Tennis players at Galway Open
A strong squad of Sligo tennis players took to the newly covered courts in Galway for their inaugural Senior Indoor Doubles Open.
Keeping up the form which saw a record breaking haul of trophies captured in 2017, the Sligo representatives were once again to the forefront on the podium.
Tony Comiskey renewed his partnership with Omagh veteran Stephen Cuthbertson, and were just pipped into runner up spot in the Men’s Division One competition. Oliver Joyce and Nick Miller have put in long hours of practise on the Sligo courts during the winter, and the hard work paid off with a stunning victory in the Men’s Division Two, when they overcame a spirited challenge from locals Cian Flynn and Ed Galvin. Denis Daly has made a massive impression on the Sligo Club since taking up the sport a few seasons ago and his game has come on in leaps and bounds. This was demonstrated by taking second place in the Men’s Division Three, partnered by Karl McManus. The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly the superb win by Noreen Cassidy and Aoifin Shorten in the Ladies Division One Section. While early favourites to take the title the Sligo women had tough challengers all the way through the campaign, and fought off a determined effort from the Galway duo of Helen Lawless and Olivia Deely in a hard-fought final. Hilary Kilcawley and Paula Watt had a magnificent tournament, and were rather unlucky to come up short in the Ladies Division 2 Final.
It was an-all Sligo Mixed Final when Tony Cumiskey and Paula Watt had to pull out all the stops to overcome Oliver Joyce and Hilary Kilcawley in a brilliant match. Denis Daly popped up again in the Mixed Three Final, where he and Claire Mulcahy went down fighting in the runner-up position.
The Galway results come after some notable success at the RSA Irish Veterans Event held the previous weekend in Belfast where Sligo was ably represented by Noreen Cassidy, Aoifin Shorten and Olivia Seery. Sligo’s up and coming young star Cliona Walsh, added another trophy to her impressive haul winning the Girls U14 at the National Junior Spring Championships. The Tennis Committee, under newly elected Captain Emer Concannon, are well advanced in planning for the Club’s flagship tournament which takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The Knox Restaurant Spring League is well underway, despite the best efforts of Jack Frost and Storm Emma to derail the schedule. A Mixed Doubles event will take place on Monday 19th March.