BEFORE SERENA THERE was Steffi. Before Steffi there was Martina. Before Martina, Billie Jean was causing scenes at Wimbledon.
But before any of them ever stepped onto the grass courts of SW19, a young girl named June Ann Fitzpatrick had been a regular at tennis’ most prestigious tournament.
Originally from near Cobh in Co. Cork, June Ann Byrne, as she’s now known, made the trip to Wimbledon for the first time just after finishing her leaving cert in 1951.
“I got up from my paper from the Leaving, to catch the boat over to play in Junior Wimbledon.”
Then 17, she competed in the girls’ singles competition, losing to the eventual winner Lorna Cornell – who went on to become Lorna Cawthorn and a Wimbledon regular at senior level herself in the following years.
Following her debut, June Ann Byrne would appear at Wimbledon every year from 1954 to 1960, with the exception of 1955, and made it to the last-16 in the ladies and mixed doubles on a couple of occasions.
Her tennis career also took her to the mixed doubles semi-finals of Roland Garros in 1958, where she played on centre court. Byrne was invited back to the French Open as a guest recently, over 60 years after leaving her mark on the competition.
After training as an occupational therapist, June Ann was offered work in San Francisco in 1954, and spent three years stateside. There, she mixed with some of the top American tennis players, regularly playing with the likes of Wimbledon finalist Gussie Moran.
While in America, Byrne won a number of high-profile tennis competitions, including the Championships of North California and British Columbia in 1955.
After meeting a US president and the Queen of England in an impressive tennis career, she made her final Wimbledon appearance in 1960, but that wasn’t the end of her involvement in tennis.
Along with her doubles partner from Wimbledon, Heather Flinn, she was the first woman to be put in charge of the selection of Ireland’s Davis Cup team in the early 70s.
She has also coached the world over, and is still playing now, having won the over-85 women’s doubles title at the ITF Super-Seniors World Championships last Autumn.
“If I wasn’t getting a new hip, I would have played in the Europeans, which I’ve won a few times. ”They’re on at the moment.
Showing no signs of stopping, June Ann is looking forward to getting back out on the courts of Carrickmines Tennis Club once the new hip is in place.
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All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.