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Table tennis players net international honours

Monday, 24 March 2008

FOUR young Dublin table tennis players have had the honour of being selected to represent their country at two international competitions.
Ciaran Kelly and Amy Rock from Finglas, who are both members of ALSAA Table Tennis Club, have been named in the boys’ and girls’ Irish teams that will take part in a six-nation tournament in the Isle of Man next month.
Meanwhile, their clubmates Sam Logue and Sarah Dolan, from Swords, have just returned after playing for Ireland at an event in Guernsey.
The honour of representing their country is just the latest achievement for all four players who have been making names for themselves in recent years.
Ciaran Kelly is the current Leinster Boys’ number one and Liam O’Ceallaigh, development officer for table tennis in Leinster, told Dublin People Sport he has high hopes for the players in the Isle of Man.

“Last year we finished in second place overall in the girls’ team event and third place in the boys’ section, so we are hopeful we can do the same or even better again this year,” Mr O’Ceallaigh said.
“England won both events last year and are always the team to watch, so I expect them to be the toughest team again.”
Mr O’Ceallaigh, who will accompany Ciaran and Amy to the six-nation tournament, said they are really looking forward to it.
“It will be an excellent experience for the young players and it is great for them to be receiving a full Irish cap,” he stated.
“They have been putting in extra training in the lead up to the event so I expect them to be at their best.”
Mr O’Ceallaigh said the promotion of table tennis in Dublin, particularly for girls, has improved greatly and is starting to bring more players through.
As part of the Irish Sports Council’s Women in Sport Programme, Mr O’Ceallaigh has been spearheading an initiative in local schools to get more girls involved in the game.
Last year, the initiative took place at Mother of Divine Grace School and St Brigid’s School in Finglas.
“We have already managed to get 10 pupils from those schools to come and compete at table tennis events so the initiative is certainly proving a success,” Mr O’Ceallaigh added.
“We will soon be starting a new programme at St Joseph’s School in Barry Park, Finglas, in the hope of getting more girls involved in the sport.”

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