PSOBLTA v Malahide LTC
Won 3-1
After the Fitzwilliam match was completed earlier this year and over a few post-match drinks, it was suggested to arrange a fixture against another club in Dublin, Malahide LTC. Once the heads had recovered from that night and a few emails later, a welcome new overseas (and very high quality) fixture was added to the PSOBLTA fixture list and was played over the last weekend.
The team flew out Saturday morning and after some breakfast at a local deli, arrived at the Club ready for a midday fixture. Malahide LTC was taking the match seriously and fielded two ex-Davis Cup players.
PSOBLTA team:
David Culshaw, Dom Hemy, Tom Green and Richard Wire
Malahide LTC team:
Colin O’Brien, Dan O’Neill, Steve Nugent and Neil O’Connor (substitute: Flo)
PSOBLTA first pair
David Culshaw/Rich Wire
- beat Colin O’Brien/ Steve Nugent 6-4, 6-3
- beat Dan O’Neill & Neil O’Connor 6-3, 6-3
PSOBLTA second pair
Domy Hemy/Tom Green
- beat Colin O’Brien/ Flo 6-4, 6-3
- lost to Dan O’Neill & Neil O’Connor 6-3, 2-6, 5-10
So overall it was a 3-1 victory for the Association in the debut match against Malahide LTC. Once the tennis was completed, the team enjoyed a bbq at the club, along with copious amounts of Guinness. Later on the local bar in the village was bouncing, so the teams thought best to investigate and ensure a good time was being had by all and conveniently there was a nightclub next door to the hotel…
Golf the next day was a bit of a struggle but thoroughly enjoyable. Steve’s brother, Mick (8 hcp) and an Irish junior international, Connor (+4 hcp!!!) played with David and Rich – we lost 2 & 1, but with those rented clubs… we’ll take it! Watching Connor play was worth paying for – incredible.
Maurice Kenny (14hcp) – who took over as captain when Clusk dropped out, played with Steve (10hcp) against Dom & Tom…
All in all, a highly successful trip and a huge amount of thanks to all at Malahide LTC and James Cluskey for arranging the match (despite him not being able to make it as he was urgently called to Necker Island!)
David Culshaw – PSOBLTA match manager