Preliminary Round
C.Middleton Crosshaven v E.Curran St.Mary's
K.Bradshaw St.Joseph's v C.Makin Cullyhanna
P.Reid Ballinderry v D.Dowds Ballycairn
M.Currie 1st Ballyeaston v L.Conlon Watergrasshill
P.Christie Spa v A.Steele Loughenreagh
P.Canning Conlig v D.Robinson Aughintober
B.Magrath Ballymena U.S.C v J.Elliott Armoy Pres
S.Henderson Castleblaney Pres v J.Kirby Littleisland
There were only twenty four qualifiers from the zones so the top half of the draw would have a maximum of four games [wins] if they were to qualify for the final. The bottom half of the draw would only have to win a further four games to win the title giving the prospect that they were already half way through their competition.
Perhaps it would be fairer for all if the national fours were not played on a zone bases but in a central venue. It would be interesting to give the idea a go for a couple of years to gauge if there was any affect of the total number of entries. Certainly it would mean a truly open competition.
At least two games in the opening round went to an extra end showing how competitive and difficult even the first game could be for zone qualifiers. C Mackin claimed a two in the ninth end to level against K Bradshaw giving the Oriel foursome the momentum going into the extra end. The Bradshaw four put the disappointment behind them and won the final end to progress to the next round.
Another close game was anticipated for the Christie versus Steele encounter and it lived up to expectation as the lead changed hands over the concluding ends. A Steele won a single on the ninth end to take this tie into the extra end and this time the rink going in with the momentum claimed a second consecutive winning end to win 8-7.
Michael Currie’s four from East Antrim got of to a great start claiming threes on the opening two ends to go into a six shot lead. The rink was made up of two father and son combinations with young Brandon and Matthew still eligible as juniors for a number of years to come. Conlon four fought back to be two shots behind but the Currie four won the last three ends to secure the victory.
B Magrath, who skipped the 2003 fours runner-ups, guided his rink to an opening win despite some excellent saving bowls by J Elliott.
Last 16
E Curran St.Mary's 4 v 10 K Bradshaw St.Joseph's
P Reid Ballinderry 8 v 7 M Currie 1st Ballyeaston
A Steele Loughenreagh 8 v 12 D Robinson Aughintober
B Magrath Ballymena U.S.C 11 v 3 S Henderson Castleblaney Pres
J.Quinn Ballylennon 6 v 15 P.McKeown Greenisland Meth
A.Roberts Queen's St.Meth 6 v 7 J.Martin Magherally
R Cunningham Mayne 11 v 10 A.Corrigan St.Mary's
C.McHugh Cookstown Par. 10 v 5 L.Graham Du Pont
More renowned names entered the competition while others had their final game. Foyle stalwart E Curran had a titanic struggle against the K Bradshaw foursome with the two sides level 3-3 after five ends. K Bradshaw was ahead by one with two ends remaining and secured the win by winning the final two ends. They would face previous winners P Reid in the quarter-finals after the Ballinderry four overcame a dogged Currie four including the two youngsters. The difference between the teams was a four scored in the first end by P Reid as the experience of their rink helped them to settle early. After seven ends M Currie still trailed by four but a double on the eighth end set up a nail-biting last end for the Ballinderry four who had controlled the game. In the end they were more than happy to settle for a one shot win which is always good enough to get you into the next round. The East Antrim youngsters can be proud of their performance who along with their two dads restricted this highly thought of foursome to winning only three ends out of nine. The competitive nature of the Reid foursome was instrumental as they picked up counts of three and four along the way and restricted their opponents to five singles and a two when the heads went against them.
D Robinson got off to a flyer and led A Steele 7-1 after only three ends but they then lost 3,3,1 to trail by one shot going into the seventh end. They then turned the table by winning the next three ends to obtain the victory. There opponents would be another rink skipped by Bryan Magrath who knows what it takes to get a rink through to the final which he achieved in 2003. They were always in control of their game after scoring a five on the first end. The Magrath four continued their good play and limited their opponents, S Henderson to three singles to take their place in the quarter-finals.
The much fancied Donegal rink skipped by the highly rated J Quinn was another renowned rink to bite the dust and did so in spectacular style. They were up against the all male McKeown rink from Greencastle Methodist. It was a high scoring game with threes exchanged on the first two ends, then the McKeown family foursome picked up a four and a further two threes on their way to a very impressive win. The rink was skipped by Philip with his younger brother Ryan at third. The front end consisted off their dad at lead and granddad at second. J Martin’s four would be the McKeown’s next opponents after they sneaked through against A Roberts. Mr Martin and his three female colleagues won only two ends but only trailed 6-4 going into the final end where they picked up the three that they required for victory and a place in the quarter-final.
Another tight game which had to go to the ‘do or die’ tie break end was played out between R Cunningham, yet another previous winner of this title, and A Corrigan. It was a high scoring game where both sides took full benefit of the opportunities open to them. A Corrigan foursome took the lead with a three on the seventh end but then conceded the same amount to trail by one with only the ninth end to play. The Cunningham rink lost a single to tie the game but hit back in the extra end to get through a very tough game.
L Graham’s four took it in turn with C McHugh to win ends but after five ends despite winning three of them [all in the same direction] they were behind by a shot [4-5]. The McHugh rink was another rink with high expectations for the title and they wrestled control of their match over the next three ends winning them all and leaving their opponents requiring a six to send the game into a deciding end which proved impossible on the day.
Last 8
K Bradshaw 6 v 7 P Reid
D Robinson 10 v 9 B Magrath
P McKeown 8 v 7 J Martin
R Cunningham 9 v 4 C McHugh
Another very close scoring game for the Reid four and in similar circumstances to the previous round where they put a little daylight between themselves and their opponents and then managed the game over the concluding ends again restricting the number of shots their opponents accumulated to win by one. It was excellent matchplay by the Reid foursome in these two games knowing that a single shot victory is as decisive as winning by a landslide. K Bradshaw’s rink will be thinking “almost” but in the end their opponents played a good containing game choosing the right time to attack and the correct time to be conservative.
This round of games illustrated that there was very little between the rinks at this stage of the competition. D Robinson took control against B Magrath but the Ballymena man will always fight to the end and with some excellent bowls brought his rink back into the game. His bowls in the eighth and ninth ends enabled his rink to have a second life and took the tie into a deciding end after the two foursomes had finished level on nine shots each after nine ends. Had Bryan, affectionately known as ‘Boom Boom’ due to his unorthodox running shots and the unbelievable results, changed the course of the game which looked to be heading the way of the Doctor? His rink controlled the final head but Derek Robinson with his final bowl changed from forehand to backhand, clipped one of his bowls lifting it up for shot. Bryan was in a dilemma [he could pick a line but if not enough weight would swing away, he could also pick the same line but excessive weight would hold the bowl straight, he had got his team this far but the shot he faced was tricky, he had to nudge the lying bowl to get shot but missed by a hairs breadth with his bowl swing inside the target.
The Martin rink had another very tight game this time against the McKeown family four. In their previous game they trailed going into the ninth end but scored the required number of shots to win in regulation time. On this occasion they also trailed going into the final end and scored a single to ensure that they played one more end to decide who would go through to the semi final. The Martin rink killed the head and when replayed lost the shot and the game.
Two heavyweight rinks contested the last semi-final spot, Cunningham & McHugh. Fierce rivals from neighbouring zones only added to the intensity of the game. As expected it was a hard fought game with the Cunningham four edging ahead 5-4 going into the final two ends. The heads changed almost with every bowl but at the conclusion of the regulation ends Cunningham came out in front and winning the last two ends proved the decisive factor.
Semi-Final
P Reid 9 v 5 D Robinson
P McKeown 1 v 12 R Cunningham
Yet again P Reid’s foursome took control of the game after six ends and then contained their opponents over the remaining three ends to claim victory and a place in the coveted final.
P Reid’s four: Noel Marsden, Eddie Marsden, A Irwin & P Reid, Ballinderry.
They will play R Cunningham who proved too strong for the McKeown four in the other semi-final.
R Cunningham’s four: Nigel Hagan, Malcolm Cunningham, Derek Spratt and Rodney Cunningham, Mayne. | 
