Bad week overall for KBC
To start, Enda O’Neill’s Division 6 Mix faced Roundwood in Baldoyle on Saturday 8 April in their DDL Quarter Final match. It wasn’t going to be an easy ride for the KBC quartet who faced an unbeaten Roundwood. It wasn’t going to be easy for Roundwood either as the Mix 6 team had only been defeated once all season. Barry O’Neill and Enda were out first and were narrowly beaten in two sets with one set going to 25-23 to Roundwood. Jen Monaghan and Kathrin Logan took their ladies in three sets against a clever Roundwood pair. With Roundwood winning a set the KBC four now had to win their remaining two games to progress to the semi, but unfortunately Kat and Enda were beaten in Mix 1 sending Kilcullen crashing out and Roundwood cruising through to the semis. Even though it’s a disappointing end to the season its been a great season all in all for the newly formed team, Hard luck but well played over the season to Enda, Kathrin, Jen and ‘Swedy Eyes’ Barry. The team would like to thank John Mullen, Ciaran Mullen (and his cousin!) and Vincent Coller for travelling up and for their support on the night.
On Sunday 9 April Karen Malone’s Grade 3 Mix progressed to the Leinster Inter League Finals after beating Kilmeasan in sets in the semi’s. Their opponents for the final were League champions Baltinglass and what a difficult match this turned out to be. After trading blows in the first four games KBC and Baltinglass were tied at 2-2. After the first two mix games, both teams were still tied at 3-3. This was where it was to end for the brave Kilcullen team and Baltinglass won the final two mix matches winning the Leinster title 5-3. The team would like to wish Baltinglass the best of luck when they playing the All Ireland Finals later this month. All is not lost for the Grade 3 Mix team as they have the South West League Final still to play where they will either meet Bough or our Kilcullen Grade 3 B Mix later in the month. Well done to Karen, Tara O’Neill, Barbara Coffee, Karen O’Neill, Ray Dalton, Mick Cass, Owen Wallace and John ‘the Fox’ Mullen.
Lynsey Walsh and her Grade 2 Mix were also competing for a Leinster Title and progressed to the final after beating Johnswell in the semi final. Dublin’s Ailesbury were the foes on this occasion. This match went down to the wire with both teams matching each other game for game, after an intense few hours on court both teams were tied 4-4, so it went to set count and again nothing could separate these two worthy rivals. Once again the calculators had to be taken out to count the amount of points each side had won, unfortunately our Grade 2 warriors were beaten by just 3 points. This is a heartbreaking way to loose a final but a big shout out has to go to the Kilcullen team, Lynsey, Sinead Kelly, Gillian K. Smith, Tara O’Neill, Siobhan Willis, Murt ‘Manwich’ Dunne, Dave Jackson, Owen Wallace and Mick Cass take a bow.
And finally in other news Johnswell got their revenge on Monday 10 April in the South West Cup when they knocked Lynsey Walsh’s Grade 2 team out, the final score Johnswell 5 Kilcullen 3.
In the Grade 4 Semi Final Jen Monaghan’s Mix team beat Bough 5-2 in a great semi final match in Baltinglass. This is a great victory against the Grade 4 League runner up and await either Kildare or Mullingar in their Final on Thursday 13 April in Carlow Lawn Tennis Club. Good luck to Jen and her team in the Finals.
Also the Club would like to wish Chairperson, Sinead Kelly a speedy recovery from her injury which she sustained while playing the Leinster Final on Sunday. Before you know it Sinead you’ll have a racket back in the hand.
Pictured are our Grade 3 Leinster Finalists (back) Owen Wallace, John Mullen, Mick Cass and (front) Tara O'Neill, Bernie Smyth, Barbara Coffee and Karen O'Neill.
