Kenny tops Alarçon before Partisan Crowd in Brasilia
Sept 5, 2004, By Howard Harding; SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004;

Local hero Rafael F Alarçon, the Brazilian number one, thrilled the crowd at the Brasilia Open Squash Championship all week but he was unable to sustain the magic against the determined and inspired Irishman Liam Kenny

Kenny disappointed local crowds at the Brasilia Open Squash Championship when he beat Brazilian number Rafael F Alarcon in the final to lift the new PSA Tour event title in the country's capital city.

It was the second time in a week that an Irishman had upset the chances of a Brazilian victory - after Cornelius Horan invaded the men's marathon in Athens and prevented Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima from winning a possible gold medal.

Kenny dominated the match from the beginning, appearing to be in better physical condition that his opponent after Alarcon's marathon upset over top-seeded Australian Glenn Keenan in the previous round. The former Irish national champion dominated the 'T' and pushed the Brazilian star to all the corners of the court.

After a faultless first game, Kenny took a 1/0 lead - but, in the second, Alarcon fought back to draw level.

The 26-year-old Irishman struck back in the third and, despite vociferous support from the crowd for the local hero, Kenny cruised to a 2/1 lead. Alarcon seemed determined to turn the match in the fourth game in a bid to maintain his unbeaten PSA record in Brasilia. He led 4-3, but Kenny came back with perfect tactics and discipline to win eight points in a row to close the game and the match 11-5 8-11 11-3 11-4 in 61 minutes.

The victory marked Kenny's first PSA Tour win in South America and the seventh of his career.

IRESULTS: Brasilia Open Squash Championship, Brasilia, Brazil

Final:
[2] Liam Kenny (IRL) bt [3] Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4 (61m)

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