Five-way battle looming as tournament hots up

THE Greenhills Junior Round Robin Singles Tournament is heating up nicely as just four points separate the top five players with three weeks remaining.

The action continued last week and first out were Diarmuid Loughman and Leo Mc Donnell, with the latter looking very nervous on the fast rink in the early stages as Diarmuid went three up after three ends.

However, Leo’s bowling improved dramatically after that and he led briefly by two shots, only to fall one behind with two ends to play. He continued to create opportunities in the remaining ends but did not avail of them and Diarmuid ultimately clinched victory by two shots in a hardfought match.

Next up were Chloe Dykstra and Robert Mc Cormack in what turned out to be a very even contest, with Robert eventually eking out a one-shot lead after four ends. Chloe had to modify her game by firing into the head to compensate for the obstructing bowls around the head in the fifth end and she duly levelled the match, only to fall three behind with two ends remaining.

When it came to the crunch Chloe fought hard to get a grip on proceeding and in a very tense finish she came out on top by a single shot.

In the third match Sophie Thornberry took on Caitlin Floyd, with Sophie storming into a fiveshot lead after only three ends.

Caitlin hit back impressively, though, and after seven ends she had amazingly turned it around to lead by three.

Sophie was not about to see her good work in the earlier ends go unrewarded, though, and her battling spirit was evident as she levelled the scores going into the final end.

Ultimately, though, her efforts were in vain as Caitlin took the points by the narrowest of margins in a nail-biting finish.

Tadg Reilly was up against Noel Mc Donnell in the fourth match and this was a close affair, with Noel taking the early initiative to go two up, only to then fall behind by one as Tadg eventually got the run of the rink.

By the sixth end Tadg had increased his advantage to three, but Noel showed his creative skills to get back on level terms with two to play.

Ultimately, it was a moment of magic from Tadg which earned him victory by two shots as he played two impressive backhand draw shots to the head.

The penultimate match was a battle royal between two fine juniors in Chloe Dykstra and Saoirse Allen, with the scores level after four ends, before Chloe eventually opened up a three-shot lead with two ends to play.

A period of sustained pressure in the eighth end from Saoirse cut the deficit to one, but in the final end Chloe caused her opponent endless problems and some superb bowls to the jack when it really mattered saw her win out by a five-shot margin.

The last match of the night was Caitlin Floyd against Diarmuid Loughman and a slick start from the latter player saw him open up a five-shot advantage after three ends.

Caitlin eventually came to terms and chipped away at Diarmuid’s lead, getting it down to two shots after five ends, only to lose the next end and find herself four adrift.

It looked as if the pressure was weighing heavily on Caitlin, but in the last two ends she went into overdrive and had that little bit of quality to play the right shot when needed under pressure. Ultimately she took the spoils by one shot in a very entertaining match.

Elsewhere, Greenhills’ Oriel Zone League match took place last Sunday week against Geraldines BC, with the home team taking nine precious points to go top of Division 2.

Meanwhile, Greenhills junior bowlers Megan Devin and Ciara Floyd turned to the larger soccer ball to play for Albion Rovers Under-17s in their NECSL Shield Final victory over Cavan Rovers.

Congratulations are due also to Aaron Mc Kenna on reaching his 10th birthday and Sophie Thornberry who recently turned 17.

Times of play: Juniors Tuesday 7 to 8.15pm, Seniors Tuesday and Thursday 8.15 to 10.30pm.

Fixtures

Friday November 23rd

Fosters Premier Div: Greyhound v Carranstown; Sally Inn A v Matthews, Lantern Bar v Mariner A; Boyne Valley v Thatch A.

Fosters Div 1: Carranstown B v Maguires A; Morning Star A v Cottage Inn; Thatch C v Hill Bar; Pheasant v Grennans.

Fosters Div 2: Alverno v Sally Inn; Fair Green Bar v Valley Inn; B/W Thatch v Morning Star; Lynchs v Foxs.

Fosters Div 3: Coast Tvn v Thatch D; Thatch B v Barney Macs; Watters v Railway Bar; Mariner B v Admirals.

Tables

Premier Division Division 1 Division 2