INDOOR BOWLS

Kildare West Wicklow Indoor Bowling Association (KWWIBA)

Shocks All Round In Kildare Bowling Tournament - The Kildare bowling tournament that started on Monday 12th June and concluded on Saturday 17th after a very busy week.

With a lot of the ‘heavy weights’ competing as always in this tournament it was always reckoned that one of those would be the eventual winners in both the Cup and Shield.

But this tournament turned that notion completely on its head as it served up shock after shock.

In the first Cup semi-final Ardclough unbelievably were completely outclassed by a rampant Prosperous team.

In the second Cup semi-final it was Rathmore versus Kill, with the former being the favourites in this contest.

Again the formbook was torn to shreds as Kill emerged as very deserving winners.

In the first Shield semi-final Baltinglass (Cup winners last year) were matched against Caragh (this years League champions). Surprisingly Baltinglass ran out convincing winners in a somewhat uncharacteristic tame performance from Caragh.

Kilcullen and Rathangan (Shield winners last year) served up a close and very entertaining game with Kilcullen deserving winners at the finish.

Rank Outsiders - So the scene was set for the rank outsiders Kill and Prosperous to contest the Cup final.

Without question both of those teams deserved to be in this final, having eliminated some of the ‘top guns’ from the competition.

Prosperous who were in devastating form throughout the tournament continued in the same vein and were always in the comfort zone, even though Kill gave a very good account of themselves but were always playing catch up. Prosperous go home the proud holders of the McWey Cup for this year.

Prosperous: Nellie Dunney, Lily Moore, Marie Kelleher and Von Nolan.

Kill: Catherine Beatty, Angela Brown, Elizabeth McGarr and Lar McGarr.

Thundering Back - In the Shield final it was Kilcullen against Baltinglass.

With all due respect to Kilcullen it was the Baltinglass team that would have been considered the firm favourites to win this contest with a comfortable margin to spare.

Up to around the half way stage of the game it looked like that general opinion was correct as the West Wicklow side were very much in command as they led by eight scores to one.

Kilcullen had no such thoughts as they came thundering back into the game and slowly began to close the gap.

With only one end to play Baltinglass were just hanging onto a slender lead of 13/12.

What a dramatic last end! With Kilcullen getting the two all-important scores to edge out the favourites by the narrowest of margins in a brilliant contest.

No luck involved here as Kilcullen played magnificently throughout this tournament and were worthy winners.

Kilcullen: Betty Barker, Dina Dillon, Mary Murphy and Billy Murphy.

Baltinglass: John Kehoe, Joey Fagan, Pat Brazil and Edward Lawrence.

This was another great and successful tournament run by the Kildare bowling club.

Thanks to all who helped to keep everything running smoothly, and especially to those who helped with the catering. To David McWey the tournament sponsor a special thank you.

To all the clubs that took part, well done and thanks.