Niamh Coveney - A players account of her Fed Cup Debut.

The following is an article written by Niamh Coveney of Sundays Well Tennis Club on her first experience in a Fed Cup match.
Anyone who knows Niamh will know how serious she is about her tennis and it is great to see this dedication and hard work recognised.
I would like to thank Niamh for writing this piece and wish her well in her future outings for Ireland.

"Although arriving at 2am on Thursday morning wasn't ideal it was great to finally have made it to Cairo. Myself and team captain Garry Cahill travelled out together with Lynsey Mc Cullough due to arrive on Thursday night. Julia Moriarty and Amy Bowtell were already out there and had secured a 3-0 victory against Malta in our opening tie on the Wednesday.


On Thursday we had our toughest match up against Morocco who proved too strong, Bowtell lost 6-2 6-0 with Moriarty losing 6-3 6-3. Myself and Julia teamed up to play the doubles and although it was a dead rubber we gave it everything and were unfortunate to lose 6-4,4-6,6-3. Despite hitting 3 fresh airs, my first match on the clay had gone pretty well! Algeria had a surprising victory over Malta defeating them 2-1 in the other tie in our group.

Friday was the first day the the whole team was together as Lynsey arrived Thursday night, the team spirit was lifted in the Irish camp! We faced Algeria in a winner takes all match as we were the two teams fighting for the second place spot in our group, with Morocco qualifying for play-offs in first place. Bowtell was unlucky to lose 6-1 in the third after playing an amazing first set winning it 6-0. Her opponent was very tough and willing to stay out on the court rallying all day which proved too much for Bowtell who looked to be fatiqued and carrying an injury by the time the third set came around. Moriarty also got off to a great start winning the first set 6-0 but her opponent fought back, Moriarty regained her composure to win 6-4 in a very tense third set. 1 rubber apiece heading into doubles and although I would have relished the opportunity to play the deciding match, Lynsey and Julia were selected to team up for the doubles and lost 6-1 in the third set. This loss meant that Morocco and Algeria qualified for play-offs from our group with Morocco due to face Eygpt and Algeria to take on the favourites Turkey. The winners of these ties would gain promotion to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

Although I was a spectator that day, as a team we learned that a match can always be turned around even if you lose the first set 6-0 you just have to keep fighting.

The final day of what had been a tough few days and we were due to take on Moldova in the play-off for 5th/6th positions. It was still a very important match as it would decide our seeding for next years competition. Bowtell was carrying a stomach injury so I was selected to take her place in the number two singles spot. I got off to a bad start going 5-0 down within a few minutes and couldn't seem to get rid of my nerves. I was very disappointed to lose 6-2 6-0 in a match I'm sure I would have won had I just been playing on our lovely artificial grass! The lack of practice on the clay made it very difficult for me to play well. Luckily Julia didn't have the same problem and won her singles easily, 6-1 6-2. 1 rubber apiece again and Julia and Lynsey teamed up for the doubles doing brilliantly to take the match 7-6 in the third set. A 2-1 victory against Moldova meant we finished 5th overall with Turkey and Morocco both gaining promotion to Europe/Africa Zone Group II.

Although my Fed Cup debut didn't go exactly as how I had imagined, it was an honour to represent my country and hopefully I'll get the oppourtunity again. This experience will stand to me, and all the hard work is most definately worth it when you put on that Irish tracksuit. May I make the suggestion of a few clay courts in Cork perhaps? Maybe someday!Thanks for the support",

Niamh Coveney

Bishopstown Senior Doubles Championships next on the agenda.

Bishopstown Senior Doubles Championships starts on Sunday the 2nd of May and runs thru to Sunday the 9th.  Like every year there should be a good turn out for this popular event.
The event is sponsored this year by MARY FOYLE - TRAVEL COUNSELLORS.
To check your draw or keep up to date on the scores over the week, click here.

Sundays Well Open Vets by picture.

Many thanks to Derek Lane for providing the photos from the event.

Sundays Well Vets Results

Sundays Well Veterans Open finished yesterday in beautiful sunshine and with some very good tennis to match.
These are the results of the finals day: (Winners Listed First)
Ladies Vintage Singles: Round Robin Event, Winner Marie Duffy
Mens Veteran Singles: Des Dillon V Ray McGinley ret. inj.
Mens Vintage Singles: Dick McCarthy V Mick Prendergast 6-4, 6-0
Mens O\35 Singles: Silvio di Blasi V Robert Cummins 5-7. 6-3, 6-2
5,6 & & Mixed: Denis\Margaret Cronin V Don Cahalane\Ann Collins 6-4, 6-4
Ladies Veterans Doubles: Alice Keating\Ann Naughton V Marie Duffy\Grace Reidy 6-4, 6-4
Ladies Vintage Doubles: Eileen Devey\Margaret O Sullivan V Oonagh Levis\Meg O Gorman 6-3, 6-2
Mens Veterans Doubles: Joe Donovan\ Pat Smith V Noel Fitton\ Pat Coleman ret. inj.
Mens Vintage Doubles: Dick McCarthy\Mick Prendergast V Martin Leahy\ Brendan Boylan 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Open Graded Mixed: Conor Twomey\Joanne Williamson V Sean Frank\Karen Higgins 6-2, 6-4
O\35 Ladies Doubles: Ann Naughton\Un Ryle V Karen Higgins\Elga Ryan 6-3, 6-3
O\35 Mens Doubles: Derek Lane\Rob Leahy V Niall Chandler\Robert Murphy 6-7,6-3,6-1
Vintage Mixed: Martin Leahy\Kay Lynch V Larry Power\Oonagh Levis 6-3, 6-3.

Kinsale Open Doubles coming soon.

Kinsale Tennis Club now accepting entries for 2010 Open Doubles Tournament 29th May to 6th June. Details of events you wish to enter or enquiries to open@kinsaletennisclub.com

Sundays Well Vets Open Draws Available here.

Check out the draws for Sundays Well Vets Open here, from Wednesday the 21st.

Buying or Selling secondhand rackets?

I have being asked is there anywhere that someone can sell there old rackets, ebay isn't a local enough audience, club noticeboards can be too small an audience, so some place where you can target tennis people.
Well you can now on Cork Tennis!

There is criteria for people to use this and full details can be obtained by contacting me either on rob_leahy@yahoo.co.uk or 086-8215333.

If you have a racket to sell you will need to send me info such as, make and model, how much you bought it for, how much you want to sell it for and pictures, aswell as other info.

If you want to buy a racket, you can do this a few ways, paypal is the easiest (if you have an account), but for all details on buying and selling click the link below to go to the racket page.

If this interests you contact me on the above number but for now have a look at some of the bargains available, shop here.

Sundays Well Vets Open 2010.

Sundays Well Vets Open runs this year from Thursday the 22nd of April to Sunday the 25th of April with entries closing on Friday the 16th.

This is one of the bigger Vets tournaments in Munster and is sure to attract a large entry from across the province.

It is a great achievement for Sundays Well to be even holding a Vets tournament this year after the disaster that took place in the club back in November, when all courts and the clubhouse was under about 3 feet of water.
Well done to all involved and best of luck for the tournament.

To enter online, click here.

Rushbrooke Easter Open - Photos courtesy of Derek Lane

I would like to thank Derek for providing the photos from Rushbrooke. 
All the photos shown are available from mrdereklane@gmail.com .
Derek will be taking pictures at all open events this year for the Cork Tennis Blog, so make sure you are dressed appropriately and have your make up done properly, you have being warned!

Derek is also available at the above email address if you have any other events you would like photographed.

Carrigaline GSK Junior Open

Carrigaline Glaxo Smith Kline Junior Open will take place from the 30th of April to the 3rd of May with entries closing on the 26th of April.

Entries can be:
emailed to brian.walsh@bowengroup.ie
or phoned in (evening times only) on 4373077.
Any forms can be posted to:
Brian Walsh
1 Ashgrove Lawn,
Carrigaline, Co.Cork.

This is a singles only competition with events for boys and girls in the U12, U14 and U16 age groups with plate events in all.

Best of luck to Carrigaline and all who take part in this event.

Congratulations to Cork's Niamh Coveney on her Fed Cup selection

Niamh has being to the fore of Cork, Munster and Irish tennis for some time now and this was recognised in the best possible manner this week when she was named on the Irish team for their upcoming Federation Cup match in Egypt.
This is a great achievement for Niamh and all involved with her tennis so well done all and best of luck in Egypt Niamh.

Blake makes it a hat-trick of titles at Rushbrooke

Jamie Blake of Bishopstown Tennis Club continued his dominance of Mens tennis in Munster with a hat-trick of titles at The South of Ireland Omni Court Championships held at Rushbrooke tennis club this Easter weekend.

His day started with the Mens Singles Final against Kevin Rea, Limerick Lawn where he proved too strong for Kevin and came out on top with a scoreline of 6-1. 6-1.

This was followed with a very tough and entertaining Mens Doubles, where Jamie partnered his brother, Cian, in a match against Daragh Glavin, Naas, and Tom McGrath, Glenegeary.
This match went all the way to a third set and at 4-1 down in the third you might have thought it was all over, but the Blakes knuckled down and fought back in very tough, blustery conditions to turn things around and win 6-4 in the third.

With little or no break Jamie and Daragh returned to the court for the mixed doubles final where Jamie teamed up with Lynsey McCullough (who had a hat trick of her own) and Daragh teamed up with Cork's Niamh Coveney for an entertaining mixed doubles with Jamie and Lynsey coming thru 6-3, 6-2.

These were just some of the matches played in a full programme starting on Thursday.
The results for the weekend are listed below: (winners listed first)
Mens Singles: Jamie Blake V Kevin Rea 6-1, 6-1
Womens Singles: Lynsey McCullough V Niamh Coveney 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Mens Doubles: Jamie\Cian Blake V Tom McGrath\Daragh Glavin 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
Wmns Doubles: Lynsey McCullough\Niamh Coveney V Mary Claire McCarthy\Richael O Driscoll 6-1, 6-0
Mixed Doubles: Blake\McCullough V Glavin\Coveney 6-3. 6-2
MD 3: Eamonn Crotty\Conor McCarthy V Patch Holloway\Mark Reardon 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
WD 3: Clodagh Fitzgerald\Siobhan Murray V Suzanne Hayes\Maura McCarthy 1-0 retired
MX 3: Lisa Long\Jim Connolly V Monica Williams\Gus Bowen 6-4, 7-6
MD 4: Gus Bowen\John Hurley V Ronan Farrissey\Kevin McCarthy 7-6, 6-2
WD 4: Roisin Rasmussen\Carol Daly V Patsy Dunlea\Mary McGarry 6-1, 6-4
MX 4: Norma Coughlan\Nick Cloke V Colman\Roisin Rasmussen 6-4, 3-2 retired
MD 5: Pat Cronin\Johnathon Mulcahy V Parag Dalsania\Brian Hayes 6-2, 6-4
WD 5: Emma Crowley\Aoife Moloney V Mary Barnes\Tricia O Leary 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
MX 5: Tara Mekerjee\Michael Kukucha V Una Horgan\Senan Ahern 6-1, 6-1
MD 6: Tom Moore\Tim Ryan V Colm Burke\Donal McCarthy 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
WD 6: Orla Bowen\Caroline Lawlor V Liz Moore\Catherine Tibbets 6-2, 7-6
MX 6: Eadaoin O Riordan\Tim Ryan V Catherne Tibbets\Tom Moore 6-4, 7-5

Congratulations to the winners and all who participated and well done to the organisers on a very successful weekend.

What it takes to be No.1, watch this!

Congratulations to David Gardiner, Winner of Brookfield U-14

Congratulations to David Gardiner, Rushbrooke, on his great win in the Under 14 Singles in Brookfield, Dublin.

David was seeded 2 so was expected to get to the final but in a competition where there was 65 competitors a seeding doesn't guarantee anything.

In the final David beat Osgar O Hoisin, the number 4 seed on a score line of 6-0, 7-5.

This was a great achievement, following on from his great run to the final of the Nationals in Bangor last weekend.

Best of luck for the season ahead David and well done.