Nenagh Tennis Open goes from strength to strength
The finals of the 2021 AIB Nenagh Senior Open Tennis tournament took place on Saturday following a very successful ten days of competition.
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Men’s Singles Grade 1 - Michael Gilmartin (President, Nenagh LTC), Nathan Slattery (winner), Paul Lillis (AIB), Odhran O’Sullivan Hamill (runner-up) Pauline Ryan (Captain, Nenagh LTC). PHOTOs: ODHRAN DUCIE Odhran DucieImage 2 of 4
Men’s Doubles Grade 1 - Nathan Slattery and James Morris (winners), Pauline Ryan (Captain, Nenagh LTC), Frank O’Keeffe and Graham O’Keeffe (runners-up). Odhran DucieImage 3 of 4
Women’s Doubles Grade 1 - Anne-Marie Darcy and Helena Darcy (winners), Michael Gilmartin (President, Nenagh LTC), Deirdre McSherry and Lena O’Connor (runners-up). Odhran DucieImage 4 of 4
Women’s Singles Grade 3 - Victoria Haliy (winner), Pauline Ryan (Captain, Nenagh LTC), Angela McDermott (runner-up). Odhran DucieThe 2020 tournament had been a casualty of Covid-19 and this year’s return under stringent Tennis Ireland guidelines was a much appreciated and availed of opportunity for players from a wide circle of clubs to experience the competitive and social atmosphere of a tournament.
It’s doubtful if Nenagh ever had such a wide representation of clubs among the entries across the various grades, perhaps 25 clubs being represented and all entrants agreed that the organisation of the tournament, given Covid restrictions, were expertly handled and players were at one in commending club president Michael Gilmartin, tournament referee Pauline Ryan and the tournament committee of David Hackett and Brian McGahey, for their work in enhancing the tournament experience over ten enjoyable days.
Among the many highlights of the tournament was the Grade 1 (premier) Men’s Singles final which saw local young man, Nathan Slattery, Irish U16 champion in 2020, emerge victorious over Odhran O’Sullivan Hamill from Greystones, 4/6, 7/6, 6/3 in an outstanding final. Nathan also won the Premier Men’s Doubles (with James Morris), their final opponents being the O’Keeffe brothers Frank and Graham.
The Ladies Premier Singles title was won by Beatrice Laura Pirtac (Castlenock), defeating Tanya Cox (Limerick LTC) in the final. Tanya later won the Grade 2 Ladies Doubles title, playing with her mother Pamela Scott, edging Aoife Davey and Richelle Treacy 7/6, 7/5. Another family combination, that of Anne-Marie and Helena Darcy, defeated Lena O’Connor and Deirdre McSherry in an all Nenagh Premier Ladies Doubles final. Lena was not to be denied a title though, winning the premier mixed with John Reidy.
The husband and wife team Ollie Moran (who these days has swapped the hurley for a tennis racquet) and Lisa Quinlan, were less fortunate in their Grade 3 final, their conquerors being the formidable pairing of Gary Parsons and Patrice Cleary. Patrice also the Grade 3 Doubles with Melissa Kenny, while Gary was also a dual winner, winning Grade 4 Men’s Doubles with Billy Woods.
Covid protocols dictated that there would be no actual group presentation at the end of tournament and all formalities were conducted outdoors where Nenagh LTC President Michael Gilmartin and Club Captain Pauline Ryan shared the duties of presenting the various finalists with their awards following each of the 29 finals, although for one of those presentations circumstances ordained that Pauline simply had to do the honours as Michael himself was a finalist, a winning one at that, in the Grade 3 Men’s Doubles (with Simon Whelehan).
Following the last final, Michael, thanked AIB Nenagh for their generous support of the tournament, this year and over previous years. Paul Lillis of AIB Nenagh attended the finals. Michael also expressed his appreciation to the many entrants and complimented Pauline, David and Brian for their work in running the tournament and the many others for their invaluable help over the ten days.