John Maguire with partner Francis Venzon who won the Open A Men’s doubles
There was massive local success at the weekend in the Tyrone Championships at Omagh Tennis Club.
Both Enniskillen and Irvinestown players excelled with Enniskillen tennis coach Matthew McGann taking the top men’s prize in the A singles.
Matthew called it the ‘best ever’ result for the club at an away tournament, with success across the board.
Matthew, who came into the event unseeded, defeated the three top five seeded players along the way in a superb display of tennis.
In his first match he dispatched the number four seed and then was dealt the difficult task of the number one seed, one of Ulster’s top players and a previous winner.
“I didn’t think I had much of a chance, but I won fairly comfortably 6-4, 6-1 and I was chuffed with that,” explained Matthew.
McGann then faced the number two seed Paul Calvert in the final. Despite winning the first set 6-2 he met difficulties when the rain came.
He lost the next set by the same 6-2 margin setting up the decider, which went to a tie break. Matthew thankfully came on the right side of the result taking it 7-4 and with it the trophy.
“I didn’t expect it all, it was a very pleasant surprise,” he added.
Matthew lauded fellow members of the club including Donal Burns who completed the doubles double, by winning both the B mixed (with Maggie Britton) and the B mens’ (with Clive Funston) events.
Other Enniskillen winners were Jimmy Renfrew in the B mens’ singles and Vanessa McBrien and Martina Boyd in the B ladies doubles.
Irvinestown too had great success as a club at the championships. In the A womens’ singles Donna McSorley was runner-up.
Irvinestown man John Maguire and his partner Francis Venzon also took the coveted A Mens’ doubles title. In the B events Maggie Britton was part of a successful double act with Donal Burns in the Mixed doubles and runner up in the Ladies’ doubles with Rachel Logan.
There was to be more success in the C events as Brendan King achieved a double, winning the Men’s doubles with David Lowe and the Mixed doubles with Tanya Cathcart.
In a fantastic weekend of tennis both clubs enjoyed superb performances across the board with much to build on for future events.
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