Quinn enjoys good run of success

Considering he was playing the game before he was even in his teens, it might be stretching it to say Carlow Masters tennis player, Paul Quinn, is in the form of his life. Yet such has been his recent success rate, he is looking forward to next year and the possibility of playing for his country in the World Team Masters Championships in Lisbon in August.

Having come off the back of a successful over 45s interprovincial championships where he teamed up with Stewart Kennedy, Barry Gahan and Gary Kilduff to win all three games against Ulster, Connacht and finally Munster, Quinn went on to further success.

Last month he won the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters 45s Tournament in Limerick and this recently in Tipperary he took the Munster Masters Clay Court Championship beating the highly ranked Munster player, Paul Barry on a score line of 6-4, 6-4.

“I was particularly delighted to win down in Limerick. It is a big ranking tournament,” noted Paul.

It is busy times for the Carlow tennis player. He is also affiliated to Naas Tennis Club and plays with them in the Leinster and Dublin leagues. This week he is spreading himself thinly and is competing in the singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles events in both the Carlow and Naas Club Championships.

“I want to play as much as I can but the timing of both club championships isn’t ideal. Once this week is over, I’ll go to ground for a couple of weeks,” he says.

After a short time to catch his breath he is still eligible to play 45-49 category for another year and, from there, will continue to play Master’s tennis. He knows a lot of the players who are on the circuit.

“Good to get back playing with lads I played with when I was a junior. My hey-day in tennis is long-gone,” says an older Paul Quinn who, as a teenager, won provincial tournaments all over Ireland.

Now he continues to do what he loves to do. He sometimes feels he would like to give a little bit back to the game and hasn’t ruled out getting into coaching.

This year he was beaten by a New Zealand player in the Irish Open at Elm Park. Disappointing but possibly a step along the way to playing for his country.

“I am not afraid to say it but that is my aim. My ranking is not too bad at the moment and selection is based on your ranking and your results,” he says.