The DLTC Mixed League drew to a close last week following an enjoyable five weeks of highly competitive tennis and post-match refreshments. Judging from the feedback from everyone who took part, it’s likely that the club will enter again next year, possibly even with two teams, to facilitate the number of members who expressed an interest in playing this summer.

The first week was a home match against a very strong De Vesci team which ultimately came out as joint winners in our group. The two pairings of Margaret Worrell and Greg McDowell and Fiona Kelly and Fred O’Neill battled hard but were defeated by very determined and skilful opponents while Oilbhe Doyle and Des Noctor chalked up a much needed point for Sandycove.

Oilbhe and Des claimed another impressive victory in the second week, another home fixture, this time against Leopardstown. Margaret Worrall and Tim Eaton also won a second point for the team against a husband and wife pairing while Orla Maher and Fred O’Neill were beaten by a tenacious third pairing.

The team’s first away game was played at Lansdowne, in the shadow of the Aviva Stadium, on a beautiful balmy July night. The standard of the tennis was high and, despite the clemency of the weather, unfortunately the sun wasn’t shining on our three Sandycove pairings of Jenny McCann and Tim Eaton; Fiona Kelly and Tim McNicholls; and Margaret Brannigan and Peter McCann, all of whom were defeated.

Week four saw a reversal of fortune when the team travelled up the road to Glenageary to win 2-1. Oilbhe Doyle and Des Noctor put in another cracking performance, winning in two sets. Jenny McCann and Ian Brady were unlucky to lose in the tiebreaker of the third set after a highly competitive game. Fiona Kelly and Joe Cunningham were particularly pleased with themselves after they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to come back from being 5-1 down to win the first set and to win the second set 6-3.

With their tails up after a victory against our nearest neighbours, the team hosted Meadowvale for the final fixture. An irrepressible Oilbhe Doyle was paired this time with Cian O’Higgins and, yet again, she didn’t disappoint! The game looked like it might be heading towards a third set but, with their team-mates cheering them on from the balcony, Oilbhe and Cian saw their opponents off in a tense tie-breaker to take the second set. Jenny McCann and Steve McGoohan and Fiona Kelly and Joe Cunningham also won their matches in what ended up being a sweet 3-0 victory for Sandycove. A perfect ending to a highly enjoyable campaign.