McGann falls to Dubliner in hard hitting final

Editorial Department • Published 9 Jul 2009 17:02 0 Comments

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Matthew McGann from Enniskillen Lawn Tennis club just failed in his bid to win the Fermanagh Open tennis championship when he was defeated by Alan O"Mahony in Sunday"s final which brought to conclusion a week-long feast of top class tennis at the Bawnacre Centre. Hosts, Irvinestown Lawn tennis club can reflect on a successful week as a plethora of top players from throughout Fermanagh and beyond took part in championships amid the usual mis of rain and sun with a few thunderstorms thrown in for good measure. The unseeded Alan O"Mahoney from Monkstown took the top prize seeing off the gallant Matthew McGann in straight sets, 6/2 6/4, with both men hitting some thunderous groundstrokes and excellent skills around the court which enthralled the watching crowd. Enniskillen also filled the runners-up spot in the ladies" singles when young Susannah Hughes Jordan lost out to the more experienced Alexis Russell from Ballymena. The defending champion Russell, taking the title by 6/3 6/3.The girls served up a really entertaining match with some very long rallies , powerful forehands and a lot of tactical play behind each shot with Alexis showing why she is one of the top five female players in the province. However, Susannah showed that she is a champion in the making and her day, will undoubtedly come.

In the men"s doubles, the Dublin pair of Alan O"Mahoney and Adam Graig beat the top two players in the County Adam Donaldson and Matthew McGann 7/6 6/2 while the Irvinestown duo of Maggie Britton and Alexis Russell won the ladies doubles beating Elaine Chambers and Nicola Hawkes 6/2 7/6. The final open event, the mixed doubles went to Kerri Russell and John Maguire Irvinestown L.T.C. who defeated Nicola Hawkes and Francis Venzon 6/1 6/3 making it John"s seventh time to take the title with five different partners over the years. Voted player of the tournament, James Duffy won the men"s B singles beating last year"s champion Michael McWilliams 7/6 1/6 7/5 with both boys showing some superb play and determination not to give in to the end. James, who just returned to tennis last month, upset all the odds as he progressed through the rounds and with his free flowing strokes and calm emotions, justly won the title and now will surely follow in his dad"s footsteps and prove to be one of the clubs stars in the not to distant future. The evergreen Jimmy McCutcheon Omagh L.T.C. was at it again taking two titles, firstly with Martin Garrity, Irvinestown they won the men"s B doubles and then with Kathleen Maguire, Irvinestown, he won the B mixed. Jimmy is a credit to himself and his club as was Kathleen as as she reached the ladies B singles final where she lost to the Oonagh Colton, former Irvinestown club member.

Other local winners included, Geoff Hawkes, Omagh who won the men"s C singles, John Ross Dundas, Enniskillen who won the C men"s doubles with Mervyn McBrien while Rachel Logan and Linda Stewart, Omagh lifted the B ladies doubles. Liam Murphy won the C2 men"s singles and Cara Deehan took the C2 ladies" singles.

Guests at the presentations were Chairman of Fermanagh District Council Bertie Kerr, President of Ulster Branch Tennis Mrs Valerie Rowan, sponsors Letitia Conway of Tullana on the Green and Joe Mahon of Mahons Hotel. Club Captain David Mc Dowell thanked the sponsors for their support of the event, Fermanagh District Council for its use of the Facilities and the Bawnacre Centre for assistance in the smooth running of the week long marathon of Tennis. He Also thanked the Tournament Committee and the players for supporting the Championships.

B & C Results:

B Men"s Singles - James Duffy, Irvinestown beat Michael McWilliams, Omagh 7/6 1/6 7/5

B Men"s Doubles - Jimmy McCutcheon and Martin Garrity beat Davy Thompson and Roger Howe, Ekn 1/6 6/2 6/4

B Mixed Doubles - Jimmy McCutcheon and Kathleen Maguire beat Davy Thompson and Oonagh Colton 1/6 6/2 6/4

B Ladies" Singles - Oonagh Colton beat Kathleen Maguire 6/0 6/2

B Ladies" Doubles - Rachel Logan and Linda Stewart beat Bernie Burke and Sinead Gavin 7/6 4/6 6/4

C Men"s Singles - Geoff Hawkes beat James Wilson 7/5 3/6 6/0

C Men"s Doubles - John Ross Dundas and Mervyn McBrien beat David Lowe and Joe Whaley 6/4 4/6 6/2

C Mixed Doubles - Heather McBrien and Mervyn McBrien beat Helen McDaid and Michael McDaid 6/0 7/6

C Ladies" Singles - Helen McDaid beat Moyah Gallagher 6/2 6/1

C Ladies" Doubles - Linda Maguire and Veronica Hawkes beat Ruth Armstrong and Heather McBrien

C2 Men"s Singles Winner - Liam Murphy, runner-up Kirk West

C2 Ladies" Singles Winner - Cara Deehan, Omagh beat Ciara Sheridan 6/4 6/2

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 09 Jul 09

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