Section C: Armagh, Monaghan & Tyrone

Armagh 2pts [35] v Tyrone 6pts [50] 
Four reasonably tight games more or less evened out the scores and points with each team winning two winks. Armagh’s downfall came on the remaining rinks with Alan Paul winning by six shots for Tyrone and the all-star rink skipped by Colum McHugh claiming a ten shot victory of the Trainer brothers at third and skip.

M Trainor 5 v C McHugh 15 
The Armagh quartet hit the Tyrone foursome for a four on the second end which then seemed to spark Tyrone into life. They immediately hit back with a three, one, five, one and three on their way to a ten shot win. Five consecutive scoring ends gave them control of the game and set Tyrone on the way to the two bonus points for an overall victory.

A Roberts 7 v C Shortt 4
Armagh won five of the nine ends with a critical three in the third end after they had lost the first two ends proving to be the difference in the sides. Tyrone only scored on three ends with yet another end tied, a regular occurrence in the group stages of the competition. Only two shots separated the sides going into the last ends with Armagh taking a single and the win.

A Leckey 7 v R Cunningham 6 
Armagh never trailed in this game. When Tyrone threatened by reducing the deficit to a single after six ends Armagh responded with a two and a single to open a four shot lead at the start of the ninth end. The scoreline made the game seem tighter than it actually was with Tyrone taking three shots in the last end to give the score respectability.

J Beattie 6 v M Cunningham 8 
Tyrone controlled the game from the outset going four shots ahead after two ends. Armagh reduced the advantage to one shot after six ends and then drew level on the eighth end to make the final end the decisive head. Tyrone secured the win with two shots.

D McDonald 7 v B Davidson 8
All eyes were on the all female rink skipped by Bridget Davidson. They lost the first end but won the next three to lead by four shots. They then extended their lead to 3-8 after seven ends to move into pole position for the rink point. Armagh did hit back over the last two ends but the Tyrone rink had enough know how and ability to see off the challenge and take a one shot victory.

D Wright 3 v A Paul 9
Singles were scored on eight of the ends with a count of four giving the Tyrone team the early initiative. Although the heads were tight Armagh only scored on three ends to lose by six.

Monaghan 59 [6pts] v Tyrone 40 [2pts]
Tyrone needed to claim six points to ensure a semi-final berth. Monaghan only required three or four points to keep them in contention as they still had eight points to play for in their final game. They went considerably better winning the game with Michael Hand’s rink being the destroyers in chief as they won by fifteen shots over Alan Paul.

F McCabe 8 v C McHugh 7 
The all-star rink got off to a sprint start claiming three on the opening end but Monaghan had levelled the game at 4-4 after five ends. McHugh then took control of the game with three singles to go into the final head with an advantage. The wheels then spectacularly came off with the McCabe foursome claiming a four to win the important rink point. It is a rarity for Colum McHugh to lose a four on the final end of a game to lose by one shot.

B og Magennis 13 v C Shortt 4
The Monaghan rink won the opening four ends to secure a seven shot lead and provided they could maintain this form they would have the point for a rink win secured. They did lose the next three ends but restricted the opposition and went into the final end leading by four shots. The scoreline took a flattering look when Monaghan claimed a five on the last end to win by nine shots.

G Moen 9 v R Cunningham 7 
Monaghan claimed their third rink win with another fine victory. Monaghan were in control of the game at 7-2 but then lost five shots in two ends to hand the momentum to Tyrone going into the last two ends. Monaghan then found their form of the first half of the game to claim two singles and the win.

J McMahon 8 v M Cunningham 9
This game was effectively only a fight for the point as Monaghan had already secured the over all win with this being the last match off. Monaghan took the early lead with Tyrone hitting back to square the match. They could not edge in front as Monaghan again took the lead. Tyrone finally got in front on the eighth end when they scored a count of four to have a three shot advantage with one end to play. They conceded two shots but the four was suffice to claim the victory.

S McMahon 6 v B Davidson 9
The female rink from Tyrone had another difficult encounter as they were up against a rink with the McMahon brothers at the back end. They play together for Oriel zone so it was going to be a major test for the ladies. Monaghan claimed a three shot lead but then Tyrone hit back to lead 3-4. Monaghan then claimed the lead again but Tyrone hit them hard on the on the penultimate end to take a two shot lead. A further single handed Tyrone the rink point.

M Hand 15 v A Paul 4 
This was a surprisingly large victory for Monaghan against a backend of Mark Wilson and Alan Paul from whom a great deal was expected. Hand’s four controlled the game to such a degree that Tyrone did not record a shot until the seventh end when they claimed a two which was followed by another two. Hand was determined to finish on a high note and won the last end with a single to put the polish on an excellent victory.

Armagh 51 [2.5pts] v Monaghan 61 [5.5pts]
The win for Monaghan over Tyrone who were widely tipped to win the competition put the outsiders in the driving seat to progress from the toughest of the four groups. They did however need to keep their focus as their win had opened the door for all three teams to qualify for the semi-finals. Monaghan needed three points while Armagh required seven to secure clear passage out of the group.

M Trainer 10 v F McCabe 10
Armagh had a six shot advantage with only two ends remaining however McCabe launched another comeback. He claimed two consecutive threes to tie the game to follow on from his four in the last end of his previous game which he won by a shot.

A Roberts 6 v B og Magennis 13
At the beginning of the sixth end Armagh had a 6-2 lead after just claiming a three. Then Monaghan came back by winning the last four ends accumulating 11 shots in the process to take a convincing win by seven shots.

A Leckey 11 v G Moen 8 
Armagh claimed a count of five and a three while Monaghan scored two threes in a high scoring game. Armagh won five ends to four to win by three shots to take another rink point for Armagh but it was to prove too little as only one of the other Armagh rinks won.

J Beattie 9 v J McMahon 8
This was a smash and grab effort from Armagh who trailed from the opening end until the last rather dramatic ninth end. Armagh took the rink point despite trailing by four shots going into the final end. Monaghan somehow conspired to allow Armagh a count of five to win the match-up. It fortunately did not have a bearing on the overall result.

D McDonald 7 v S McMahon 12 
This was a battle between the two rinks that had succumbed to the wiles of B Davidson’s femme fatales in their previous games. The Monaghan rink proved too strong and added another point to their tally to get them through the group.

D Wright 8 v M Hand 10
Michael Hand’s foursome continued in their destructive form that overpowered the Tyrone partnership of Wilson/Paul. They again started in a flourish winning the first four ends to open a seven shot lead. Monaghan maintained the size of the advantage into the eighth end but then lost two threes as the scoreline did not reflect how dominant the Monaghan four had been.

Monaghan won three and drew one of the rink match-ups as they showed the quality they have within the county. They progressed to the next stage having won both their games against very capable opposition. Monaghan would have to repeat their very good form into the semi-final as they were to play Londonderry, another team that is always expected to challenge for the trophy.

Monaghan 11.5pts

Tyrone 8pts

Armagh 4.5pts