Juniors to the fore in Summer League

THERE was a strong turnout of members back from holidays, sun-tanned and ready to roll, as they searched for precious points in the Greenhills Summer League Doubles last Thursday night.

In the first match Peter Woods and junior Tadg Reilly were up against Josephine Moran and Eugene Mc Kenna. The latter pair were two up after two ends but spurned gilt-edge chances to move further ahead and by the fourth end it was Peter and Tadg who led by three.

Josephine and Eugene cut the deficit to one with two ends remaining, but that was as good as it got for them as Peter and Tadg produced the goods when needed to secure victory in fine style by four shots.

Sean Donnelly and Alice Leonard took on junior Megan Devin and Gertie Griffin and it was nip and tuck in the early stages. However, by the conclusion of the fifth end Sean and Alice had begun to show their greater experience as they opened up a four-shot lead.

Megan and Gertie kept plugging away and had trimmed the deficit to two.

There was no shortage of drama in the last end as a battle ensued between the skips Sean and Megan, but eventually it was Sean and Alice who took the spoils despite a fine effort from their opponents.

The third match featured junior Ciara Floyd and Tom Devin against Josephine Moran and Claire Woods, and after trailing in the early stages the latter pair eked out a one-shot lead after five ends. That proved to be a false dawn and Ciara and Tom showed invention and creativity to take a three-shot lead going into the final end. The anticipated rally from their opponents never materialised as the gap at the finish increased to four.

In the last match of the night Val Maguire and Jimmy Flood were pitted against Peter Woods and Val Haggans who started the game well, going four up after three ends. Jimmy and Val were on the ropes at this stage but eventually hauled themselves back level in the fifth end. In the next, Peter and Val went on the attack, firing into the head at every opportunity and going one up with one end to play.

Jimmy and Val were in no mood to let the game slip away from them and it was all guns blazing between the two skips Jimmy and Peter who played some lovely draw shots to the head in a nail-biting finish. Ultimately it was Jimmy and Val who took the spoils by three shots.

The standout performers on the night were Ciara Floyd, Jimmy Flood, Megan Devin and Val Maguire.

The next draw will take place this Thursday at 8.30pm sharp. Times of play that night are as follows: Juniors 7 to 8.15pm, Seniors 8.15 to 10.30pm.