Juveniles put on thrilling final
THE Greenhills BC Juvenile Doubles Championship was concluded amid great excitement last Tuesday night.
Matches were played over nine ends under IIBA rules and the first semi-final pitted Oliver Clutterbuck and Cain Mc Kenna with Ciara Floyd and Tadg Reilly.
Oliver and Cain had a threeshot lead after two ends, but Ciara’s team responded by firing into the head and after four ends they were back level. Oliver’s team edged two up after six and that was still the margin going into the final end, but Ciara and Tadg picked up two shots to level and force a tied end.
When it came to the crunch, Oliver and Cain scraped through to the final by a two-shot margin.
The second semi-final saw Karl Thornberry and Luke Mc Dermott pitted against Caitlin Floyd and Robert Mc Cormack and it was the latter pair who settled quicker. Eventually, Karl and Luke got over their shaky start and after five ends they trailed by just one.
They then stormed three ahead, only for Caitlin and Robert to shrink the deficit back to one with two ends still remaining. The rollercoaster nature of this match continued all the way, with Caitlin and Robert edging one ahead, only to finish on the losing side as Karl and Luke came up trumps by a single shot.
It was Oliver Clutterbuck and Cain Mc Kenna against Karl Thornberry and Luke Mc Dermott in the decider, and the latter duo made a spectacular start to open up a five-shot lead after three ends. However Oliver and Cain, recovered and eventually hauled themselves level with six ends completed.
Karl and Luke pulled themselves together and with two ends remaining they had a twoshot lead, only for Oliver and Cain to level once again with one end to play - and it was Oliver and Cain who eventually triumphed by one shot at the end of a very tense and exciting final.
Garda Anita O’Shea, the juvenile liaison officer, presented the prizes and said it was refreshing to see 12 and 14-year-olds showing great tactical awareness and creative skills.
Club selector Alan Thornberry congratulated the juniors who recently were runners-up in the National Zone Rinks Tournament. He also thanked Garda Anita O’Shea for taking time out of her busy schedule to present the prizes, the juveniles for participating in the championship, the umpires for officiating and the ladies for the refreshments.
The club are seeking juvenile members and eight to 18-yearolds who would like to try out bowls should contact Tom Devin on 087-7799748, Josephine Moran on 087-1258584 or Alan Thornberry on 085-1564211.
Members who wish to travel to the Redeemer Singles Open Tournament from April 5th to 7th should put their names forward. Congratulations to Megan Devin who reached the Senior Singles Open quarter-finals last Friday.