National Singles Final

Gerry McCabe v Liam McHugh

The prestigious title was fought out between two players who had already played in an earlier final. McCabe had lost in the final of the fours at the same time that McHugh was winning the triples crown. Would there be any psychological repercussions that would affect this game? Will defeat make McCabe more determined or if the early ends go against him would he feel deflated? What was McHugh’s mood, would the win in the triples give him the inner confidence to perform or had the win adding another national title to his impressive list taken the edge off his competitiveness?

Questions that cannot be answered but in the opening ends it could only be concluded that both men were not affected by the previous outcomes as both were determined and stern faced. First blood was drawn by McCabe with a double then McHugh hit back claiming the next three ends with singles to lead by one shot. McCabe then scored a double on the next two ends to open up a three shot advantage. He then nailed the jack with a back toucher in the next end and McHugh decided to try and disturb the head. He missed and McCabe delivered another cracker just in front of the jack almost forcing McHugh to run at the head which he did but was inside. McCabe wisely avoided the head so that he would not make the target any bigger again McHugh tried to disturb the head and while moving the front bowl and opening the head his bowl went dead leaving McCabe lying three. The Oriel man attempted to close the head but touched a bowl and fell outwards widening the head. McHugh now had a big decision to make, run at the head or play controlled weight into the head. It is strange how pressure can make even the most seasoned and talented player chose the more difficult and risky shot. McHugh ran again with the result that a critical four was lost and the impetus was now with McCabe who had a seven shot lead at the end of the seventh end. At this stage of proceedings it would take a huge change in momentum for McHugh to claim the one national title that has eluded him. He had no room for error and would have to claim every opportunity that came his way over the second part of the game if he was to overcome McCabe who was in the groove and missing very few shots whether the draw or controlled weight. McCabe’s execution was of the highest order in those three crucial winning ends but he did not rest on his laurels as he continued to produce a high calibre of bowls in opening a 12-3 lead. McHugh did score a further single but a three on the eleventh end just about sealed victory for McCabe. McHugh had been forced to chase the game as he required counts with singles making little impact on McCabe’s advantage.

McHugh will be disappointed to have lost his second national singles final and was courteous in defeat.  McCabe played an excellent game of bowls and was precise in his drawing and controlled weighted shots which on this mat were exceptionally difficult.

Gerry McCabe	2	2	2	2	4	6	10	11	12	12	15	16
Liam McHugh	0	1	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	4	4

Result - G McCabe (Oriel) 16: L McHugh (Mid Ulster) 4

Champion: GERRY McCABE

National Pairs

Tommy Mullan & Uel McKeeman (North Eastern) v John Kennedy & Keith McCullagh (North West)

The North West duo opened the scoring with a single then the North Eastern pair replied with excellent drawing bowls to score a three, single and single to open a 5-1 advantage. This was narrowed to only a single shot by the beginning of the seventh end in a closely contested game. After the completion of nine ends they still led by one shot. At this point of the game McKeeman and Mullan had played more consistent bowls and the North West pair had their work cut out to hang on to the opposition’s coattails. A game of bowls can change dramatically without any prior warning and the North Eastern duo were well aware of the capabilities of their opponents. It was now a battle of who could maintain the high standard. McKeeman extended the lead to two shots after ten ends [two thirds of the game]. An exciting climax was anticipated then came the critical point of the game when Mullan and McKeeman claimed a three with precision bowling. With Mullan and McKeeman in such brilliant form it was going to take a massive effort to catch them despite four ends still remaining. Mullan and McKeeman continued to pile on the pressure with McCullagh being forced to run at the head on the twelfth end, the result was a dead end which was fruitful as he claimed a single on the replayed end. McKeeman was four in front with three ends to go, a single on the thirteenth end opened the gap to five and a further single on the fourteenth end ensured the title went to the Dunluce duo.

Uel and Tommy seldom show emotion whether winning or losing but they were delighted to have claimed a national title. The result was the second disappointment in the national pairs final for the North West combination but they were gracious as ever in defeat and acknowledged that their opponents played exceptional bowls.

T Mullan + U McKeeman	0	3	4	5	5	5	6	7	7	8	11	11	12	13
J Kennedy + K McCullagh	1	1	1	1	3	4	4	4	6	6	6	7	7	7

Result - U McKeeman 13: K McCullagh 7

National Triples

Danny Taggart, Kenneth Shirley, Davy Walker v Liam McHugh, Damien McElroy, Colum McHugh

This was ding dong battle which took many twists and turns. The McHugh triple who were regarded as favourites for the title could only watch on as the very capable North Eastern triple started in top form with skip Davy Walker particularly delivering some telling bowls. 

In the first end he delivered the last bowl of the end with the head against him, he executed his shot perfectly hitting the intended target bowl and moving the jack to the opposite side of the rink mat to claim three shots. North Eastern then went on to win the next two ends to take a five shot lead. They killed the head on the third end, ultimately it reaped dividends as they claimed a single when the end was eventually completed.

McHugh came to the rescue in the fourth end when first he ditched the jack and then took off an opposition bowl to open their account with three shots. It was a welcome relief as the Walker trio were performing very well. Walker was undaunted at losing his first head making playing the decisive bowl in the fifth end to claim two shots. On the seventh end the North Eastern second took the jack into the ditch setting up a count of three. They extended their lead to seven shots after eight ends. At this stage Walker’s triple were in control of the game. It was clear to see that the McHugh triple were getting increasingly frustrated by the way the game was going however they are an experienced trio with differing characters which enhances the potency of this triple but would they be able to halt the momentum and rhythm that the North Eastern trio had deservedly built? In the first part of the game the Walker front two had shown greater consistency with Walker in prime form.

The ninth and tenth ends changed the complexion of the game with McHugh scoring three and four shots on consecutive ends to surprisingly level the game. Colum McHugh has a knack of producing the goods when under pressure an attribute that makes him one of the best players in the country. The amount of times he delivers the perfect bowl in a do or die situation is remarkable. He required a ‘big’ bowl to take out a North Eastern bowl to claim the four that levelled the match.

As the momentum shifted the leads continued their battle for supremacy but were evenly matched. It would be a body blow for any side who had witnessed a seven shot lead disappear so quickly but again Walker held his nerve to draw shot and take a one shot lead into the final end. Tactics then changed, instead of the usual draw the jack was set and the lead was asked to try and ditch it. 

The head was building against Walker. He stood on the mat with his final bowl of the regulation ends with the match against him. He seemed tight with his delivery but somehow it clipped the inside of the jack, missing a bowl right in front, moving the jack to the opposite side of the head. He had saved the game temporarily and had moved all the pressure on to the shoulders of McHugh. Even the experienced McHughs could not believe the result but their younger counterpart realised the opportunity was still available to win the match for Colum McHugh. Immediately after he had delivered the bowl McHugh was unsure as to whether or not it would claim shot. Fortunately for McHugh he had sufficient weight to promote the bowl in for shot and take the game into a sudden death end, a different connection and he could have either lost or gained two shots for a win. His facial expression was of pure relief that another opportunity had been afforded to his side to win the championship. The twists and turns of the 12th end probably came to a just result giving all six players one more chance to claim the championship.

McHugh lay shot but Walker with his last delivery had an opportunity to ditch the jack, he was accurate enough to get the jack almost full on however how the bowl reacts off the heavy jacks varies when not hit dead centre, Walker’s bowl was fractions from perfect but by the time the jack and bowl had went in opposite directions the title went to the Mid Ulster trio, the only, yet most important, time of the game that they were in front.

Bowls is such an intriguing game and at this level the smallest of margins can decide a title. Walker was within a fraction of losing the game in the twelfth end and within a fraction of winning the title in the extra end. An emotional roller coaster for all involved with the biggest highs and lows being experienced by the players in the last two ends.

A great game promoting shortmat bowls yet the closeness of the game makes defeat considerably harder to digest than when a side has been totally outplayed.

D Taggart, K Shirley, D Walker	3	4	5	5	7	7	10	11	11	11	12	12	12
L McHugh, D McElroy, C McHugh	0	0	0	3	3	4	4	4	7	11	11	12	13

Result - D Walker 12: C McHugh 13

National Fours

Gerry Crosby, Fra Dillon, Billy Taffe, G McCabe (Oriel) v Joe Corrigan, Richard Sproule, Mark Sproule, Aidan Corrigan (South Down)

Games will often take a different route to that which is anticipated but this game followed the expected script of being a close, hard to call game. In the opening end Corrigan had to kill the head. When it was replayed he managed to claim a single. The theme of majority of ends would be close bowls, the shot changing hands on several occasions and the result of the end being a single scored.

McCabe claimed the second end with a single to level the scores and while the Oriel quartet seemed to have the upperhand the Corrigan foursome had the right answers as they claimed the next four ends to lead 6-1. The Oriel four then hit back with a single. In the following end the second ditched the jack and McCabe put in a toucher to claim a brace and reduce the deficit to two shots with two ends to play. The front end play of this game was excellent at times with very few loose bowls making it extremely difficult for the thirds and skips who had to be on their game as the mat was not true when the smallest amount weight over the draw was played.

In the penultimate end Oriel lay shot then the South Down third drew an excellent bowl. The skips then altered the head with Corrigan again coming away with a single to give his rink a decisive three shot lead going into the last end. Both sides held their nerve in a tense final end with the head as close as on previous occasions. McCabe gave himself an opportunity as he opened the head with his first bowl and lay possibly two shots. Corrigan held his nerve and ditched the jack making it impossible for McCabe to claim the three shots which were required for a tie end.

G Crosby, F Dillon, B Taffe, G McCabe	0	1	1	1	1	1	2	4	4	5
J Corrigan, R Sproule, M Sproule, A Corrigan	1	1	2	3	5	6	6	6	7	7

Result: G McCabe 5: A Corrigan 7

First Bowl

The tactic of getting the lead to ditch the jack especially with the first bowl of the end should be outlawed, it is not in the spirit of the game, it certainly should not be allowed to decide a game of such importance and prestigious as a national final.

The lead ditching the jack is not the way to win any final. There is little doubt that shortmat bowls has changed however winning at all costs should never take over from the pleasure and sportsmanship which has long been associated with the game of shortmat bowls.