Leonard and Gargan scoop Meath Open tennis titles
The sunny and warm weather created perfect conditions for the 44th Meath Open Tennis Championships which came to a conclusion on Saturday evening at Kells Tennis Club with a series of finals. The tournament was played over a week and attracted players from various locations in Leinster and beyond, but local talent featured prominently in the final placings. "We were blessed with the weather this year, we had a big entry, there was great sportsmanship displayed by a all the players," Kells Tennis Club committee member Nichola Armstrong told the Meath Chronicle. "We had a large number of entries which was very encouraging as it cost the players money to take part, something that has to be taken into consideration these days. "We were also fortunate to get sponsorship from firms such as Imperative Energy Ltd. "We had players of all ages taking part from the juniors right up to some who are in their 60s and beyond. There was also a strong international flavour with Chinese, Thai and Polish players among those who took part." Cavan teenager Daire Gargan won the men's singles title when he beat Kells Tennis Club member Pawel Burliga, 7-6, 6-2. Gargan is one of the most talented young players in the north-east and he gave an indication of his skill with his performance this time around. While he was pushed all the way in the opening set by Burliga, the teenager drove on to achieve an impressive victory in the second set and claim the title. There was plenty of local interest in the ladies singles final as the two players involved, Aine Leonard from Clonmellon and Aoibheann Tully, both have connections with the Kells club. Leonard, who had played some scintillating tennis throughout the week, maintained her good form in the final out-scoring Tully 6-1, 6-3. Rivals in one final, Leonard and Tully faced each other again in another decider. This time it was the ladies doubles with Leonard partnering Laura Tully to defeat Emma O'Rourke and Aoibheann Tully, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. The men's doubles was won by Brian Bannon and Richard Walker who defeated Ken Butterfield and Peter Nangle 6-3, 6-4. There were a number of finals which involved players from the Kells club. John O'Reilly and Sarah Curran defeated Cormac Smith and Geraldine Carolan in the mixed doubles grade three while in the ladies doubles grade three, Armstrong and Sarah Curran combinted to get the better of Geraldine Carolan and Myriam O'Reilly. Phyllis Allen and Eileen Keoghan out-pointed Anne Tully and Laura Tully in the grade two ladies doubles. Among those who took part in this year's championship was Jim McKeever from Stackallen who has been participating in the competition for close on 40 years. RESULTS Men: singles - Daire Gargan bt Pawel Bruliga 7-6, 6-2; doubles - Brian Bannon & Richard Walker bt Ken Butterfield & Peter Nangle 6-3, 6-4; doubles grade two - David Curley & Sheyi Dosumu bt Jamis Murtagh & Kieran Murtagh 6-4, 7-5; doubles grade three - Christy Kelly & Eamonn Kennedy bt Elgin Jao & Alex Medina 6-4, 6-4. Ladies: singles - Aine Leonard bt Aoibheann Tully 6-1, 6-3; doubles - Aine Leonard & Laura Tully bt Emma O'Rourke & Aoibheann Tully 6-1, 2-6, 6-4; doubles grade two - Phyllis Allen & Eileen Keogan bt Anne Tully & Laura Tully 1-6, 6-0, 6-2; doubles grade three - Nichola Armstrong & Sarah Curran bt Geraldine Carolan & Myriam O'Reilly 6-4, 6-3. Mixed: doubles - Lorcan Gearty 7 Aine Leonard bt Garry Bolger & Suzanne Scott-Keenan 6-1, 6-0; doubles grade two - Noel Gaynor & Noeleen Doyle bt Mark Smith & Jill Steeple 7-6, 7-6; doubles grade three - John O'Reilly & Sarah Curran bt Cormac Smith & Geraldine Carolan 6-3, 7-5.