One of a series
of 'corporate challenges' organized at sporting events across
Ireland, just before the semi-finals the Police Service of
Northern Ireland (PSNI) took on Radio Telefís Éireann
(RTE) in a three-player match.
First up was Chief Inspector Shaun McKee against lighting
director Martin Kelligan (you can probably guess which teams
they represented!). I arrived too late to see the match, but only
just, as the 9/0, 9/0, 9/1 scoreline suggests it didn't last long.
One-nil to the police.
 "It's
very different on there, it comes off the side walls tricky, but it
was a pleasure to play."
 Next
on were Superintendent Mike Ellis against facilities
co-ordinator Jennifer Dillon. In a 9-0 opening game Mike, in
all honesty, looked like a beginner who found that great big target
of the front wall almost impossible to find. And in a sense he was,
this was his first time on a glass court, and he can testify to how
different it is on there.
Jennifer, who has been playing league squash for 23 years (three
more than Mike), is still the Leinster number one ("they can't find
any juniors") and looked in complete control.
But Mike slowly got used to the conditions, started finding the
front wall, then started finding the back corners and he took the
next two games 9/3, 9/1. Jennifer brought all that experience to
bear, and came back strongly to take an 8/2 lead in the fourth.
But she couldn't find that last point, and as Mike clawed back the
lead, RTE began to get that sinking feeling. Sure enough, Mike went
straight through to take the game 10/8 and guarantee victory for the
Police.
 "I
lost concentration, I was lulled into a false sense of security
after that first game, I thought it was all over.
"We were evenly matched overall, but at 8/2 in the fourth I felt
comfortable again. Then he got a few points and I started to panic.
Still, there's no excuse for losing from 8/2 up, is there …"
 "I
like chasing, I always find a lead hard to keep. The secret to the
turnaround was the expert advice I got from Shaun, and learning to
ignore her smile!
"It was my first time on a glass court, so it took a while, but
eventually keeping the ball to the back, especially in the backhand,
did the trick for me."
Pity, because the final match was
worthy of a decider in any team game.
Connor O'Hare - not actually an RTE employee, but standing in
for them - took on John Dullaghan. There was an age gap, for
sure, and in these matches you'd expect the wily old skills to get
the early upper hand before the fitness of youth takes over.
Except it was the other way round. Connor stormed into a 2-0 lead,
but John, like Mike before him, got accustomed to things and pegged
it back to 2-all, much to the disgust of Connor's racket.
The fifth was a thriller. Level all the way, John edged to an 8/7
lead, couldn't convert. Connor leveled. John chose one, won the
point and got a second chance. Failed to convert again. In a final,
desperate rally, John ended up flat on his back as Connor salvaged
some pride for RTE.
 "I
had nothing left at the end, I was out on my feet, but it was a good
game, I enjoyed it.
"I always choose one when I'm struggling, and I thought it had
worked for me when I got the serve back, but it wasn't to be …"
 Last
word to the comeback hero:
"For PSNI officers these challenges are a welcome opportunity to
participate in National Sporting events alongside corporations like
RTE and Dell, all of whom like to take a full role in the
community."
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Report and Photos
by Steve Cubbins
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