Semi-final beckons for Grade 5 men’s team
We had two teams in action last weekend in the quarter finals of the Munster Winter League. The grade 2 men’s team were playing at home against Douglas while the grade 5 men’s team were away against Crosshaven.
The match in Mitchelstown got underway at 12 noon on a cold but dry day. It was a close match from the outset, both sides producing fine tennis, with little room for error. Douglas took the first match putting them 1-0 up in the contest. The second game was slipping away from the home side, a set down and 4-1 down in the second set, but they showed tremendous resilience to win that second set and clinch the third set to level the tie at 1-1.
The second wave of games was shared, leaving the match tied at 2-2. A one set super doubles was required to decide a winner on the day and it was the city side that would prevail in the end. It was a brave performance from our team, a match of inches really that could so easily have gone in our favour. Well done to captain Denis Linehan, Ciaran O’Kennedy, Michael Waldron and Alan O’Meara who gave it their all in the competition.
The grade 5 men travelled to Crosshaven for a 2pm match. We had a strong team on the courts, Ray Hurley with Liam O’Grady and Cillian Dollion with Sean Keane. Ray and Liam were in excellent form, winning their match 6-2 6-2. The other game was a different story however. Having lost the opening set 6-2, Sean and Cillian dug deep to level the game with a 7-6 second set win and followed that up with a third set 7-5 win. That took some bottle and it was a big turning point in the match.
Crosshaven were clearly rattled at the break, facing a 2-0 deficit, they never really recovered. The ‘town side, now buoyed by the early success, drove on with the positive momentum and won the second round of games in straight sets for a 4-0 match victory. It was a tremendous result away from home and the lads can now look forward to a Munster semi-final in Mitchelstown against Lakewood.
The semi-final hasn’t been fixed just yet, but it will be played by Sunday, 24th April.
SATURDAY JUNIOR MATCHPLAY
There will be no matchplay for the juniors this coming Saturday as it is Easter holiday time.
WINTER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Men’s grade 5 Mitchelstown v Lakewood in Mitchelstown tbc.
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 result: Crosshaven 0-4 Mitchelstown. Semi Final Fixture: Mitchelstown V Lakewood at TBC.
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 result: Mitchelstown 2-3 Douglas (Blue).