Newry Tennis Club
Newry Closed Finals Day
A 10am start for 8 matches on this the first of two Sunday finals days in a row for the Newry Closed tournament. Defending champ Sean Pearce had won the Men’s Shield on a packed Mon evening last year and now on a sleepy Sun morning he produced the goods again with a booming forehand to defeat a very welcome newcomer in Shane Rogers. Shane won four games in a row in the second from 0-3 down but Sean had the upper hand throughout.
The inaugural Joan Smith Cup named in honour of valued member of the club was held and it was quite poignant the winner Derval Campbell was a friend of Joan. It was a fun match with good rallies but Derval had an all round game and outmanouevred Sarah who was keeping her shots deep. Derval won the trophy which was presented by Joan’s son Gary for an emotional start to the day. The Women’s Plate final was also being held simultaneously and it is testament to the growth in the club that we now have all these events for the women when a few years ago there was none. This was another cagey affair and congrats to Marie Pearse who added singles success to her impressive doubles cv as she moved newcomer Denise Rooney around the court. Both their partners watched on in support.
Matthew Richmond reached his first Newry singles final having done so in Warrenpoint last year. He was playing the four times champ Shane McAteer. It was an extremely entertaining final as Matthew used his massive kick serve to get into the net and finish off points quickly. He also tried some different tactics such as the use of the hot dog to stay in points. But overall Shane has too much game for anyone at this club and the forehand is even more of a weapon than it used to be, as it is now more aggressive so no matter what Matthew did, Shane after going 1-2 down early was always on top. Matthew rushed off to see England play in the Euro 2020 tournament whilst Shane received his fifth consecutive title trophy (first time that has happened). His father Malachy would join him in the winners circle as he produced his usual consistent brand of tennis to defeat Gary Hanratty for the second ever McKeown Cup. Tournament referee Pat O’Neill presided over a tense cat and mouse match as neither player would give way but Malachy is tough to play on these courts due to his lack of errors. We could play the Cat Stevens song “Father and son” for the two singles winners today!
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Vivienne Bond became the first Women's singles winner since 2013 that was not living in Newry's Greenan Road as Anna Richmond and Eve Campbell had both moved away from Newry. Vivienne is one of the best female players we have ever had and she came through the tournament unscathed beating the ever improving Shauna Matthews.
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The Mixed Doubles saw the best male and female player in the club on opposite sides of the net. Shane McAteer had won this title for 3 years in a row between 2017 and 2019. Whilst Vivienne Bond from Blackrock has won a few Open titles but is now a member here in Newry and so eligible for the Closed. Shane was with beginner Eve Landy and they had done brilliantly to get through whilst Vivienne was playing with club secretary and veteran Russell Shields Patterson. Shane tried to protect Eve from the onslaught and would move across at times whilst Vivienne would hit down the line to the gap he had left. Shane was targeting Russell and finishing off with smashes at the net. Shane and Eve came back from 3-5 down in the second in what was becoming a tense match but Russell served out and Eve was broken for a famous win for stalwart Russell. Vivienne had travelled straight from a GAA match in Lordship so was tired but euphoric to win the title. In the Mixed Plate, best friends James O’Hare and Neil Mcmahon faced each other (not for the first time). Neil has a massive forehand whilst Pauline is an excellent poacher at the net and that was an emphatic combination. James and Marie had produced some amazing comeback wins to get here but failed one short against the Neil and Pauline who have played together before.
So in wonderful sunshine with food and even prosecco kept in separate cups and plates it was fantastic after over a year of lockdowns, that tennis could be centre stage again and people could enjoy being outside and active on the court.
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Mens Doubles Plate final
Starting a half an hour late, it was dazzling sunshine for what would turn out be a classic Plate final. Alex Staselovich s one of the best net players at the club and alongside Rory O’loughlin who won the main doubles last year they had a formidable start coasting to a first set 6-1. But it is never that simple in tennis and the experience of Malachy McAteer Jnr began to tell as he used his crunching groundies and backhand volley to turn the tide. Michael had travelled from Belfast to his second successive plate final, having won it with Mal’s father last year. He has improved in the 12 months and has sound effects when he hits the ball and perfectly timed volleys. It would go to a deciding set and Malachy and Michael had truly turned this match around.
Mens Doubles
For the first time since 2016 this title would not be won by Shane Mcateer but there was a chance for his dad to win his first main Newry trophy. Along with 2015 winner Matthew Pearse, the dads as they were affectionately known would be hard to beat as they are both so good at the net. It was a dazzling start as they claimed a 63 31 lead over 2019 winner Daniel Boyle still just 19 years of age and James O’Hare. From being a one sided event, it was now an exciting battle as the underdogs came back to win the second 75. In the decider it was again the dads who went 3-1 up again and had 2 match points at 5-4, James saved one with an unreturned serve and then a clash of rackets from Mal and Matthew go for the same ball. James and Daniel took the lead for the first time at 6-5 in the third and won a monumentous victory.
Womens Doubles
Derval Campbell won her third WD title in the last 5 occasions using a calming breathing technique which paid dividends. She was alongside Marie Pearse who was in the form of her life in this tournament whose flat hitting, drop shots and volleys were also crucial. Runners up Irene McKnight had won this title in 2019 and is a very rhythmic player, hard to break down whilst Denise Rooney from Poyntzpass has acquitted herself so well as a relative newcomer to this level.
Womens Doubles Plate
Club Chairperson Dorothy Blair added another title to her repertoire alongside the much improved Shauna Matthews who has been impressing the club with her compact strokes and consistency. The combination of those two proved too much on the day for the effervescent evergreen volleying of Pauline Meehan and the hard deep hitting of Sarah McCarron, another lady who has taken to her tennis in recent times.
Junior
16 year old David Boyle followed in the footsteps of older brother Daniel who had won this title the last 2 years. Remarkably David had been in hospital for a month with appendicitis and was only back on his feet a number of weeks before returning to the courts. He has played the main senior draw so had too much court craft for the two young contenders Ryan and Shane Matthews. Both of whom showed promise, Ryan with well constructed topspin forehands and Shane with his fitness and ability to continually get the ball back. But it is a Closed title for David to go with his Open title from last year.
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