Newry Tennis Club
Intermediate 2020
Group A
James O'Hare
SINGLES WINNER 2019 NEWRY CLOSED PLATE, QF NEWRY TENNIS TENS
OTHER WINNER 2019 DUNDALK DOUBLES
HEAD TO HEAD Unusually James has never officially played any of his three opponents but would be the favourite to win this group on previous singles form.
BIO James only took up the sport a few years ago but threw himself with gusto into the sport and has been active in all the local tournaments. He is known primarily for his big first serve which is difficult to retrieve. He has a big forehand particularly when hit down the line and he is also a fine net player. James prefers singles but his doubles game is arguably even better. If he can remain consistent then he can go far in this tournament. He has a refreshing attitude and lets hope there is another title just around the corner having won the Singles Plate last year.
Paddy McKinley
SINGLES RUNNER UP 2011 NEWRY CLOSED PLATE
OTHER WINNER 2016 NEWRY CLOSED DOUBLES WINNER 2017 NEWRY CLOSED DOUBLES PLATE
HEAD TO HEAD Paddy is a sporadic singles player these days and therefore has not played any of the opponents here in an official capacity.BIO Paddy will be a dangerous player as he has an unusual style and no one likes to play against his metronomic play. This is because it relies heavily on his immense fitness and the fact he never seems to make an error.
Eve Campbell
SINGLES WINNER NEWRY OPEN 2018, 19, NEWRY CLOSED 2016, 18,19
OTHER WINNER MIXED DOUBLES 2017 & 18 NEWRY CLOSED
HEAD TO HEAD This is a Fallon Sherrock moment for this progressive club. We have had all male teams in the Mixed Doubles, none of which have yet to win by the way and now we have the top female player in the club playing against the men. Not surprisingly as this is a first there is no record of Eve playing the three guys here.
BIO Eve spent some time in America last summer and she has returned to Newry with a zest for the game. With her dad Kieran they have been challenging and beating many of the doubles exponents at the club. Eve has been playing tennis since she was very young as her parents and brothers were also keen. She has been our Women’s singles champion at both Newry Open and Closed in last 2 years. She has also won two successive Mixed Doubles with Shane in 2017 and 2018.Her game is based on one of the best volleys in the club and good groundies.
Garreth Keenan
SINGLES – RECENT WINS OVER GARY HANRATTY & NIGEL BINGHAM
OTHER SF NEWRY CLOSED DOUBLES 2019
HEAD TO HEAD these group of players are all on new ground which is partially the reason the tournament was inspired in the first place.
BIO Garreth has not had any coaching and rarely competes in tournaments outside of Newry so he is at a disadvantage in this respect. He has heavy top spin groundstrokes and likes to advance to the net when he can. He will need to show some patience in a rally.
Group B
Kieran Campbell
Gary Hanratty
SINGLES – RUNNER UP 2019 MCARDLE CUP
OTHER WINNER 2009 & 2015 MENS DOUBLES NEWRY CLOSED
HEAD TO HEAD In recent weeks Kieran has lost to Gary and beaten Sean but never in official tournaments.BIO Until recently a doubles specialist who made his return to the singles game when the new tournament for people just below the top 4 was inaugurated last year. Kieran had a chance to win a title with the Mcardle Cup in 2019. A runner up to Gerry sprung Kieran back into singles action and he has been playing guys up to 30 years younger and beating all around him. He has immense determination which is hard to play against. Kieran will try to get to the net at all costs and his trusty double handed backhand is a steady shot. Fiery and tough to beat.
SINGLES – WINNER 2017 & 2018 MENS SINGLES PLATE NEWRY CLOSED
OTHER WINNER 2013, 18 & 19 MENS DOUBLES PLATE NEWY OPEN
HEAD TO HEAD Gary has a recent winning record against Kieran. Although he lost to Sean in the last few weeks he has also beaten him making this an interesting match up. Gary beats his friend Matthew in practice.
BIO The King of the Plates because he has won so many of these events in all the local clubs. At times it seems he plays purposely to win the plate rather than compete in the main draw! Gary can dominate the players ranked below him but then struggle against the seeded guys. His groundies are amongst the most powerful in the club when timed correctly. At times they can also become inconsistent and he can spay the ball everywhere. At his best he will be hard to beat in this tournament and finally get himself a coveted seeded spot in the Newry Closed!
Sean Pearse
Matthew Power
SINGLES – RECENT WINS OVER GARY HANRATTY & BRIAN O’HARE
OTHER SF WARRENPOINT PLATE DOUBLES 2019
HEAD TO HEAD Recent win over Gary and loss to Kieran.
BIO Sean has started to play more tournaments in last few years. He is going to make a breakthrough soon as he is excellent at the net and has brilliant deep topspin groundies. The one thing holding him back up to now has been the mental side of the game and with more experience in these type of tournaments that will improve also.
SINGLES – Matthew started in tournaments in 2019 and defeated Alex.
OTHER Played doubles with Gary Hanratty in Warrenpoint 2019
HEAD TO HEAD Matthew plays Gary H on a regular basis.
BIO Another recent recruit to the Newry tennis ranks, Matthew has already improved dramatically with singles wins in tournaments. He is known for a massive powerful forehand and the shout that usually goes with it! Given he is a newbie he should continue to improve greatly during this year.
Group C
Cormac Moody
Alex Staselovich
SINGLES – ONE OF TOP SINGLES PLAYERS IN 2018 LEAGUE WITH WINS OVER BRIAN & NIGEL
OTHER WINNER 2017 NEWRY CLOSED DOUBLES RUNNER UP 2019 NEWRY OPEN DOUBLES
HEAD TO HEAD Cormac has only played a handful of singles tournaments so has no head to head against any of the other three.
BIO There is much more to the Cormac game than Moonball Moody as he is often referred. His doubles win with Tim over Sergio Martin & Marek was one of the highlights of 2019 tennis season. He can outlast opponents and is ultra fast around the court. Cormac loves to finish off the points at the net with a penchant for a drive volley. He is a rare player in that he is equally good on both forehand and backhand. He will be difficult to beat in this event.
SINGLES – WINNER 2018 NEWRY OPEN PLATE 2015 RUNNER UP
OTHER 2016 MENS DOUBLES CLOSED RUNNER UP
HEAD TO HEAD Win over Neil in Plate
BIO Alex shares his time between Ice Hockey and Tennis at the moment. Oddly although regarded as a top notch doubles exponent who plays socially every week it is actually at singles he has the better record. Alex won the 2018 Newry Open Plate over Gary Hanratty in three sets having been beaten by Marek Charubin in the same final three years earlier. Alex is tall so loves to hit the basketball dunk shot at the net.
Neil McMahon
SINGLES – WINNER 2019 NEWRY OPEN PLATE
OTHER WINNER 2018 NEWRY CLOSED DOUBLES
HEAD TO HEAD Loss to Alex in Plate
BIO This Karate international was always going to move up the Newry Tennis ranks due to his impressive fitness and I would guess ability to pick up any sport. In the few short years he has been here he has already won 2 events and this is just the beginning. Known for a big first serve and forehand with good speed around the court, it is whether he can be consistent enough in the vital points. One to watch.
Pat O'Neill
SINGLES – ?
OTHER 2017 & 2018 NEWRY CLOSED MENS DOUBLES PLATE WINNER
HEAD TO HEAD None
BIO – Pat returns to singles after a four year absence in tournaments. His prowess is at doubles where he is like a rock at the net and has wonderful variety of strokes including the infamous slice like he is cutting the ball in two. However it will be tough returning to singles as he is giving away a few years to his opponents.
Group D
Brian O'Hare
Chris Zak
SINGLES – SF ROSTREVOR OPEN 2019, RUNNER UP NEWRY CLOSED MENS PLATE 2019
OTHER WINNER 2019 NEWRY CLOSED MENS DOUBLES PLATE
HEAD TO HEAD Win over Michael in epic tight tie break.
BIO – The winner of an award at our end of year celebrations due mainly to a breakthrough main draw semi in Rostrevor beating Lee. Brian has an exuberant style which causes trouble for his opponents. Languid and loopy his heavy topspin lands awkwardly coupled with a sledge hammer first serve. Brian is the most amiable player on the court and deserves all the success he gets. He also loves to float around the net finishing off points sooner.
SINGLES – FIRST TOURNAMENT NEWRY OPEN 2019
OTHER N/A
HEAD TO HEAD Chris has been playing numerous singles matches recently
BIO –Chris joined the club last year and has become one of the most enthusiastic players on the Nery courts as he seems to spend a lot of time there, although no one does compared to Gary Hanratty! Chris has a compact game and can play equally effectively at the back of the court and net. He is improving all the time and so we should see him get important experience here as he only debuted in the Newry Open last September.
Michael McKnight
Nigel Bingham
SINGLES – ?
OTHER RUNNER UP 2009 & 12 NEWRY CLOSED MENS DOUBLES PLATE, 2016 MIXED PLATE RUNNER UP
HEAD TO HEAD Close loss to Brian O’Hare
BIO –The man of the classic single handed backhand which is a purists dream! Michael uses the angles he gets from his backhand to open up the court. He has an underestimated service delivery which I would say is amongst the best in the club. Michael has been in numerous Plate doubles finals. This is his return to singles after a few years absence.
SINGLES – SF ROSTREVOR OPEN 2019, RUNNER UP NEWRY CLOSED MENS PLATE 2019
OTHER WINNER 2019 NEWRY CLOSED MENS DOUBLES PLATE, 2018 & 19 OPEN DOUBLES PLATE
HEAD TO HEAD
BIO – When I first met Nigel he told me he did not like doubles! Well he could have fooled me as he has won three Plate Doubles titles in Newry in the last two years. On the singles court he has an impressive first serve which comes down from a great height. He does everything right with heavy topspin groundies which land deep and an ability to close down the court quickly at the net. Nigel was seeded a couple of years ago which I don’t think he wanted but this should be a happier hunting ground.
