Preliminary Round

1. John Murnaghan V Connor Mackin: John Murnaghan never looked in doubt against Connor Mackin at any stage. He began by racing into a 4-0 lead and never took his foot off the gas, winning 9-2 with an end left to spare.

2. J. Blakely V G. Martin: J Blakely took an early lead of 5-0 after 3 ends. They traded the next two ends with singles and in the end never looked in trouble, beating G. Martin 11 shots to 4.

 

Quarter Final

 

1. Sean Conroy V Seamus Murphy: Sean’s trip was always in the driving seat. After 4 ends Sean was 1 up at 4-3. In the next 3 ends he picked up a couple of 1's and a 3 to leave it 9-3 with two ends left. Seamus Murphy was again under serious pressure throwing his last bowl. He couldn’t do much and was 3 down on the mat. Seamus fired into the head and could only cut it down to 1 which left Sean Conroy through to the semi-finals.

2. Michael Hand V Gerard McKeown: Michaels Hand's trip changed their winning formation from last year were MJ skipped. This time M.J. was leading and Jim 2nd. They cruised home against the local favourites Gerald McKeown winning 14-1 with 2 ends remaining and looked to be on their way to retaining the title which they won the previous year.
3. John Murnaghan V J. Blakely: John Murnaghan's trip began were they left of from, going 6-0 up after only 4 ends. Blakely then got a shot in the 5th but then John picked up 2 more in each of the next 2 ends. Blakely needed the full 6 shots in the last end but could only manage 2. If John's rink could continue this form they would be hard to stop 

4. Hamilton V Quinn: The match between Sean Quinn and Dessie Hamilton looked, on paper, the tie of the round. However this was anything but a classic with Sean racing into 7-0 lead. Dessie eventually got one shot in the 5th end, after burning the jack twice, but Sean continued to pull away and won by a large margin of 13-1 with two ends remaining.

 

Semi Final

1. Michael Hand V Sean Quinn: Sean hit the ground running picking up a count 2 shots and then a single, but Michael retaliated by picking up 1 in the next end. Michael then picked up a count of 3 shots to leave him 4-3 to the good. The holders looked unstoppable with Michael's trip extending his lead by 2 shots after 5 ends and from then on in never feared defeat, eventually winning 11-3 with an end to spare.
2. John Murnaghan V Sean Conroy: Sean's rink raced into a 5-0 lead after 3 ends. John was unfortunate with one or two firing shots bur Sean was playing some wonderful shots. Conroys continued their pressure in the 5th and 6th ends after dropping a shot in the 4th. Playing the 7th end the Conroy's were 7-1 up. John playing his first bowl of the 7th end, had an excellant chance of trailing jack back for 5. He fell short and was punished by Sean who got in. John played his 2nd bowl and managed to get 1 shot. Sean picked up 1 in the 8th end and John conceded with an end to spare.

The Final

1. Sean Conroy V Michael Hand: Sean’s trip took an early 1-0 lead, but Michael responded with 2 shots in the next. In the third end Michael played a bowl of Sean’s out for 3 shots and surprisingly Sean fell short with his last and dropped the 3. In the 4th end Michael fired a bowl like a rocket but it didn’t work out the way he planned and ended up dropping 3 shots right back. In the 6th end, Michaels trip went out of the game slightly and could have been punished only who for Michael's brilliant last bowl where he drew the shot. Pressure was again on Michael in the next end. Playing his last bowl there was a 2 against him. He fired a thunderbolt down the mat and managed to take out one of Sean’s bowl’s but unfortunately took out 3 of his own. Sean drew in with his last for four shots. The game turned on its head, with Sean now 8-7 up. Sean continued his pressure and picked up 2, to go 3 up last end. In the final end Michael was down 1 and blocked on the forehand. He played the short bowl directly on to the jack and burned it. In the replayed end, Michael, Jim and MJ still believed they could win when most people taught it was too late. Michaels trip were the 3 shots but Sean was not giving up that easily. Sean drew in and cut it down to 1. Michael coped well with the pressure and took Sean out for 3. He forced an extra end leaving it 10-10 after 10 ends.

The Extra End  

 

Memories of Cooley Pairs must have been running through Sean’s mind. Could he lose another final in an extra end after being in complete control going into the last end? Only time would tell. Seamus Malone began with two marvellous bowls. MJ responded with his second bowl by getting shot. Sean Conroy Jnr played a brilliant bowl to knock the jack out and hold shot. Jim drew the shot with his bowls and left the pressure on the Conroy's.  Sean Conroy (Snr) tried to take jack in with his 1st bowl but was on the tight side. Michael tried to put a blocker in but failed to reach the white line. Sean, playing his last bowl had game against him. Under severe pressure he trailed the jack back for shot and forced Michael to try draw the shot. Michael fell short again and as a result lost the game. It was a magnificent night with the holders almost retaining their title instead victory went to Seamus Malone, Sean Conroy Jnr, and Sean Conroy Snr.

 

• Report on Darver Pairs
• Report on Killanny Singles
• Report on Cooley Open Pairs Tournament
• Report on Geraldines Singles
• Report on Lordship Pairs
• Report on Kilkerley Trips