Singles honour for cool Caitlin
THREE shots separated the top three players following an exciting final round of the Greenhills BC round robin singles tournament, played over nine ends last Tuesday night.
First up was Ciara Floyd against Saoirse Allen and after a topsy-turvy start to the game the pair found themselves on level terms after six ends. Each player held the lead over the next couple of ends, but in the decider Ciara turned things in her favour with a super backhand shot to the head and she emerged as the two-shot winner of a hard-fought match.
Caitlin Floyd was pitted against Chloe Dykstra and the latter player eked out a narrow lead in the early stages and eventually went five up after six ends. Caitlin remained calm, though, and reduced the deficit to two and she carried that momentum into the final end, playing a range of shots to snatch a one-shot win in a very tense finish.
In the third match, Diarmuid Loughman v Tadg Reilly, the latter could have no complaints about being four down after three ends, and the deficit grew to six by the fifth end. Tadg steadied the ship in the seventh end as he rattled in two superb backhand draw shots to the head, and suddenly the gap was down to two shots with two ends to play.
Diarmuid increased his lead to three going into the final end, but Tadg came good with two glorious backhand draw shots to the jack to get home by one shot.
Cian McKenna stamped his authority on his game with Leo McDonnell to go four up after three ends and he was still three ahead following the sixth end. However, Leo managed to square it up with one end to play and in a tense finish he prevailed by a single shot.
The fifth match was a great battle between Sophie Thornberry and Noel McDonnell - and after a strong start by Noel his opponent fought back to equalise. They were still level with two ends to play, but at a crucial stage Sophie produced her best bowls and eventually prevailed by three shots.
The last match saw Robert Mc Cormack face Tadg Reilly, and following a slow start by Tadg he stormed into a four-shot lead after six ends. Robert gave himself a chance by reducing the deficit to two going into the last end, but Tadg finished strongly to emerged as the winner by three shots.
St Mary’s Parish Primary School teacher Brian Kelly handed out the prizes and in his address he spoke of how he was left amazed at the creative skills and technical awareness produced by 10 to 14-year-olds, and he encouraged any juvenile to give the game a try.
Greenhills juvenile officer Tom Devin said the players deserved great credit for producing excellent games over the last 11 weeks and he thanked the umpires who officiated, the ladies who provided refreshments throughout the tournament and Brian Kelly for taking time out to present the prizes.
Greenhills BC will reopen next Tuesday following the Christmas break and the club would like to wish all members and their families Happy New Year.
COUNTY LOUTH
SATURDAY’S Winter League 12, sponsored by SSC Sports Surgery Clinic: Class 1 winner Liam Doran (5) 67, 2nd John Mullen (6) Meadows 69, Gross prize Adam Doran 71; Class 2 winner Peter Gillen (15) 70 ob9, 2nd Thomas Noer (15) 70, Gross prize Thomas Garry 86. SSS 73 (non-count). Team - John Mullen (6), David Meehan (8), Martin Ryan (9) & D Carolan (12) 59.
December 22nd Winter League 11, sponsored by SSC Sports Surgery Clinic: Class 1 winner Robert Murdock (12) 67 ob9, 2nd Niall Kerbey (7) 67, Gross prize Brian Ronan 70; Class 2 winner Thomas Garry (13) 66, 2nd Pius McSweeney (19) 67, Gross prize Frank Byrne 81. SSS 72 (noncount). Team - M O’Brien (5), P McSweeney (19), F Byrne (13) & N Barron (10) 55.
December 16th President’s Mixed 2-Ball Team: Front nine - 1st Richard Quirke (18) & Mary Quirke (37) 24pts, 2nd John Collins (15) & Caroline Halpin (12) 23pts; Back nine - 1st Mark McGuirk (6) & Susan McGuirk (24) 23pts ob6, 2nd Paul Reilly (5) & Karen Upton (21) 23pts.