Byrne & Blatchford Win Irish Junior Titles

Irishman Rory Byrne and USA's Olivia Blatchford emerged triumphant in the finals of the IACT Irish Junior U19 Open in Dublin - Byrne providing long-awaited domestic success in the men's event of this European Squash Federation Junior Circuit championship, while 14-year-old Blatchford was recording one of the youngest ever successes in the women's category.

Top seed Byrne, a promising 18-year-old from Carlow who plays his Squash at the prestigious Fitzwilliam LTC in Dublin, survived a tough five-game semi-final against England's 17-year-old Anthony Graham before lining up against another Englishman Oliver Dixon in the final.

Again, Byrne recovered from a game down before beating Dixon - a 17-year-old 5/8 seed from Bishop's Stortford. Making up for his defeat in last year's final, Byrne triumphed 4-9, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4.

Olivia Blatchford, a 3/4 seed, made her breakthrough in the women's semi-finals, where she upset second-seeded Irish opponent Roisin Brennan. The young star, who plays her squash at Queens Club in Halifax, England, then faced top seed Milou van der Heijden, a 16-year-old from the Netherlands who is already into her second year on the WISPA World Tour.

But, defying the two-year age difference, New York-born Blatchford - the reigning British Junior U15 Open champion - coasted to a 9-6, 9-3, 4-9, 9-6 victory to record her maiden U19 title triumph in Europe.

The event which was hosted by the Westwood Club at Leopardstown race course and Mount Pleasant LTC was a huge success, with over 160 entries from all across Europe and beyond.

Men's U19 Final:
[1] Rory Byrne (IRL) bt [5/8] Oliver Dixon (ENG) 4-9, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4

Women's U19 Final:
[3/4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) 9-6, 9-3, 4-9, 9-6