We were blessed with some rip roaring contests last night on and evening which featured most of the Championship semi-final and in the case of the handicaps both finals.
On hand was the local Press paparazzi in the shape of young Joe Cunningham to ensure the action was recorded. First up on the Jimmy Casey Court was the ladies single semi with the number 3 seed Sarah Emerson taking on Aine Leonard. Some great accurate and powerful hitting on display with Aine progressing in 2 sets. On court 2 Meabh Moore took on the recently returned home and past champion Chloe Giacometti. This turned out to be a cracking match with both left handers not giving and inch and displaying great athleticism. The first set proved crucial with Chloe stealing it 7-5 and progressing to the final in two sets.
While the early action on the Jimmy Casey Court & Court 2 featured the ladies singles on court 3 & 4 the O65’s semi’s featuring some legends of the club. On court 4 young Giles & Keane took on Bill Delaney and Bernard Kernan with ‘court craft’ on display throughout and Giles and Keane moving into the final winning in 2 sets. Court 3 with J. Casey & P. Smyth taking on the two Dermot’s, Finucane and Deverell was set up to be a classic and did not disappoint. It went to a championship tie break with Casey and Smyth taking it 10-8 to march onto the final.
Onto the later games and the men’s single semis. Ronan Sweeney defeated Will Fitzgerald in two sets delivering a great display of power & control. On court three Oisin and Jocelyn served up a great match. The question was could Jocelyn keep up the level of tennis displayed in previous rounds. The match was decided over three very tight games in the 3rd set with Jocelyn coming through 6-3, 6-7, 6-4.
On Court 4 we were treated to a terrific Doubles clash with Roy Bailey and Colin Grant taking on Gill and Neiland. No quarter given or asked for in this one over 3 sets and at 1 set all Neiland and Gill took a commanding 5-2 lead in the 3rd only for the two ‘More seasoned’ player to claw their way back to 4-5 with Gill and Neiland taking game ten to win the match.
Handicaps Finals
Hats off to Denis O’Reilly and Philip Airey for their win in the Men’s Final and to Beth O’Hare and Emily Collison in the Ladies final.
Both matches went to three sets. In the Men’s Paul McMillan and David O’Sullivan took the first set 5-6 but
O’Reilly and Airey then found their range and won in three.
In the ladies Jeanne Hecksher-Doyle & Gabrielle Kelly were faced with two young guns in O’Hare and Collison but match them point for point losing in two tight sets 6-3, 6-5. Congrats to all four pairings on the spirit in which both finals were played.