DRUMAROAD made the trip to St Patrick’s Golf Club on the back of a bad run of form, but managed to pull off a bit of a shock.
All games were close affairs with the visitors getting the win on the last run of games. The hosts started well through the rink of Tom Gibson, Noel Walsh, Des Curran and David Gibson as they had a good 10-4.5 win over the triple skipped by Kevin Walsh.
The visitors responded with a 6-3 win for Thomas Walsh over Liam Higgins. On the next run Brendan Scullion led his triple of Bernie Mulvenna and Maire Scullion to an 8.25-5 win over Colin Gibson while the game between Alan Telford and Mary Croman shared a 3-3 draw, this left the visitors three quarters of a shot up at half-time.
After tea the home Telford rink secured a 7-3.75 win against Thomas Walsh while Kevin Walsh replied with a 4.5-2 win over Colin Gibson to leave the match finely poised at 30-30.
The last run of games saw Drumaroad prove the stronger as Mary Croman and her rink of Ann Burns, Pat Savage and Adrian Mussen had a good 7-3 win over the Higgins four and Brendan Scullion led his rink to their second win of the match as they won 7-5 against David Gibson to win the match.
A valiant effort from Drumaroad, but the result still sees them eliminated as their shot difference is poor. The Golf Club now have the visit of St Mary’s in the final group game with both teams now through to the semi-finals, but it will be a case of who tops the group, an eight shot win would see St Patrick’s top the group while St Mary’s will be doing all they can to secure the win and avoid Seaforde in the last four.
ST PATRICK’S GC 38
DRUMAROAD 44
ONCE again Marina made their visitors work hard for the win with this match always in the balance until the end.
They made the better start as Patricia Russell, Ray McGonigle, Bridget Smith and Joey Chambers scored steadily after losing four shots to end up winning 9-4 against Paddy Murray.
The visitors’ Neil Brown for held on to win his game 7-6 against Billy Collom.
The next run saw a 5-5 draw between Ronan Smyth and Tony Ward while a breakthrough was made by the St Mary’s rink of Stevie Brown, Pat Rooney, Alan Adair and Kieran McMullan as they enjoyed an 11-5 win over Jim McConnell.
At half-time the visitors held a narrow two shot lead. After tea Neil Brown had another close win, this time 7-5 against the McConnell rink, but probably the fate of the match was made when Paddy Murray along with Brian Jess, Paul Fitzgerald and Meghan McCabe returned a 9-1 win over the Smyth rink to see the Saints go 12 shots in front.
Marina were not going to surrender as they won both final games through a 6-4 win for Joey Chambers and a 5-1 win for Billy Collom to cut the deficit to six shots.
A good performance from the hosts, but they now find themselves eliminated from the cup while St Mary’s play St Patrick’s to see who tops the group.
MARINA 42
ST MARY’S, K’LEAGH 48
ST Macartan’s gave themselves a great chance of progressing to the semi-finals with this victory which knocks Bright out of contention through shot difference.
The first run of games were closely fought as Hugh Porter and Joe Kennedy had a draw 5-5 while the visitors’ Francie McGreevy had a 7-5 win over Niall Polley.
The Saints took control on the next run as Ann Marie McGreevy, Eamon McLoughlin, Eilish Gallagher and Collie Brown had a good 10-3 win over Andy Campbell and Raymond Gelston led his rink of Liz Kennedy, Shanna McLoughlin and Maurice Cullen to an 8-3 win against Liam Sharvin.
This meant they went into the break with a 14 shot lead. After tea Liam Sharvin secured a 7-3 home win against the McGreevy rink, but Joe Kennedy hit back with a 6-2 win over the Campbell four. St Macartan’s knew they only had to keep the scores tight to secure the win, but Collie Brown got his second win in his 5-1 win over Hugh Porter.
Niall Polley completed the match with a consolation 5-3 win over the away Gelston rink.
The Saints must now wait to see the outcome of the match between Seaforde and St Michael’s, which Dundrum need to win or not lose by two or more shots to progress, a hard task against the division’s top side.
BRIGHT 31
ST MACARTAN’S 47