IT WAS past 10.30pm local time when Rachael Darragh stepped off the court, losing out to Agnes Korosi from Hungary, at the European Games.
By Chris McNulty at the Falcon Club, Minsk
Korosi won the women’s singles Group E match 21-16 22-20, but not before being pushed to her limit by Darragh.
There were some moments of positivity for Darragh, a niece of the Magee siblings, who are also competing at the Falcon Club in Minsk.
The roar of relief from Korosi at the close of play told the story of a win she earned the hard way.
Darragh put on a good fight, but lost the first game 16-21 and she just couldn’t quite get close enough to really rattle Korosi.
However, in the second game, having come three times to within two points, Darragh managed to draw level twice to push Korosi to the limit.
There were good signs of encouragement for the youngster as she asked some tough questions of Korosi and the Hungarian knew she was in a battle.
In the opening game, Darragh stayed in touch for a large portion with Korosi, who just about held sway at 11-9 up.
The Raphoe woman fought back to draw level at 11-11 and again at 12 apiece, but Korosi reeled off the next six points to grab a real hold of things.
With the first game in the bag, Korosi wasn’t in the mood to hang around in the second, but Darragh just wouldn’t let her get out of sight.
Darragh was 9-3 behind before she won three points in rapid succession and see levelled the game three times in the closing stages of the second.
However, Korosi pulled the burning embers from the fire, but Darragh will tae heart from here.
Darragh is back in action tomorrow evening when she faces Yvonne Li from Germany.
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