Oriels national pairs were held in Lordship Hall on Sunday afternoon the 11th of October and what a day’s bowling it was. There were some wonderful games, some shock results, some incredible first round ties and some unfinished business at the end.

The ties of the first round involved the three holders. Two of the three winners from last year faced each other in Imelda Hanratty and Stephen McMahon facing Jim Fox and Michael Hand. Michael continued were he left off from the night before and raced into an 8-1 lead and while Stephen took it back to 8-4, he never looked like getting back into the tie. The other tie of the round saw the final winners in John Murnaghan and Paddy Hanlon facing Conner and Gary Mackin. After 4 ends the pairs could not be split but John picked up a count 3 in the 5th and never looked like losing his lead,

Marian and Tony Martin were in for a wonderful run which began against Sean Conlon and John McMahon. This game was nip and tuck all the way and Marion threw a wonderful last bowl for the victory. Her daughters Tracey and Michelle were also involved in a great tussle with Gareth and Diarmuid McMahon. Michelle and Tracey were incredible throughout the game and the only shot Michelle missed was her last bowl in the extra end which left the Carrick pair victorious. Kevin Conroy and Kieran McIntyre looked in danger of taking an early bath when he went 8-2 down against Jim Harmon. However Kevin showed his never die attitude and won the game in an extra end. John Murnaghan was again in a tough battle this time against Hughie McDonagh scraping through by the odd shot

Marian’s run continued against the previous night’s qualifiers Patsy and Paul Duff. Here she was two shots to the good playing the last end but with 3 against her playing her last bowl, again showed her skill and composure and got the shot with her last bowl. Kevin in the next round came up against Niall and Jason Hand and always was in control of the game. Diarmuid and Gareth looked in danger of being knocked out for the second game in a row, this time against MJ O'Conner and Joe Mulligan, only squeezing through by the last bowl. John and Paddy also looked in danger of getting knocked out against Noel Campbell from Shercock and it took Paddy Hanlon to sink the jack with his first bowl in the last end to split the two. Benny McCabe and Patricia Hanlon were quietly making their way through the draw without much fuss.

Benny was about to make a loud noise however, when he knocked out Kevin Conroy by playing some of the bowls of his life. Marian was involved in another titanic battle this time against one of the holders Jim Fox and Michael Hand. Here her fantastic run finally came to an end losing by 3 shots. John Murnaghan was involved in what was probably the game of the day against Fra Dillon Snr and Gerry McCabe. Neither team could be split after the 10 ends. It took a wonderful drawn shot to win for John. Diarmuid was in extreme danger of being knocked for the third time when he went 7-2 against Mickey Garvey but fought back and won in extra end.   In the semi-finals Jim Fox and Michael Hand once again qualified by beating Kevin’s victors Patricia Hanlon and Benny McCabe with an end to spare. The other semi-final was delayed by agreement of both pairs and committee to before the start of the national rinks as Diarmuid felt very unwell.   Diarmuid was unable to play in the semi's due to surgery on his leg and Brendan (his father) took his. place. It was a brilliant semi-final with all 4 players playing well and playing the last end they could not be seperated at 6-6. Paddy with his first bowl sunk the jack for victory and will now play Jim and Michael in the final.