Our wonderful U18 Boys Team were in the final of the Junior League on Sunday in Templeogue, where they faced Naas 1. Will Fitzgearld played some brilliant tennis against an incredibly strong, clean hitting Naas player who was just too good on the day. Great performance from Will who kept battling and made his opponent work for every point. It was a match of big serves and some seriously hard hitting groundstrokes!

In the second singles, Harry Wall, playing his last U18 league match, was solid as a rock, moving his opponent side to side and always making him play that one extra ball. The 1st set was neck and neck, with Harry eventually coming through 7-6 and keeping in front in the second set 2-1. Our doubles pairing of Caoimhín Cronin and Sam Hughes were on behind the dome so we were darting over and back and taking turns to keep an eye on all matches! The boys got off to a great start but the Naas boys settled into it and took the 1st set 6-4. The momentum stayed with them slightly in the second but Caoimhin and Sam hung in there and saved a match point at 4-5! They then nabbed the second set and we were in the champ tie break!

The champ tie break was nail biting and there was absolutely nothing in it. Sandycove were up but had to change sides at a crucial point where they then were facing into the blinding winter sun! Naas won a couple of long rallies on the next couple of points and managed to clinch it in the end 10-7.

Congrats to the team Will Fitzgearld, Harry Wall, Caoimhín Cronin, Sam Hughes, Andrew Percival and manager Breda Hughes on a suberb Junior League campaign! They all played so well, fought hard and acted professionally at all times, and are a credit to Sandycove Tennis Club. We’ll be back next year!

Aine Leonard