Congratulations to the boys of the Clongowes Minor I tennis team who overcame their opponents from St. Gerard’s in Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club last week (Monday 22nd May) to win the Minor Division II Cup for the first time since 1999! It was a close fought match that hung in the balance pending the outcome of the final singles match, which Maxime De Bussac went on to win in a third set tie break.
The win came after both Minor teams (I and II) emerged from their groups to qualify for the semi-finals. The Minor II team encountered a very strong St. Killian’s team in the semi-final of the Division 3 league and were obliged to give best in the match. However the (deidedly international) Minor I team of Maxime De Bussac, Pablo Melero Cruz, Julian Diaz Trancho, Leo Dowling, Javier Salto Galdon, Fred Gavigan, Andrew Percival and JJ Rehill had a comprehensive win over the King’s Hospital in the semi-final and the rest is history.
Elsewhere Clongowes had a successful summer term in tennis with five teams entering the Leinster Boys’ Secondary Schools Tennis League: two minor, two junior and one senior team. Matches were played during the month of May, with some very impressive tennis on display all round. Unfortunately the two junior teams and the seniors were unlucky not to qualify from the group stages, which included some hard fought games with many matches going to three sets. These included a number of tie breaks with narrow defeats to CBC Monkstown and St. Mary’s.
However all Clongowes boys represented the school very well and displayed great sportsmanship on all outings and we look forward to competing again next year and hope further success is yet to come.
Pictured above is the winning Minor I team:
Standing: JJ Rehill, Pablo Melero Cruz, Maxime De Bussac, Fred Gavigan, Javier Salto Galdon, Joe Flannery (GAP Exchange Student)
Seated: Leo Dowling, Julian Diaz Trancho, Andrew Percival
