Page 215 - Gonzaga at 60
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TENNIS
THE KEANE CUP
(UNDER 16 CHAMPION)
1985 Gavin Blake 1998 Barry King
1986 Connor Smith 1999 Patrick Doran
1987 Connor Smith 2000 Barry King
1988 Connor Smith 2001 Barry King
1989 Connor Smith 2002 Graham King
1990 Paul Smith 2003 Graham King
1991 Paul Smith 2004 Graham King
1992 Paul Smith 2005 Mark Crowley
1993 Barry Smith 2006 John Morrissey
1994 Barry Smith 2007 John Morrissey
1995 Alan Doran 2008 Ross Hurley
1996 Alan Doran 2009 Ross Hurley
1997 John O’Donovan 2010 Sean O’Rourke
Tennis Senior Cup Winners 1973. Back (L to R): Hugh Tinney,
Jerry Sheehan, François Eliet, Declan Meagher. Front (L to R):
David Mulcahy, Roderick Ensor (Capt.), Fr Edmund Keane
JERRY SHEEHAN
Gonzaga has been a force in Leinsters Schools Tennis for emergence of a number of tennis families and other very
almost half a century. The foundaion for our success was talented players in the school, a number of whom went
undoubtedly the dedicaion, enthusiasm and compeiive on to achieve success at naional and internaional level.
insincts of Father Edmund Keane SJ who organised tennis The Davys, Ensors, Sheehans, Coulsons, Brennans, Blakes,
for over 20 years since the early 1960’s. No mean player McDonoughs were complimented by the talents of Hugh
himself, Neddy as he was afecionately known, regularly Tinney, Conor McCullough, Michael Carney, Stephen
graced the courts in his long whites. His consistent even Doherty and many others.
handed and detailed approach in arranging challenges, The seing of the three courts behind the Priest’s
school ladders, team selecion and doubles pairings (at House was and remains a special place on a spring
which he was a master) meant that tennis in the summer aternoon. Surrounded by trees and overlooked by the
term was centre stage. Cherry Blossom beside the pond (both sadly history now)
Winning was not important. It was very important. the stage was well set for on court batles. Litle wonder
Once following an unexpected loss in the irst round of the that the tennis tradiion has coninued with such strength
senior cup he departed in disgust leaving the team to ind up to the present day.
its own way home, all the way from the north side!. During Fr Keane once said that when he died and went to
matches he would be found pacing up and down in his Heaven he would spend the irst 70 years talking with
tradiional long black coat playing every shot all the while Sophocles. I suspect he might take a break for the odd
drawing some form of comfort from his regular supply of couple of sets. Fred Perry comes to mind as a suitable
Sweet Aton. opponent.
The tally of 6 senior cups, 7 junior cups and 7 minor Jerry Sheehan
cups throughout his 20 year reign coincided with the Class of 1974
THE KEANE CUP
(UNDER 16 CHAMPION)
1985 Gavin Blake 1998 Barry King
1986 Connor Smith 1999 Patrick Doran
1987 Connor Smith 2000 Barry King
1988 Connor Smith 2001 Barry King
1989 Connor Smith 2002 Graham King
1990 Paul Smith 2003 Graham King
1991 Paul Smith 2004 Graham King
1992 Paul Smith 2005 Mark Crowley
1993 Barry Smith 2006 John Morrissey
1994 Barry Smith 2007 John Morrissey
1995 Alan Doran 2008 Ross Hurley
1996 Alan Doran 2009 Ross Hurley
1997 John O’Donovan 2010 Sean O’Rourke
Tennis Senior Cup Winners 1973. Back (L to R): Hugh Tinney,
Jerry Sheehan, François Eliet, Declan Meagher. Front (L to R):
David Mulcahy, Roderick Ensor (Capt.), Fr Edmund Keane
JERRY SHEEHAN
Gonzaga has been a force in Leinsters Schools Tennis for emergence of a number of tennis families and other very
almost half a century. The foundaion for our success was talented players in the school, a number of whom went
undoubtedly the dedicaion, enthusiasm and compeiive on to achieve success at naional and internaional level.
insincts of Father Edmund Keane SJ who organised tennis The Davys, Ensors, Sheehans, Coulsons, Brennans, Blakes,
for over 20 years since the early 1960’s. No mean player McDonoughs were complimented by the talents of Hugh
himself, Neddy as he was afecionately known, regularly Tinney, Conor McCullough, Michael Carney, Stephen
graced the courts in his long whites. His consistent even Doherty and many others.
handed and detailed approach in arranging challenges, The seing of the three courts behind the Priest’s
school ladders, team selecion and doubles pairings (at House was and remains a special place on a spring
which he was a master) meant that tennis in the summer aternoon. Surrounded by trees and overlooked by the
term was centre stage. Cherry Blossom beside the pond (both sadly history now)
Winning was not important. It was very important. the stage was well set for on court batles. Litle wonder
Once following an unexpected loss in the irst round of the that the tennis tradiion has coninued with such strength
senior cup he departed in disgust leaving the team to ind up to the present day.
its own way home, all the way from the north side!. During Fr Keane once said that when he died and went to
matches he would be found pacing up and down in his Heaven he would spend the irst 70 years talking with
tradiional long black coat playing every shot all the while Sophocles. I suspect he might take a break for the odd
drawing some form of comfort from his regular supply of couple of sets. Fred Perry comes to mind as a suitable
Sweet Aton. opponent.
The tally of 6 senior cups, 7 junior cups and 7 minor Jerry Sheehan
cups throughout his 20 year reign coincided with the Class of 1974
