Cannon Kirk Gillen Markets Irish Squash Open Day One: Craig Keeps Home Hopes Alive

Irish No.1 Hannah Craig kept home hopes alive on day one at the Cannon Kirk Gillen Markets Irish Squash Open, beating South Africa’s Hayley Ward at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. 

Playing in front of a healthy home crowd on the all-green showcourt, Craig – who now lives in New York – was made to work hard for victory, with the 3-0 scoreline perhaps harsh on her opponent 

Each of the three games was separated by only two points, with Craig fighting back from 10-8 down to take the first 12-10, before clinching the second 11-9. 

She then needed to battle back from 10-8 down once more in the third, though not before a unique moment where the ball got wedged in the nick between the front and side wall, halfway up the walls. 

The crowd was somewhat bemused, but Craig kept her focus throughout, taking her second match ball at 12-11 up to book her spot in round two. 

The 25-year-old will, however, be the only Irish player in the hat on day two, with all four wildcards going out. 

Sam Buckley and Sean Conroy both threatened upsets in their respective encounters with Noor Zaman and Perry Malik, each taking a game in 3-1 defeats, while Breann Flynn and Hannah McGugan fell 3-0. 

Elsewhere, two stars of English squash at opposite ends of their career put in impressive performance to reach round two, with 40-year-old James Willstrop and 18-year-old Jonah Bryant both progressing.

Willstrop was playing fellow Englishman James Peach and was pegged back at 1-1 having taken the first game, but took control from there, dropping only six more points across the next two games to set up a second-round clash with top seed and compatriot Nick Wall. 

Bryant, meanwhile, will also have an all-English second-round encounter with fellow rising star Finnlay Withington, after sweeping aside the in-form Viktor Byrtus. 

Byrtus had reached the final of his last two Challenger Tour events, but was no match for the talented young Brit, who showcased his exceptional speed and shot-making ability en route to a 3-0 win. 

Reigning British Junior Open champion Mohamad Zakaria also recorded a 3-0 win, while Dewald van Niekerk claimed a 3-1 upset win over Owain Taylor, a player ranked 32 places above him in the world. 

All eight of the women’s [9/16] seeds, including Craig, progressed into the second round.

Results: Women’s Round One: 
Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) bt Colette Sultana (MLT) 3-0: 12-10, 11-1, 11-5 (24m) 
Alison Thomson (SCO) bt [WC] Hannah McGugan (IRL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (24m) 
Karina Tyma (POL) bt Sofia Aveiro Pita (POR) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (24m) 
Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 3-1: 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4 (35m) 
Lea Barbeau (FRA) bt Ana Munos (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-2 (21m) 
Hannah Craig (IRL) bt Hayley Ward (RSA) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 13-11 (39m) 
Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt Breanne Flynn (IRL) 3-0: 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (25m) 
Katerina Tycova (GER) bt Sophie Fadaely (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-8 (25m) 
 

Results: Men’s Round One: 
Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt Viktor Byrtus (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 11-6 (31m) 
Declan James (ENG) bt Alasdair Prott (SCO) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (33m) 
James Willstrop (ENG) bt James Peach (ENG) 3-1: 11-5, 7-11, 11-1, 11-5 (30m) 
Dewald van Niekerk (RSA) bt Owain Taylor (WAL) 3-1: 2-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-7 (68m) 
Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt Stuart MacGregor (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-2 (28m) 
Perry Malik (ENG) bt [WC] Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-1: 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (40m) 
Noor Zaman (PAK) bt [WC] Sam Buckley (IRL) 3-1: 11-9, 11-2, 2-11, 11-6 (45m) 
Ivan Perez (ESP) bt Lwamba Chileshe (NZL) 3-1: 11-6, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7 (58m)