Munster Winter League quarter-finals this weekend
We have two teams in action this coming weekend in the Munster Winter League Phase II quarter finals. Both matches are on Sunday 10th.
The men’s grade 2 team will be playing against Douglas (Blue) in Mitchelstown at 12 noon. Our guys have done very well so far, beating some strong teams along the way. Douglas will be a new challenge, one the lads are looking forward to. There will be a familiar face on the Douglas team, local man Aidan Cotter will be lining out for the city side, so it will make for a great match. We wish Captain Denis and his team the best of luck.
The men’s grade 5 team will be on the road this Sunday as they travel to Crosshaven for their quarter final clash. This team are going well, particularly with all the changes being made to the side. The club are fortunate to have quality grade 5 and strong grade 6 men to come together and win four matches in a Munster competition. Crosshaven may have home advantage, but our team will give it their all in this match and we wish Captain Sean and his crew the best of luck on Sunday.
WINTER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Sunday, April 10th Men’s grade 2 v Douglas (Blue) in Mitchelstown at 12 noon. Sunday, April 10th Men’s grade 5 v Crosshaven in Crosshaven at 2pm.
The Winter League teams are as follows: Grade 6 Ladies (Rock); Clair Nolan (capt), Liz Cotter, Edel Fitzgibbon and Ann Milward. Result: Mitchelstown 3-1 Kilfeacle Kickers, Roscrea Red 1-3 Mitchelstown. Mitchelstown qualify to the next round. Last 16 match: Mitchelstown 0-4 Crosshaven.
Grade 6 Ladies (Paper); Laura Manning (capt), Lindsey Graham, Marie O’Neill and Barbara Pigott. Results: Mitchelstown 2-2 Sunday’s Well; Mitchelstown 4-0 Nenagh, Limerick Lawn 0-4 Mitchelstown. Mitchelstown qualify to the next round. Last 16 match: Mitchelstown 1-3 Rushbrooke (Gold).
Grade 6 Ladies (Scissors); Aideen O’Brien (capt), Karen Keane, Lorna O’Brien, and Sharon Shields. Result: Mitchelstown 0-4 Monaleen, Mitchelstown 0-4 Rushbrooke Gold.
Grade 6 Men; Colm Baker (capt), Shane O’Neill, Paddy Leonard and Dermot O’Donovan. Result: Mitchelstown 1-3 Crosshaven, Catholic Institute 3-1 Mitchelstown.
Grade 5 Men; Sean Keane (capt), Cillian Dollian, Paddy Hanley and Liam O’Grady. Results: Mitchelstown 3-1 Limerick Lawn, Whitechurch 0-4 Mitchelstown, Sunday’s Well Navy 1-3 Mitchelstown. Mitchelstown qualify to the next round. Last 16 match: Mitchelstown 3-1 Douglas (white). Quarter final fixture: Sun, April 10th Mitchelstown v Crosshaven in Crosshaven at 2pm.
Grade 4 Ladies; Marie Therese O’Kennedy (capt), Ber Downey, Olive Kenneally and Catherine O’Keeffe. Results: Lower Aghada 1-3 Mitchelstown; Mitchelstown 4-0 Tralee. Fixture: Sun, Mar 13th Mitchelstown 4-0 St Michaels Orange. Mitchelstown qualify to the next round. Last 16 match: Mitchelstown 2-3 Sunday’s Well (Green).
Grade 2 Men; Denis Linehan (capt), Ciaran O’Kennedy, Alan O’Meara and Michael Waldron. Results: Mitchelstown 3-1 Lakewood; Douglas 0-4 Mitchelstown. Lower Aghada 3-1 Mitchelstown. Mitchelstown qualify to the next round. Quarter final fixture: Sun, Apr 10th Mitchelstown v Douglas (Blue) in Mitchelstown at 12 noon.
MORE SUCCESS
Last weekend, we had more good news from Carrigaline and Kilfeacle where some of our members were successful in the open competitions.
In Carrigaline, Cillian Dollion and Evelyn English had a great win in the grade 5 mixed doubles competition. This was a wonderful achievement as the standard was very strong. Cillian and Evelyn are fine players and together as a mixed
pair, they would be hard to beat. It’s great that they can back up their excellent play with a championship title. Well done to both of them and we wish them well, as they set their sights on more success in Rushbrooke and further open competitions during the summer.
We had a good number of members taking part in the Golden Vale Tennis Challenge at Kilfeacle. The tournament has been running for the last 10 weeks. It was a great competition experience, a first time for some members who hopefully
enjoyed the matches and will have the confidence to enter further tournaments during the year.
The good news is we had some success at the Tipperary venue. In the ladies grade 1/2 singles final, Clodagh Bermingham was crowned champion. Clodagh almost made it a double celebration when she was playing with fellow club member Catherine Rea in the ladies Grade 1/2 doubles final. However, the ladies were denied the win. Well done to Catherine and Clodagh on having a positive campaign and hopefully a championship title won’t be far away!
There were also singles titles wins for Jenny Klimchuk, in her ladies grade and in the men’s singles, Daniel Klimchuk defeated his dad, Sergiy in the final. Ciaran Cotter had a fine win in the men’s singles final, winning 13-11 in the championship tie breaker. It was a great achievement for his first singles competition.
In the mixed doubles final, Colm Baker and Una Fitzgerald put in a fine performance against a strong grade 5 pairing, only to come up short. Well done to everyone on getting to the finals, picking up some titles on the busy last day on Saturday.
SATURDAY JUNIOR MATCHPLAY
Every Saturday during school term, there will be match play practice for juniors. This is to help the juniors understand tennis matches, scoring, court etiquette, rules etc. At 2pm, it will be for ages 5-7. At 3pm, it will be for ages 8-12. These sessions do not replace the coaching on Wednesday’s and the courts will be adult supervised. Numbers are limited, so registration is required at yourcourts.com. This will continue again this coming Sat
urday, April 9th.
SYMPATHY
Our sincere Sympathies to the family of the late Cora O’Grady from all the Committee and members and friends at Mitchelstown Tennis club on the passing of this fun filled human being, who brought many a very happy hour to the juniors at their weekly sessions.
Liz Cotter, the then female liaison officer at the club was telling me today about all the fun that the juniors had when Cora was on duty for the Junior hours of play.
Cora was involved with Smashers every Sunday she absolutely loved being involved & being part of the club. She was loved by all at Sunday Smashers.
Cora would have attended Wimbledon most years when she lived in London and attended many Australian tournaments while living in Australia.
She had such a keen interest in Tennis all her life. Cora will never be forgotten by us all.
To Lily and Luke “your mom was truly a very special person. She will be missed by us all. Our heartfelt condolences to you both” from all your friends at Mitchelstown Tennis Club
May her gentle soul rest in peace.