August 28, 2018
Gail O’Meara, a member of Nenagh and Roscrea clubs, recently featured successfully on the Irish team in the ITS World Seniors International Team Championship in ULM Germany. Gail was captain of the Irish team in the Maria Bueno Cup (for players aged 50 – 60).
Ireland was in a tough group with Brazil and Great Britain and Gail recorded a significant win for her team, defeating her Brazilian opponent in that fixture. Maria Bueno, co-incidently was also Brazilian, who sadly died during the summer, having won 3 Wimbledon singles titles, among many other titles in the late 50’s and 60’s and was known for, among other attributes, her graceful style of play, a characteristic generally acknowledged in Gail’s own style, so it’s perhaps appropriate that this latest success for Gail comes in a competition in honour of Maria Bueno.
The annual all doubles Killaloe-Ballina open has built a fine reputation and attracted another fine entry from many of the local clubs for the latest edition, sponsored by D’Arcy Cleary Insurances Nenagh. The finals of took place on Saturday last.
In the ‘A’ section, Nenagh’s Anne-Marie Darcy/Jennifer McKenna were winners over Avril Cairns/Claire McBride (Limerick). The mens ‘A’ final was an all Nenagh affair, James Morris/Frank O’Keeffe defeating Eamonn Murtagh/Kieran McSherry.
In Ladies ‘B’, Mary Minogue kept the Limerick winning run going (hardly necessary to mention the other sport), joining Deirdre O’Brolchain to take the spoils against cousin and fellow Limerick enthusiast Marie O’Brien and Avril Hayes (both of the KB club) and who unfortunately had to retire in the final due to an injury to Marie. Frank Smeaton/Billy Woods (both Roscrea) won the mens’ equivalent over Nenagh’s Liam Dwan/Martin McNicholas.
Siobhan Corcoran/Aoife Darcy (both Nenagh), both having a very successful season, were again on the winners’ rostrum, overcoming the strong challenge of Carmel Hilliard/Teresa O’Neill (both Roscrea) in ‘C’ ladies, while Seamus Bohan (Templemore)/Ray Quegan (Birr Wilmer) defeated the host club’s Mick Collins/Seamus McNamara in the ‘C’ mens’ final.
Nenagh players enjoyed great success at the recent Senior Clay Court Championships at Tipperary. Anne-Marie and Helena Darcy won the premier ladies doubles. (Deirdre McSherry and Mary Claire McCarthy of Sun Well were runners-up). Deirdre was also r-up to Emma Foley of Killaloe-Ballina in the Premier singles final.
Brian McGahey/Matthew Ryan won Gr 2 mens doubles and Niall Healy/Michael Ryan won Gr 5 doubles. Puckane’s Eoin Gleeson won Gr 3 singles.
Alan D’Arcy was Gr 2 singles r-up, Martin McNicholas was Gr 4 r-up and Fintan Byrne (KB) was Gr 5 r-up. Sinead O’Meara/Tara Spain were ladies Gr 2 runners-up.
After a hectic spring/early summer period with the many club events, including open weeks (senior and Junior), allied with the courts development, club officials could perhaps relax a tiny bit for a few weeks mid-summer (although there was the matter of the now courts 7 & 8 being resurfaced, so no real relaxation could be afforded).
Anyway it’s now about to be all systems go again on the courts with a very busy September. First up is the Cahill Jewellers sponsored President’s Prize (Wed 5th – Fri 7th Sept), then the big Munster inter-club Summer Cups Finals Day which Nenagh is honoured to be hosting (thanks to now having 8 courts), and then there’s the Slattery Tiles Senior Club Championships commencing on 14th Sept. In October we’ll have the Tadhg O’Flynn Tennis Classic.
The social tennis nights will of course continue and we’ll have beginner’s nights, coaching for seniors and juniors and the junior will have the Autumn Doubles and the Anne Fitzpatrick and Frances Maloney Cup events coming up.
