Section B: Belfast, Londonderry and Louth

Belfast 47 [1pt] v Londonderry 68 [7pts]
Much fancied Londonderry got off to a winning start with a comfortable looking win over a greatly improved Belfast side. Belfast were able to win one rink game with Andrew Paul at the helm showing that he is returning to the type of form that he previously displayed when he played his bowls in the Mid Ulster area some years ago. He would have been familiar with most of his opponents which would have increased his determination to succeed. Belfast in hindsight will reflect on the last few end in two of their games in which they had the lead only to fall at the final hurdle and miss out on two crucial rink points.

J Newell 5 v 14 R O'Neill
A count of five in the second end set Londonderry up for the win. It was disappointing for the young front three from Belfast to go behind so early but they will have learnt from the experience of playing against the likes of Ryan O’Neill. To their credit the young guns stuck to their task losing only four ends but a further count of five on the sixth end put the game beyond reach.

J Warnock 6 v 13 E Curran
Belfast won the first three ends but even that was not enough to dislodge the very experienced Eddie Curran from his calm and thoughtful approach. Another count of five for Londonderry set the Belfast rink onto the back foot but they managed to bounce back immediately with three shots to trail by only one shot with three ends to play. Curran’s steadying influence told in the end as he mentored his rink in winning the last three ends and claim the rink point.

G McTasney 7 v 9 J McKay
This was one of those games that the Belfast foursome will wonder ‘what if’. They trailed 1-4 after the completion of four ends but then won the next five ends to go into the final end three shots to the good. It was the worst case scenario for the underdogs in the ninth end as they became the third Belfast rink to concede a count of five. To lose a count at any time is difficult but to do it in the final end while ahead makes it tougher to digest. 

A Paul 14 v 9 L Conway
The Belfast rink skipped by Andrew Paul got off to a flyer claiming a three and a four in the first two ends. They added a further count this time of five on the fifth end to take a 14-1 lead. Belfast were in cruise control over the concluding ends but continued the Belfast trend of dropping a count of five as Londonderry made the scoreline look semi-respectable on the final end.

S Faulkner 9 v 11 L Harrison
This was the second rink point that slipped from the grasp of Belfast in the final end. Londonderry took a four shot lead going into the sixth end but Belfast came back to lead by one shot with the last end to play. Londonderry claimed a three to snatch the point on offer. Belfast matched their counterparts on ends won but will be disappointed to have lost a four and two threes. A rink is always going to lose ends but it is important over the course of a game to restrict the number of shots your opponents gain in individual ends. At times it is better to scarify shot rather than risk losing threes and fours.

B Trimble 6 v 12 K McCullagh
Belfast opened well winning the opening two ends and only trailed by one shot after five ends but then dropped a vital count of four and although the hit back with three shots Londonderry secured the victory by scoring on the last two ends.

Belfast 50 [4pts] v Louth 48 [4pts]
This was a bad result for the organisers who drew up this points system, they ended up taking away the team ethos of the competition and made it into six individual rink matches with a two point bonus for the overall score (almost an after thought). In the process they robbed an improving Belfast side of a morale boosting win.

J Newell 7 v 10 K Conroy 
This was a tight game with Belfast youngest rink pushing the established Kevin Conroy all the way. Belfast took the lead in the middle of the game but Kevin guided his rink to success in three out of the last four ends to win the point.

J Warnock 11 v 2 J McCabe
This was one of the success stories for Belfast as the rink maintained consistency for the full game winning four consecutive ends at the finish of the game to secure victory and set up a possibility of the bonus points awarded for the overall score.

G McTasney 9 v 10 F Dillon
Louth took control of this game with a four in the seventh end and despite losing doubles on ends eight and nine they had accumulated sufficient shots to win by a solitary shot.

A Paul 12 v 6 B Taffe
Paul’s rink again got off to a good start which set the foundation for a win and the point. The game was effectively over after the fifth end as the Belfast foursome collected a count of six to go nine ahead with four ends remaining.

S Faulkner 6 v 13 J Murnaghan 
Belfast claimed a four on the opening end to put the pressure on Louth and extended their lead with two consecutive singles. Louth then hit back as the wheels came off the Belfast Bandwagon as they returned to old habits in losing a major count of six. This was only the prelude to a total breakdown as Belfast lost all the remaining ends [6 consecutive ends] to turn a six shot advantage into a seven shot defeat. This comeback has added to the growing reputation of John Murnaghan who has been starring at skip for Oriel this season.

B Trimble 5 v 7 P Duff
This was a close game with Belfast having the upperhand in the early stages as they gained a three shot lead after six ends. Louth then levelled with three shots before sneaking over the finish line in front as a result of singles on the last two ends.

Belfast won two rinks and came very close to claiming the point in another three games so it was disappointing that they were only awarded four points and a draw due to the ill-advised point system adopted for the tournament. What made a draw more remarkable was that Belfast out scored their opponents by two shots which in all cup competitions would have been sufficient to claim a well earned win.

Londonderry 53 [6pts] v Louth 47 [2pts]
Londonderry were in the driving seat going into the final game of the group as they only required three points with Louth needing a minimum win of five points including outscoring their opponents by over twenty shots. An extremely difficult task against a very competent side who were amongst the favourites to claim the trophy.

R O'Neill 9 v 7 K Conroy 
Louth won more ends but they could not make up for the count of six that they dropped on the fifth end.

E Curran 10 v 12 J McCabe
A three in the last end gave Louth the victory but Mr Curran had played a tactical game to ensure that this game was always close and never going to have a significant bearing on the overall score.

J McKay 6 v 4 F Dillon
Londonderry restricted their opponents to four singles. A double and one more winning end than Louth gave the McKay rink the edge and the rink point.

L Conway 13 v 8 B Taffe
Liam Conway was able to get a positive response from his rink after their defeat in the previous game. A count of five in the second end helped alleviate the nerves although they required consecutive triples in the last two ends to claim back the lead and give the scoreline a rather flattering look.

L Harrison 6 v 9 J Murnaghan
A tight game that was level after six ends but then Louth took control going into the final end. They claimed five shots on ends seven and eight and only needed to play containing bowls in the ninth end to ensure their point for winning the rink.

K McCullagh 9 v 7 P Duff
The lead changed hands five times in this game with the Londonderry scoring three in the last end to finish as victors.

Belfast at last combined well to produce their strongest team so far. They were not as far off the mark as the group table suggests, their downfall was losing so many counts of four or more. They had three U25s on one rink and their performance justified their selection.

Louth were disadvantaged due to the format changing from four to six rinks. They have a small pool to choose from and would only have a portion of a Zone to pick from.

Londonderry were always favourites to progress from this group but they had to dig deep at times to fend off their challengers which should have made them match hardened for their semi-final encounter.

Londonderry 13pts

Louth 6pts

Belfast 5pts