The finals of the Galway Parks tennis competition took place at the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Friday July 24. A total of eight venues hosted tennis camps for the previous four weeks, culminating in the competition finale last Friday.
New sponsor Maxol will have been delighted with the attendances, with big crowds watching proceedings at Barna, Crestwood, Doughiska, Knocknacarra, Maree, Roscam, Tuam, and Westside. Maree retained their position as top team by winning four titles, while Barna and Knocknacarra each brought home one apiece.
The Connolly siblings, Sean and Amy, delivered two of the Maree titles. Sean won his third Parks event by adding the U12 crown to his previous double in the U10s. Amy, a former runner-up in the U12s, fought off great competition from Amy Ciuche, a previous U10 winner with Maree, to win the U14 event.
Mayor Frank Fahy presented the prizes on the day, thanking new Parks co-ordinator Hilary Forde and all the coaches for their great work throughout the month. The Dempsey Cup for Sportsmanship was presented to Rory Wise from Westside by Donal Dempsey Jr in honour of his father, D F Dempsey, who started Parks Tennis in Galway some 30 years previously.
The winners and runners-up were: Boys U10 winner: Sean Dunne (BARNA ); runner-up Dylan Waterson (KNOCKNACARRA ). Boys U12 winner: Sean Connolly (MAREE ); runner-up: Luke Smith (ROSCAM ). Boys U14 winner: Michael Officer (MAREE ); runner-up: Kaelan Zipoli (BARNA ).
Girls U10 Winner: Dakpe Glavee (KNOCKNACARRA ); runner-up: Rachel Kelly (MAREE ). Girls U12 winner: Kate O’Dowd (MAREE ); runner-up Amy Kelly (TUAM ). Girls U14 winner: Amy Connolly (MAREE ); runner-up: Amy Ciuche (DOUGHISKA ).
