time last year, Hannah dedicated her victory to the sacrifices she has had to make to to fully commit to squash and to those who have pushed and supported her to chase her dreams.
Congratulations Hannah. The first of many.
Irish Squash is seeking to appoint a Junior Secretary and a Senior Secretary to support the promotion and development of squash for their respective age groups. These are pivotal volunteer roles that require an in-depth understanding of the game, as well as the challenges and opportunities for players across the island of Ireland.
Applications are sought by the 2nd of August.
See Details of each role and how to apply below:
Irish Squash – Junior Secretary – Advertisement – July 2024
Irish Squash – Senior Secretary – Advertisement – July 2024
Fitzwilliam LTC is set to play host to a stellar line-up for the 2024 national championships from the 9th-11th of Feb. With the profile of Irish Squash and our young stars on the rise, this year’s tournament is set to be a titanic battle for the coveted crown of national champion.
This year’s event will be headlined by the Men’s A and Women’s A titles, while the Men’s B will also be up for grabs.
The women’s draw will feature reigning champion Breanne Flynn, who has hit top form at the perfect time as she looks to retain her title, having added a Leinster Senior Open title and a Mount Pleasant Senior Open victory to her accolades last month.
Despite Breanne’s recent success and pedigree, it’s Lisburn’s Hannah Craig who enters the Women’s draw as the no.1 seed after a terrific start to her pro-circuit career. Hannah is based in the US and has recently cracked the top 100 world rankings with some impressive performances on a global stage including a silver medal at the Costa Rican Open.
There are plenty of other players across the Women’s draw who will hope to have a say after fine seasons including Emma Lundy (3 seed), Ciara Moloney Doheny (4 seed) and Hannah McGugan (5 seed).
On the men’s side, Sam Buckley, our men’s reigning champion and national number 1 is also starting to peak at the perfect time, as he looks to become the men’s national champion for the third straight year. Off the back of an impressive WSF Men’s Team World Championship in New Zealand, where Sam beat Malaysian Addeen Idrakie, the world no.64 in straight sets and a recent Mount Pleasant Senior Open title, Sam will be hoping to have things his own way this weekend.
However, if recent form is anything to go by, Sam will have his work cut out by his fellow WSF Men’s Team World Championship teammates, Conor Moran (2 seed), Oisin Logan (3 seed) and Michael Crevean (4 seed). Oisin is coming off the back of Leinster Senior Open title, while Conor already has a Curragh Squash Open and Munster Squash Open to his name this year. Michael was also crowned a provincial champion this season, winning the Ulster Senior Open.
With all 4 top seeds having titles in their seasons arsenal, it will be tough for anyone else to compete, however Sean Conroy (9 seed) may have something to say having reached the final in 2023 and 2022.
Finally, the Men’s B division will feature Fawwad Siddiqui (1 seed), Anuroop Balakrishnan Sobha (2 seed) and Nabil Merchant (3 seed) as they battle a field of 13 to become the Men’s B national champion after Dara O’Flynn was crowned champion in 2023.
Action will be live-streamed over the course of the weekend on Irish Squash TV
Full Draw & Schedule can be found here
