Battling Cian wins battle of the McKenna brothers

ONCE again there was a high standard of play and plenty of support as round three of the Greenhills Bowls Club Junior Singles was played last Tuesday night.

The first match was Jane Whelan against Megan Devin, with the latter giving a handicap of five shots to her opponent, and Megan struggled in the first few ends as Jane went six up after three ends and nine up after five before having the lead whittled back to six.

Megan’s patience paid further dividends as she trimmed the deficit down to three going into the last end, and although Jane put in blockers to protect her lead it was to no avail as Megan cleared her opponent’s bowls out of the head in a very tense finish to take the spoils by one shot.

Sophie Thornberry was handicapped by five shots against Caitlin Floyd who duly went seven up after two ends.

Sophie was forced to dig deep as she hit a purple patch in the next two ends to cut the deficit back to four.

Caitlin took the next two ends on the bounce and once again the gap was seven, only for Sophie to pull three shots back going into the last end.

Caitlin remained composed, though, and despite losing that final end she held on for a threeshot victory overall.

In the third match Robert McCormack took on Chloe Dykstra, giving Robert a three-shot start. This was a supreme test of character for Chloe who was trailing by five shots after two ends, but she eventually wiped the slate clean to draw level after the fifth end.

Robert showed a bit of backbone by claiming the next two ends on the spin to go three up, but some magic from Chloe left it just a one-shot game going into the final end.

Unfortunately for Chloe, in putting a bit of weight on her third bowl she left it in the ditch and Robert took full advantage to run out a comfortable winner by five shots.

In the final match of the night, Aaron and Cian McKenna came together, and the latter had to give his little brother five shots.

To make matters worse, Aaron started off in fine fashion, going seven up after two ends, before Cian got the gap down to four.

Aaron once again opened up a seven-shot lead after five, only for Cian to show his fighting spirit to reduce the deficit back to two going into the last end.

As the battle between the two brothers ensued, Aaron held on despite Cian’s attacking play, coming up trumps by two shots, and he had a big smile on his face after beating his big brother in the presence of their parents.

The Corduff Singles will be held from October 23rd to 29th and the Killanny Singles from October 29th to November 5th and any member wishing to travel should put their name on the club noticeboard.

Times of play are juveniles Tuesday 7 to 8.15pm, seniors Tuesday and Thursday from 8.15 to 10.30pm.

NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Duleek AFC/SBG FC lotto were 3, 11, 18, 28 and the six €20 prizes went to K McGarrigle, M Coleman, Juicy, M Kavanagh, K Burke and Robbie Daly.

The draw takes place every Thursay at 8.30pm in the Duleek AFC clubhouse, tickets are available from committee members and the jackpot remains at €8,000.

Campbell call DROGHEDA native Megan Campbell has been named in the Republic of Ireland women’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

The Manchester City defender is a likely starter in the team for the game in Senec next Tuesday afternoon.

Rings results MEATH Rings League round four results: Lobinstown 3 Sally 1, Keogans 4 Railway 0, Fays 1 Woodtown 3.

Friday’s fixtures: Keogans v Lobinstown, Lobinstown B v Fays, Woodtown v Railway, Sally v Gormalough.