Men’s League Update
As the Senior League enters the closing stages of the section games the Floodlight League is coming into view on Monday evenings. Sandycove have entered 3 teams in the Floodlight league this year with matches an unusual combination of two singles and a doubles with the players being drawn on the evening to determine who plays each format. The teams are as follows –
1st Team
Paul Curran – Captain
Max Vidal
Colin Grant
Mark Cunningham
2nd Team
Sam Hanley – Captain
Mark Fourie
Luke Bennett
Alex Wardlaw
3rd Team
Tom O’Higgins – Captain
Paddy Dempsey
Andrew Browne
Colin Wardlaw
As with all leagues we will require subs and there have already been squads put in place to ensure availability.
Senior League
All teams are still in with a good chance of qualification as we enter the latter stages of the competition.
O35 1st Team
The mens O35’s 1st were on the road again this week with a trip to Bray who were level on points with us going into the game so the pressure was on!
Cormac and Robbie played against two crafty operators who were very fond of lobs! Our lads certainly got some smashing practice in and eventually ran out 6/3 6/3 victors. At No.2 we had Cooney and Neiland who were fast out of the blocks winning the 1st set in record time. The 2nd was a closer affair but a solid serving display saw the lads home with a score line of 6/0 6/4. Super Sub Stephen Tilson was back for more action this week and recorded his 2nd win in a row with Catalin in clinical style. Catalin spent more time in traffic then on the court with a super 6/1 6/2 victory.
The 3-0 victory leaves the team on 7 points and joint leaders in the group.
O35 2nd Team
The O35 2nd team continued their unbeaten run with another 3-0 win against Deerpark at home.
At No 1 JP Begley and Tom O’Higgins cantered to a 6-1,6-2 win. No 2 pairing Des Noctor and Alan Warren are enjoying playing with the youngsters and won with the loss of only one game. New member John Harrington benefitted from the league experience of Steve McGoohan as they cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win.
Top of the section with 9 points, qualification beckons!
O45 Team
The 045s had an excellent 2/1 win over the group leaders Templeogue.
Gill and O’Gorman had a good 6/2, 6/2 win against their fancied opponents. Steve’s full array of shotmaking was on display, rolling back the years with an excellent performance. An excellent win also at two for Colin Grant and Mark Fourie, 2 and 4. Very pleasing for Colin in particular as his opponents were old friends from his Templeogue days. Thank you to Dermot Bennett for subbing at 3 with Colin Wardlaw. They came out second against a very strong Templeogue pair.
The team has a reasonably decent chance of qualifying. Crunch match this weekend at home v Malahide.
O55 Team
The O55 team took on Clontarf after a weeks break due to the InterPros in Belfast. In the first match of the section we had a fantastic win against Fitzwilliam but the heights of that contest were unfortunately not in evidence last weekend as the team succumbed to a 3-0 loss.
Roy Bailey and Paul FitzGerald got off to the traditional slow start, losing the first set but then had chances to take a very close set second. Clontarf edged the tie break and came away with the win. Iain Walker and Conor O’Reilly had a similar score at No 3 doubles against a very steady pairing. Clontarf rounded off a comprehensive win against the Pauls, Ivory and Kilduff at No 2.
Even with that loss, qualification is very possible with a win required against Castleknock this Sunday.