Battling Devin gets measure of Hurley in thrilling climax

SEAPOINT

SUNDAY’S Captains’ Drive-in (Bernard Seery & Mary Upton) results: FRONT nine - 1st Seapoint Lady Captain Mary Upton (23), Co Louth Men’s Captain Pat McCabe (19), L&B Lady Captain Rita O’Connor (26) & Seapoint Junior Captain Leah Temple Lang (3) 27.45 nett; 2nd Noel Crilly (8), Derek Hall (16), Martin Thornton (9) & Dermot Short (18) 29.45 nett; 3rd David Carroll (scr), Elaine Smith (15), David Smith (11) & Fionnuala Jordan (12) 30.1 nett. Back nine - 1st Sean McCormack (15), Tony Hayes (5), Phil Woods (16) & Peter McCann (21) 28.2 nett; 2nd Breda Moore (17), Michael McDonnell (16), Peter McCullough (11) & Jim Cullen (10) 29.3 nett; 3rd Aiden Butterly (10), Martin Ryan (7), Paddy Sullivan (15) & Tom Upton (15) 29.65 nett.

Winners from Saturday’s Spring League week two, sponsored by LMFM: Overall - Sean Walsh (19) 40pts ocb; Cat 1 David Geoghegan (8) 40pts, Cat 2 Martin McKenna (13) 40pts, Cat 3 Chris Woods (16) 37pts.

Bank holiday Monday SemiOpen Four-Person Team Event, sponsored by John & Mary McDonnell: 1st Eoghan Greene (11), Alan Brodigan (19), Paul Hackett (16) & Noel Moore (18) 87pts; 2nd John Foley (14), Noel Crilly (8), Noel Kierans (12) & Andrew Maguire (14) 85pts. THE good attendance of members were treated to bowling of a very high standard as the Greenhills club competition over nine ends continued last week.

In the first match of the night Gertie Griffin had a slow start and was soon three down against Andy McGrane, but by the sixth end she was two ahead.

Andy hit back again, though, went into the final end one up and duly wrapped up a fourshot victory with some fine draw shots.

Eugene McKenna started like a steam train against Val Higgins and was four up after three ends, but his opponent revelled under pressure and eventually levelled the match in the seventh end.

In the end it wasn’t to be for Val, though, as Eugene produced some splendid backhand and forehand draw shots to the head and ultimately ran out a comfortable winner by four shots.

In the third match the two favourites for the tournament were pitted against each other and it was Sean Donnelly who edged three up after three ends against Claire Woods.

Claire clawed her way back into contention, but in what turned out to be a real battle Sean restored his three-shot advantage with two ends remaining. Claire wouldn’t lie down, though, and in a dramatic finish she turned the game around to emerge victorious by three.

Peter Woods dominated early in his match against Josephine Moran, but by the sixth end the two players were all square once more.

At a crucial stage Peter reasserted himself to go four up with just the final end to play, and although Josephine rallied she was eventually beaten by three shots.

Eugene Mc Kenna was back in action then and he stormed four up after just two ends against Val McGuire, only to be pegged back to level with five ends played.

Val’s progress was checked immediately, though, as Eugene got up another head of steam to go three up before increasing his advantage to five with one end to go. Val attacked the head in the last end, but it was too little to late as Eugene emerged victorious by three shots.

In the final match of the night Tom Devin played John Hurley and this one ebbed and flowed throughout.

In the latter stages John continued to vary his play, causing endless problems for Tom and going two up with two ends to play.

However, Tom produced some brilliant back and forehand shots to the head and battled right to the last bowl, calling for a measure and getting the verdict by one shot to advance to the quarter-finals.

Club chairman Val Maguire congratulated juvenile member Ciara Floyd on her performance in reaching the quarter-final of the National Champions of Champions singles tournament last Saturday.

Any member wishing to travel to the Redeemer Open Singles from April 2nd to 6th is asked to put their name forward on the club noticeboard. Pick-up times will be announced at a later date.

The Greenhills agm will be held on April 19th at 8pm sharp and times of play are juveniles Tuesday 7 to 8.15pm, seniors Tuesday and Thursday from 8.15 to 10.30pm.