A great night of tennis started the 2nd week of the Championships last night with some intriguing matchups and here follows some of the highlights.

2 standouts from the 6pm start time with the first being the laddies single match between Linda Walsh & Meabh Moore. This one was always going to be a war of attrition and so it turned out. More akin to a chess match with some terrific accurate hitting by both ladies Linda took the first 6-4 set only to lose the match in the 3rd to Meabh.

Another of the early start games was the M/S match between Jocelyn O Callaghan & Mark Cunningham. While Jocelyn was the seeded player eyes were on Cunningham as he has made great strides over the last 12 months. Not surprisingly we were treated to some great big hitting and no little athleticism from both players. Jocelyn’s ranking proved accurate in what was a tight 2 set affair

Onto the 7.15pm starters and the match between our two lady captains and the fancied pair of Karen Johnson & Aideen Sheehan. A right old tussle ensued with Johnson & Sheehan taking the first set 6-1. The 2nd set you could have sold tickets for with Fleur & Aileen staging a gutsy fightback taking the set 7-5. And so to the final set where karen & Aideen delivered.

An honourable mention must go to the Browne ‘twins’ of Ken and Andrew who took on the formidable due of Roy Bailey & Alan warren in the M 8 up. The first set proved critical with Warren & Bailey taking it 7-5 and winning in two sets

Out on Court 4 Meabh & Catherine Moore (making a comeback for the championships) took on the great pairing of Mary O Connell and Esther McGuire. Young guns against experience. On this occasion the young guns brough too much firepower and won in two highly competitive sets.

The late starters included the lucky Dip match between a club newcomer Maeve Stapleton (One to watch for the future no doubt) partnered by Liam Hurley against Margaret Hartnett & your men’s Captain. A tight 3 setter ensued Hurley and Stapleton delivering a quality first set. The number 2 seeds dug deep to win in 3 with both laddies being the standout players on the night.

To the final match of the day and one would have to say the battle of the tournament so far. Messer’s Tim Eaton/Paul Kilduff took on the ever youthful Conor O Reilly & Jim O Hanlon. This turned into a late evening Sandycove Championship classic with O Reilly/ O Hanlon taking the first set 6-4 and Eaton/ Kilduff fighting winning the 2nd by the same score. Sparks flew in the final set with neither team yielding and all four player pulling off terrific rallies until eventually Eaton & Kilduff won 7-6.

For tonight’s line up see: Club Championships Schedule – 25th August

Fleur, Aileen & John F