Cup goes to Carranstown
7 4 Fixtures
CARRANSTOWN B, having topped the Division 2 league table and qualified for the league final, were definite favourites to win the John Speedy Heavey Cup at Watters in Collon on Saturday night, but knockout games are never easy,
And having stormed off into an early lead, winning the team 1001 game, plus the first doubles, they seemed well on their way to secure victory, but the Valley (Dunleer) battled their way back and were back on level terms early on in the singles games.
However, further wins for Derek Seery, Adrain O’Halloran, Andrew Bissett and Shane Campbell secured victory for the Ian Lowthe-captained Duleek side and set them up for a possible double, with the Division 2 decider coming up on Saturday week in Maguires of Kentstown.
Afterwards, the League committee, including Kevin Campbell snr, Martin Russell, John Mc Keown, Paula Kearney and John Grimes, made the various presentations to both teams together with Kathryn Heavey, wife of the late John. Watters of Collon were congratulated and thanked on their hosting of the final.
The Carranstown Lodge team were Kevin Campbell, Derek Seery, Adrian O Halloran, Andrew Bissett, Thomas Farrelly, Shane Campbell, Pat Connell, Barry Heavey, Tommy Hynes, David Smith, James Murphy, Ian Lowthe.
Valley Inn comprised Anthony Goodman, John Whelan, Fergus Lambe, Ken Murtagh, Robert Marry, Ken Smyth, Anthony Robinson, Peter Flanagan, John Loughran, James Davies, B Lambe. Fosters Premier Div semi-final: Carranstown A v Morning Star A. Fosters Div 1 semi-final: Maguires A v Matthews. Fosters Div 2 semi-final: Valley Inn v Hill Bar. Fosters Div 3 semi-final: Barney Macs v Morning Star B. Shield Group A semi-finals: Mariner A v Lynchs A, Thatch A v Sally Inn. Shield Group B semi-finals: Thatch B v Admirals, Railway Bar v Watters. SIX keenly-contested opening-round matches in the Greenhills Singles Charity Tournament attracted a great attendance last Thursday night.
Games were played over seven ends under IIBA rules and in the first match two experienced stalwarts went head to head in Eugene Mc Kenna and Tom Devin.
After three ends Eugene was four up. Tom didn’t avail of his opportunities in the next and Eugene duly stretched his advantage to five. However, Tom got his act together in the fifth end when firing his last bowl into a packed head to earn three shots, and that was the catalyst for him to produce his best bowls in the last two ends and secure an unlikely four-shot victory.
The second match between Jack Howell and Sean Donnelly ebbed and flowed and went down to the wire, with Sean holding a single-shot advantage. But when it came to the crunch Jack scraped through by two shots in what was a very tight game.
Match three was Anna Mc Kenna v John Hurley and after a poor start by both players Anna got her act together in the fourth end to go three up. John cut the deficit back to one in the fifth end, but Anna fought back with real purpose to complete a four-shot victory.
The fourth match was a real battle between Elaine Fitzgerald and Jimmy Flood and it was Elaine who forged three ahead after three ends, but Jimmy upped his game to draw back level after five. Back came Elaine in the penultimate end to go three up and despite Jimmy’s gallant effort to haul back the deficit he was defeated.
Match five between Peter Woods and Josephine Moran saw the latter storm four up after as many ends, but Peter took the next two ends to cut the deficit to one. He had now found his rhythm, but still Peter needed great mental strength in the last end to snatch a two-shot win.
The clash between Claire Woods and Gertie Griffin was the last match of the night and it was Claire who went four up after two ends.
Gertie responded by putting weight on her bowls and when she fired into the head to compensate for obstructing bowls around the jack in the fourth end she got the deficit down to one. The revival continued in the next end and Gertie took a two-shot lead into the final two ends. However, Claire responded with superb shots to wipe the slate clean with one end left.
With momentum in her favour, tournament favourite Claire went on to take the win by three shots. •Greenhills BC would like to extend their sympathy to the family and friends of Vera Ferris. •Times of play are as follows: Juveniles, Tuesday 7 to 8pm; Seniors, Tuesday and Thursday 8 to 10.30pm.