Rachael Darragh talks of Olympic aim after Irish National win

Rachael Darragh will concentrate on her singles career as she aims to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Darragh won the women’s singles of the FZ Forza Irish National Badminton Championships on Sunday while Joshua Magee was celebrating on the double with men’s doubles and mixed doubles wins.

Darragh, a niece of three-time Olympian Chloe Magee, defeated Sophia Noble 21-13, 13-21, 21-5 in Sunday’s final at the National Indoor Arena.

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Griffin and fellow Maynooth student Jordan Boles shared the top spot after darkness interrupted their play-off following three holes

Darragh will hope to go to the Commonwealth Games later this year - and her mind already has Paris in sight.

My goal is to qualify for the Olympics,” she said.

“I’ll give it everything I have for the next couple of years and hopefully go to Paris.”

Noble didn’t let Darragh have it all her own way, pushing it all the way to a third set.

The Raphoe woman said: “I got impatient in the second set and I just wanted to win the rallies.

“I have to be more patient. I had to change my mentality and get back to working for every single point and just not give up.”

Wins over Neasa Flynn and Orla Flynn teed Darragh up neatly for her final tilt.

Joshua Magee (right) with Moya Ryan

Magee teamed up with Paul Reynolds to win a third men’s doubles crown in a row, while he partnered up with Moya Ryan for victory in the mixed doubles.

Magee and Reynolds overcame Declan Bennett and Sean Patrick Laureta 21-13 21-10.

Magee said: “Very happy to get another national title. You have to make sure you’re ready to take on the challenge every year.”

He had a new partner in Ryan for the mixed doubles and they defeated number one seeds Daniel O’Meara and Neasa Flynn in the semi-finals before taking a 21-10 21-7 win over Declan Bennett and Lauren Au in the final.

Magee said: “It’s nice to play relaxed and still win. We’re a new pair so it was good. We’re training hard to get our levels up and we’ll see what fits in the calendar.”