Deirdre McSherry wins Munster Clay Court title

Deirdre McSherry has won the Grade 1 Ladies Singles title at Munster Clay Court Championships at Tipperary Co LTC, defeating former winner Mary Claire McCarthy (Sundays Well) in the final on Saturday.

Deirdre has won the Grade 1 ladies’ doubles in Tipp on a number of occasions in Tipp, but the singles title had been a long cherished dream of hers and we congratulate her.

The Tipp Co tournament has a long and illustrious history. The club was founded c.1890 and the first open tournament took place in 1926, then just singles events for ladies and men (doubles were added shortly afterwards) and the tournament has taken place each year since then, apart from 1933, and the names of many well-known players of yesteryear are etched on the cups.

Deirdre’s name will actually be added to two cups, one representing the Munster title and the other for the Tipperary title.

Also in Tipperary, Killaloe-Ballina members Avril Hayes (Grade 2) and Joanne Fitzpatrick (Grade 3) won their respective singles titles.

Nick Flannery (Borrisokane TC) and Thomas Mulqueen won the Grade 3 men’s doubles title and were runners-up the Grade 2 final. Tadhg Corley (Nenagh and Roscrea) and Dave McKevitt (Thurles) won the Grade 4 men, defeating Robbie Tomlinson (Roscrea) and Eoghan O’Neill (Limerick LTC).

Catriona Gleeson (Nenagh) was also to fore, being runner-up with Ciara Shanahan (Dromahane) in the Grade 6 ladies final.

Monaleen Open Doubles Tournament: is a welcome new addition to the circuit.

Nenagh’s David Hackett & Dermot Sheils won the Grade 1 final win against CJ Kelly & N Lester of Limerick LTC, and Owen Geaney & Kieran McSherry won the Grade 2 doubles, defeating the fellow Nenagh pairing Kevin McKenna & Thomas Mulqueen in the final.

Other Nenagh finals’ successes were Paul Dillon & Karl Horan who won Grade 3 against the Ennis pairing of Justin Gleeson & Martin McMahon, and David Minogue & Paraig O’Dwyer won Grade 4 against Nenagh’s Gernard Harmse & Colin Ryan.

In the Ladies Doubles, Margaret O’Meara & Emma O’Connor defeated the Puckane’s Evelyn Ducie & Margaret Slattery in the Grade 4 final, and Alice O’Connor & Niamh O’Connor beat Catriona Harrison & Edwina O’Brien in the Grade 5 final. Catriona Gleeson (with Ann Milne, Wilmer) were runners-up in the Grade 6 final.

Joanne Fitzpatrick (Killaloe-Ballina) & Lisa Pardy (Wilmer) won the ladies’ Grade 3 doubles, and Puckane’s Colm Darcy & Stephen Gleeson won the Grade 6 men’s doubles.

Pepe’s Restaurant Junior Tennis: There is a fine entry in the Pepe’s Restaurant sponsored Nenagh LTC Junior Club Championships which are on this week and will conclude on Thursday 22nd August.

President’s Prize: Over 90 members (48 ladies, 44 men) are playing in the annual President’s Prize competition this week. Play takes place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and the finals are on Friday. This event is always an enjoyable three nights, whether you are a player or onlooker, and a big turnout of members is assured.

Munster Summer Cup: The Grade 5 Mixed Team (Sarah Boland, Síle McDonnell, Tadgh Corley, and Kevin Dooley) defeated Lower Aghada in the semi-final last weekend.