It’s crunch time in doubles competition

THE pressure is on and the winning post in sight as Jack Howell and Sean Donnelly head into the final week of the Greenhills Summer League doubles neck and neck.

In the first match junior Ciara Floyd and Eileen Fitzgerald were up against junior Tadg Reilly and Val Haggins who started well going two up after two ends. It was vital for Ciara and Eileen to respond to the challenge and they did just that hitting a purple patch attacking the head in the next two ends to go three up.

However Tadg and Val had other ideas as they rallied well to reel in their opponents in the next to take the lead one up with two ends to play, the latter continued with real purpose playing some excellent bowls to the head in the last two ends to secure the victory in fine style by five shots without reply.

In the second match junior Megan Devin and Eugene Mc Kenna were pitted against Claire Woods and Gertie Griffin. The latter pairing opened the proceeding and made a positive start to the game taking the first three ends on the bounce to take the lead, four up.

But Megan and Eugene remained calm clawing their way back into contention in the next two ends trimming the deficit down to one shot. However Claire and Gertie exerted a lot of pressure on their opponents, and steadied the ship immediately gaining control of the game in their favour at a crucial period in the last two ends with an impressive finish to clinch victory by two shots.

Four seasoned campaigners clashed in the next match with Jimmy and Alice took on Josephine Moran and Peter Woods which proved to be a rather cagey affair with the latter favourite to take the game. However Jimmy and Alice took first blood struck a brace in the first two ends and Josephine and Peter replied in the third end to even the score.

It was Peter and Josephine who grew in confidence in the next two ends despite their opponents playing great bowls taking the lead three up with two ends to finish.

Alice and Jimmy bounced back again with some inspirational bowls to cut the tally down to one going into the final end.

Both teams probably produced their best bowls in the last end, playing excellent shots to the head as every shot was vital, with Josephine and Peter nicking the game at the finish by two shots as Jimmy Flood was outstanding in this game finishing on the losing team.

In the last match of the night Jack Howell and Marie Maher were up against Sean Donnelly and Tom Devin and the early exchanges were positive from Jack and Marie’s point of view, going in front three up after two ends.

However Sean and Tom made their intentions clear pressing hard to get back into the game taking the next two ends on the trot still one down, the latter made a tactical error in the fifth end giving away four shots to their opponents to go five up with two ends to play.

Both skips took on each other trading shot for shot and both players can take enormous satisfaction from what proved to be a hard fought closely contested game, with Sean and Tom showing their vast experience taking the final two ends but coming up short by two shots as Jack and Marie held on for the win in a nail biting finish.

The stand-out players on the night were Val Haggins Jimmy Flood, junior Tadg Reilly, Josephine Moran and Claire Woods.

The club will be closed this Thursday and reopen on August 23rd. Lotto winners NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Duleek AFC/SBG FC lotto for a jackpot of €8,000 were 6, 13, 21, 28 and the €20 winners were N McMahon, A Conway, P Byrne, J Owens, G Murphy and A Finglas.

There is an all-weather pitch to rent any time during the week, with changing rooms, showers and reasonable rates, as well as a club meeting room. Phone 0861662018 for details.

€25 recipients NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Seneschalstown GAA lotto were 13, 19, 20, 25 and the five €25 winners were Sonya O’Brien, Francis Dunne, Johnny Tallon, Mary O’Brien and Carmel Clarke.