Men's Floodlight League Week 5 Summary

03 November 2011

It was the decisive night last night and things went pretty well despite the horrendous conditions….

- Team 1 (Class 2) went down 0-3 again last night at home to Brookfield 1. Unfortunately that means the team is relegated having obtained just a solitary point. Thanks to the team for their continued efforts and commitment in the face of adversity. On the negative side that means our top team in both Floodlight League and Summer League are now in Class 3 which is not the best place to be. Hopefully that will mean promotions in the year to come. Next up though is Winter League, I'm hoping all involved will be looking to play Class 2 and put things right? Email me to confirm….

- Team 2 (Class 4) won for the fifth week in a row, this time a clinical 3-0 victory away to Dunboyne 1 for the loss of only 12 games. Well done to the team of Simone De Colle, Marco Buzzi, Conor Burke and John Finnegan. Despite winning all five matches the team may still finish runners up, waiting on the result of Ratoath 1's game. Either way the team is in the quarter finals on 14th November, one win from promotion

- Team 3 (Class 4) had it all to do in a home match against Sandycove 3. A defeat would mean elimination despite a great campaign while a win would mean topping the group. In the absence of captain Carlos McCambridge and Colm O'Byrne the 'go-to man' Ed Deegan subbed in along with new French player Julien Bouly. Unfortunately Ed was overcome in his singles match, however Julien won handing his opponent a treasured double bagel in the process! That left it up to John Darby and Jari Zikavsky in the doubles who did the business in 3 sets for a 2-1 win. A great performance securing a home quarter final on 14 November as group winners. Also one win from promotion.

- Team 4 (Class 4) began the night in a tight group where any 2 of 5 teams could go through depending on results around the county. The key thing was though that the team had to win! Myself and Tom Fox could not get the business done in the doubles putting pressure on Etienne and Alan to win their singles matches. Etienne led from the front and completed his perfect group campaign winning 0 and 1 leaving us to watch Alan from the comfort of the bar. A tense 3 setter saw his opponent give a new meaning to plugging (lobbing literally every point) but Alan won the last 3 games to win 6-4 in the third. Results elsewhere on the night left us on level points with Greystones in second, however the team's victory over them 2 weeks ago means qualification for the playoffs! Next match is at home on Monday 7th September against the runners up in Team 3's group, Sandycove 3.

- Team 5 (Class 5) had the unenviable task of playing Malahide 3 who came into the game with a 12-0 record, one they extended to 15-0 on the night as they proved too strong for our team (rubbing it in by not providing any catering afterwards…) Thanks to Damian Mooney for subbing in for the away match. The tough away draws seemed to prove the difference for the team over the campaign as they finished mid-table.

Team 1 Class 2: 0-3 (1/15)

Team 2 Class 4: 3-0 (12/15)

Team 3 Class 4 2-1 (12/15)

Team 4 Class 4 2-1 (8/15)

Team 5 Class 5 0-3 (5/15)

Conor Burke (4/4)

Marco Buzzi (5/5)

Jari Zikavsky (5/5)

Etienne Paillard (5/5)

As we have 3 teams out of 10 in the playoffs in Class 4, a summary of the playoff draw for the round of 16 and quarter finals with a couple of places yet to be confirmed (home team first):

Monday 7th November

R16 (Match P) Mount Pleasant 4 vs. Sandycove 3

(Match Q) Trinity 3/Co.Wicklow 2 vs. Westwood Clontarf 2/Aer Lingus 1

Monday 14th November

QF (Match K) Clontarf 2 vs. Trinity 3/Co.Wicklow 2

(Match L) Mount Pleasant 2/Ratoath 1 vs. Mount Pleasant 4/Sandycove 3 (i.e. winner Mat ch P)

(Match M) Mount Pleasant 3 vs. Mount Pleasant 2/Ratoath 1

(Match N) Deerpark 2 vs. Winner Match Q

Hope to see you all down next Monday to cheer on Mount Pleasant 4 to victory.