We had both the Senior League and Floodlight League teams in action over Sunday and Monday. It was a game of two halves, where we had 4 wins in the Senior League and 3 losses in the Floodlight League. See summary match reports below.
In the Senior League both our O35 teams are through to the play-offs with our 1st team away to Leopardstown 1 at 11am on Sunday while our 2nd team play Charleville 2 at home on Sunday – all support is welcome for both teams. Our O45s finished 3rd in the group and could well have gone further if injury and player availability had gone their way. Finally, the O55 team conclude their group phase this weekend where they need to secure one point from this match to go through to the final.
Thanks to all those who subbed in to support both league campaigns last week.
Senior League Report
O35s 1st team vs Shankill 1
The Over 35s 1st team travelled to Shankill for the final group game. With Robbie out injured Catalin stepped up to play with Cormac winning 6-2, 6-0 with a clinical display of doubles.
Rob Neiland and Dave Cooney continued their fine form with a 6-0, 6-1 victory but for this Sunday’s game they will need to be sharp.
At 3rd doubles Alan Warren and Philip Craig subbed in and played a very solid pair from Shankill with our lads narrowly losing 7-6, 7-5.
We travel to Leopardstown this Sunday to face a much stiffer test and with key injuries to be assessed during the week we will need a little luck to progress.
035s 2nd team vs Celbridge 5
The team were at home to Celbridge for the final round of the group stage. Even though they had already secured their place at top of the group, despite the result on Sunday, that didn’t stop them rolling forward to the knockout stages with a couple of dominant performances.
J.P. Begley and Tom O’Higgins were seriously impressive in their match, racing through 6-0, 6-1.
Equally impressive were super subs Liam Hurley and Ian Brady winning 6-0, 6-2 with a great performances from both men.
Steve and Dermo rounded off the 3-0 victory with a 6-3, 6-3 win.
This Sunday at 11am the team are at home to Charleville 2 in the Last 16.
045s team vs Navan 1
Although both sides knew a play-off spot was remote this match had real intensity and high quality.
Brian O’Gorman and Steve Gill came back from a set down to secure a 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 win with plenty of team work and hunger on display. On court 3 at 3rd doubles Frank McCooey and Greg McDowell both subbing in on the day played some tight and consistent tennis to come through against a solid pairing to win in a long 2 setter 7-6, 6-4. Lastly, the Colins – Wardlaw and Grant – teamed up at 2nd doubles and enjoyed a lengthy battle where they won 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
The team finished strongly with a 3-0 win and came a very respectful 3rd place in this O45 Class 1 group.
055s team vs Greystones
The O55 team arrived in Greystones knowing a 3-0 victory would make qualification a much easier task in the last match this weekend. Roy Bailey & Paul Fitzgerald got off to a flyer and continued their form to a straight forward 6-1, 6-0 win. Tim Eaton and Iain Walker very nearly beat them to the clubhouse with a similar scoreline. The remaining Paul Ivory and Paul Kilduff had a more difficult task but came through 6-4 in a tight and tense third set.
The last match against Claremont RU this weekend will decide the play-off places, but Sandycove are well positioned in second place.
Floodlight League Report
Sandycove had a tough Week 2 with all teams coming up against very strong outfits and were a little unlucky not to grab a few points in the Championship tie-break matches. Both the 1st and 3rd team played at home and the standard of tennis on display by all players was excellent on what was a balmy evening down in the club. Thanks as always to those who subbed in – Steve Gill, Ian Brady and Sam Hughes.
Good luck to everyone playing this coming Sunday and Monday.
Paul and Greg