Helen Lawless and Olivia Deely clinched the ladies’ title at the annual Ray Rooney Memorial Doubles tournament in the Galway Lawn Tennis Club at the weekend.
Lawless and Deely saw off a strong challenge from Rita Halloran and Marion O Brien in the ladies’ round-robin event, winning by 28 - 24 to secure the title they were denied last year.
The men’s event started with a round-robin format amid dry and windy weather on Saturday with Donal Hegarty and Al Waterson topping the red group, while Brian Plekker and Joe Higgins triumphed in the blue group. On Sunday, in less favourable conditions, Waterson continued to dominate this event with his third consecutive spring doubles triumph as he and Hegarty edged a thrilling three-set final 3-6 6-3 6-2.
Niall Rooney presented the prizes named in his honour of his father Ray, a former Irish Open junior boys’ doubles champion and long-term member at Threadneedle Rd who represented Ireland at veteran level - he would have been pleased to see his regular playing partner Donal Hegarty capture the title.
