Only after a pulsating and superbly entertaining final yesterday afternoon did Derek Ryan eventually wear down the resistance of Steve Richardson and win his sixth national senior squash title.
Ryan hadn't dropped a game all weekend en route to the final, but the crowded viewing stand at the Fitzwilliam Centre was enthralled during this epic climax to the national championships, sponsored by Speedway Couriers. In a five game, 90 minutes encounter, Ryan defended his title on scores of 10/8, 6/9, 9/1, 1/9 and 9/5.
The Irish number one and world number 16 had been troubled by a minor shoulder injury in recent weeks, although that certainly doesn't diminish the performance of Richardson, currently the Irish number two and still seeking his first national title. It was clear from the start that Ryan was a little short of the form that has seen him dominate the domestic game for the last few years, as he struggled to warm-up his wrist and had to come from 7/4 down to take the first game.
Richardson, though, was making a real match of it. The 27-year-old Ballymena man battled his way to the second game and made Ryan work for every point. After exchanging two more games, it came down to the decider, and throughout the 22 minutes it could have gone either way. It was Richardson who slipped up first after leading 3/0, and despite a late comeback, Ryan finally nailed him 9/5.
"That was as hard a final as I've had," said Ryan. "But Steve is playing very well at the moment and I knew he was going to be very tough." The difference was that Ryan could still pull out the big shot when he needed to, and then called on his greater experience to see off the enduring resistance of Richardson.
On Saturday, it was Richardson who had upset the strong challenge of Willie Hosey in the semi-final, 3/1, but the 38-year-old Carlow man, a winner on 10 previous occasions, came back to take a hard-fought third place play-off with John Rooney.
Now based in Toronto, Hosey has been the main figure of these championships throughout the last decade but he had to call on all his experience to wear down his younger opponent on scores of 9/5, 4/9, 9/2 and 9/0. And in recognition of his achievements, he was given a special presentation yesterday by the Irish Squash association.
In terms of pure domination, Madeline Perry was in a class of her own as she defended her ladies title with a straight games victory over Aisling Blake in a repeat of last year's final.
A recent addition to the professional circuit and currently ranked 97 in the world, Perry took less than half-an-hour to clinch the match 9/1, 9/0 and 9/2. Blake, however, is still in the Under-19 category and is clearly a prospect for the future. In the match for third place, Laura Mylotte overcame the spirited challenge of Brona Ringland in three straight games.
