Men’s Summer League: Playoffs Update
With 5 of our 6 teams progressing to the playoffs substitutes were thin on the ground as 35 players took to the court last week. Two teams marched on to secure home semi-finals on Wednesday 26th.
Finishing the group stages 3rd out of 24 teams in the class 2 grade, Team 1 now look to push on and regain the class 1 status they lost last season. Having dispatched near-neighbours David Lloyd Riverview in the quarter finals last Saturday, captain Andrew Kirwan will be hoping home advantage can get Donnybrook over the line when Templeogue 1 provide the opposition next Wednesday 26th at 19.00. Support very much welcome.
Team 3 - 7th of 36 at class 4
A trip to Sutton last Wednesday for their last 16 tie ended in a tight 2-3 defeat to a talented Sutton outfit. Captain Peter Richardson will be buoyed by the strong finish to the group stages. This team were unlucky with a few untimely injuries to key players but showed that the talent is there to have another decent tilt at promotion next season.
Team 4 - 16th of 42 in class 5
Having pulled off a great escape in week 5 with a 5-0 win to emerge from a difficult group, Team 4’s presence in the playoffs was very much regarded as bonus territory. A trip to Templeogue last Wednesday started with Ravi Manumachu taking his maiden season winning streak to 4 matches but ended with him being joined on the balcony by the rest of the team to drown their sorrows after a 2-3 defeat.
Team 5 (pictured above) - 1st of 42 in class 6
Finishing top-of-the-class after the group stages and cruising to promotion with a 4-1 win against Clane 2 put a target on the back of Team 5 but there was no sign of nerves as Wicklow Town 3 visited Donnybrook last Saturday. Enda Bannon lead the charge with a 6-3 6-2 win at singles 1 and he was closely followed by the doubles of Connaughton/Bortolato and Coffey/Clancy who won in straight sets. Newtown Park 2, who finished 4 of 42 after the group stages, provide the opposition in the semi-final which takes place straight after Team 1’s semi on Wednesday 26th in Donnybrook.
Team 6 - 21st of 43 in class 7
The ‘prize’ for a strong finish to the group stages for Robbie O’Flynn’s Team 6 was a last 16 match against the best-performing team across all classes. David Lloyd Riverview 5 won 24 of their 25 matches in the group stages. With nothing to lose Team 6 went down fighting as the lost 1-4 on the hardcourts at Riverview.
Well done to all five teams who got through to the playoffs and represented the club so well again over the last week. All the class reports are available on the DLTC website here. Let’s all get down to Donnybrook for 19.00 on Wednesday and give our two semi-finalists the support they deserve.