March 15, 2016
The season opening Clearys Daybreak & Service Station Spring Doubles League culminated in good playing conditions on Friday night last with 6 finals involving some familiar and not so familiar faces. With 6 finals on together there was a sense of occasion around the finals and there were positive vibes for the season ahead as we enjoyed the tennis on view.
Clearys have been associated with this league since the 1990s and have always been generous sponsors, a fact echoed by both Nenagh LTC president Margaret Folan and club captain David Hacket at the presentation on Friday night. Both expressed the club’s appreciation to Clearys for this support at a well attended and pleasant presentation ceremony.
The finals themselves provided some interesting talking points. Eimear and Ciara Dwan faced each other in a ladies final. Eimear, with Jennifer McKenna, prevailed over Ciara and Anne Fitzpatrick. Billy Seymour, another junior stepping into senior ranks, featured in a men’s final, but he and Aiden Delaney were denied by the lively Matty Ryan and Don McClean.
New names in finals included Lena Grace and Emma Kearns who won ladies III against the strong combination of Geraldine O’Sullivan/Marian Whelan. Other newcomers were Willie Gleeson (winner men III with veteran Ger Dullea) and Denis Ley/Don O’Brien, runners-up in that section.
Niall Murphy won his 5th Spring doubles award, the men II with Dan Grey on this occasion, denying ‘old hand’ James Kennedy and Mike Molloy in the final.
Meanwhile, Catherine O’Meara, an ever present lady in various finals over the years, was again to the forefront, teaming up with in-form Inez Heenan to win ladies II. Anne Murnane/Lorraine Talbot continued their impressive form of late, but had to be content with the r-up spot here.
The ‘reverse mixed’ deciding rubber was needed in all 3 of Nenagh’s Munster Winter League semi-finals on Sunday last and unfortunately only one of results fell our way. That was in Tralee where the Gr 6 ladies (Julianna Slattery, Deirdre O’Brolchain, Doireann Slattery and Kay Cooney) triumphed over the Tralee ladies.
However, over 75 miles away in Crosshaven, Nenagh’s Gr 3 ladies team (Abigail Ryan, Eileen Molloy, Rosemary Seymour and Sinead O’Meara) were not too lucky with the Cork ladies gaining the upper hand to clinch a 3/2 win.
And back in Nenagh, the Gr 5 mixed ‘A’ team (Anne Murnane, Mary Minogue, Amanda Hayes, Rainonds Zarinsh and Brian McGrath) had to give best to a fine Ballinlough team from Cork, again in the ‘reverse mixed’.
Meanwhile, Puckane ladies were also out of luck in their semi-final against Limerick Lawn in Limerick. The Puckane team was Melissa Kenny, Triona Dunne, Jennifer McKenna and Anita Toohey.
So, after a long Winter’s tennis, Nenagh will have teams in 3 finals – Gr 3 men, Gr 5 mixed C (which won courtesy of a ‘reverse mixed’ last weekend) and Gr 6 ladies. A fine achievement indeed!
Has anyone out there ever thought about playing tennis but for whatever reasons just never got around to it? Or perhaps you have played before and would like to return. Well now it’s your chance.
Nenagh LTC are currently hosting a series of open nights. The first of those on Monday last attracted a fine turnout. The remaining nights are Monday 21st and Thurs 31st March and anyone interested are invited to come along at 7.15 pm.
Open to Adults only. It does not matter whether you played other sports or not and don’t worry if you’ve missed the first night. Racquets and ball supplied. Runners are essential. Refreshments afterwards in clubhouse.
