SLTC Men’s 1st team / Class 2
To quote Captain Reon ‘Proud of the first team for starting this Winter League campaign with a 3 – 0 win over a very strong Templeogue team’. Oisin and Ronan Sweeney (Welcome home Ronan) had a close 3 set match, took some risks which paid off winning 7/5 in the 3rd. Robert and Richie Morris (Subbing for Steve) also had to fight back from being down in the 1st however their opponents were outmatched in the end. Harry and young Ferreira just stuck to the basics which proved to be successful. Rumour has it some of the team have been seen on early morning pier runs in prep for the League. Outstanding leadership gentlemen!

SLTC Men’s 2nd team playing Class 3 came up against Shankill 2 and the fixture was won 2-1. Roy Bailey and Louis Hemeryck enjoyed a 6-3 6-4 win at third doubles. A duo to keep an eye on. The fixture was levelled as Colin Grant and Brian O Gorman we’re unfortunate to lose in 3 sets. De Vesci should expect a backlash from this pairing next Sunday😊. Luke Hanley and Catalin pulled off a great win in the decider at first doubles with a mighty 7/5 win in the third against a strong Shankill pairing. Strong start away from home for the team.

SLTC Men’s 3rd team playing in Class 3 went down to a very strong Nass team 3 nil at home. Aaron Hickey and Sam Hanley were slow to start and lost to a very strong team in 2 sets. Paul Fitzgerald and Keith O Byrne went down in two sets in a closer run affair. Both pairs can only get stronger as the League progresses. At 3 Ken Browne and Harry Wall got off to a slow start but got into the match in the 2nd set only to lose in a tie break. Work to be done by the team over the coming weeks but there is strength, youth, experience and no little quality to draw on.

SLTC Men’s 4th team, one of two teams playing in Class 4, opened their Winter League campaign with a 3-0 home win over Co Wicklow 2, and did not drop a set in the process despite some late hailstones. First off court were David Murphy and Tim Eaton with an emphatic 6-2 6-4 win, next off were Paul Kilduff and Mark Cunningham (7-6 6-1) with an equally impressive win, to be followed shortly by J P Begley and Max Vidal (7-5 6-3). Big Congrats from everyone to young Max on his victorious DLTC league debut and thanks to Mark and Max for, shall we say, ensuring a blend of youth and experience best describes this very strong team!

SLTC Men’s 5th team playing Class 4 were away to Templeogue and went down to a 3-nil loss. This was in no way a reflection of the effort and matches. Full marks for a top performance by our Jnr team member Caoimhin Cronin who received high praise indeed from the opposition post-match. To Quote Captain Alan Warren ‘Putting this one behind us and focussing on next week’. Good luck to Dave Hanley, Tom O Higgins, Frank McCooey, Colin Wardlaw and young Cronin in the weeks ahead.

SLTC 6th Squad playing Class 5 got off to a victorious start away to Monkstown 4ths. All 3 pairings went to 3 sets. Epic wins for Gary Byrne/ Wes Hudson with Greg McDowell /Sam Hughes clinching the tie break for a Sandycove win 2-1. Captain Cian O Higgins and Stephen Boucher went down in a tight 3 sets match. A Special shout out to Stephen Boucher making his league debut and Sam Hughes a young man who continues to progress and impress. Great start winning away from home and the team now looks forward to a trip to Stratford with squad members Dermot Bennett and Dennis O Reilly entering the fray.

John F