[dropcap]P[/dropcap]adraic Kilcoyne defeated first-seed and defending champion Odhran O’Sullivan 6-4 6-0 in an all-DCU final in the men’s singles of the tennis National College Championships in Rathgar Tennis Club, claiming DCU one of two major pieces of silverware in the process.
O’Sullivan narrowly lost the first set before fatigue allowed Kilcoyne to take full advantage. The second set was a much more one-sided affair, with O’Sullivan tiring after his efforts over the weekend. O’Sullivan reached the Men’s Doubles semi-final, making Kilcoyne his third match of the day after having dispatched Philip Sheehan, also of DCU, in the semis.
Kilcoyne did not enter the Doubles competition and so his only other match on Sunday morning was against a game Daniel Moloney of UCC. This extra energy showed in the second set as he took control of the final.
DCU had representation in each of the senior finals over the Halloween weekend. In the women’s singles, DCU’s Deirbhile O’Keefe was defeated in emphatic fashion by No.1 seed and college-mate Jane Fennelly, failing to pick up even a single game against the Rathmines woman.
But until the final O’Keefe, who was seeded Number three, looked to be in imperious form, not dropping a set on her way, and eliminating second seed Sarah Murphy in the semi-final.
However, after a slow start to the tournament, Fennelly moved her way through the competition with ease, only dropping a total of two games over the quarter and semi-final stages in total, and her class shone through as she easily brushed aside O’keefe to claim the title.
In the Men’s Doubles it was again heartbreak for the DCU pair of Conor Sparksman and David Nolan, losing in straight sets against the top seeds, Daniel Moloney and Sean O’Callaghan of UCC.
After a poor first set in which they failed to win a single game, the DCU pair upped their game in the second set, but it wasn’t enough to save the match as they lost 6-4.
Yet more frustration was to follow in the Women’s Doubles final as the DCU pairing of Katie Lowry and Anna McWilliams failed to topple the Trinity pairing of Dearbhaile Roe and Niamh Sheehan in straight sets. Unlike the other finals however, this was a close one, as the DCU pair were unlucky in the 6-4 6-4 defeat.
Ian Brennan
Image Credit: DCU Tennis Club