Page 28 - Summer 2012

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MID ULSTER
MID ULSTER

MID ULSTER SNATCH THE INTER-ZONE TITLE
Two years ago Mid Ulster were involved in what was described as the best inter zone final anyone
could remember but the final that day bears little resemblance to this year’s final. Mid Ulster and
Oriel had met twice in the competition and both had achieved victories of wide margins. This time
it was expected to be a much tighter affair.
Oriel, more than any other zone has infused their team with youth while Mid Ulster have
tended, through a shortage of young talent to show tremendous loyalty to players even when some
have not always performed as expected. This has had the effect of building a tremendous team
spirit in the camp and a never say die attitude. Many words could be used to express what hap-
pened but words like unbelievable, fighting spirit, elation, gutted spring to mind.
Elation certainly applied to Mid Ulster and gutted to the Oriel side who at one point must
have believed, and with justification, that the trophy was on its way for the second time. Certainly
for Mid Ulster, who saw a narrow half time lead, rapidly disappear and with the dropping of 13
shots across the mats on the 4th end, the writing appeared to be on the wall but while most teams
would probably have crumbled at that stage, Mid Ulster simply continue to press on. Whether the
pressure and the turnaround got to Oriel or whether Mid Ulster facing what looked a depressing
outcome got their act together is anyone’s guess.
The reality is that Oriel was only able to score 5 shots in the last 4 ends against Mid Ulster’s
25 to produce a win which at one stage seemed highly unlikely. The first half saw little between
the sides though Mid Ulster were perhaps fortunate to carry a 3 shot lead into the second half. On
mat 1, Mark Wilson, Trevor Turkington, Tommy McAleavey and Sean Davidson faced the Oriel
rink of Paddy Hanlon, Conor Mackin, Philip Mackin and Paul Corvan.
Mark had a tremendous game, pulling out super shots on several occasions. It was a game
which Oriel perhaps could have won had they taken the chances which came their way. It was a
game of low scoring with 7 single shots and 3 two’s which Mid Ulster edged home 8 – 5. On mat
2, Damian McElroy, Seamus Kyne, Glen Smith and Robin Clark faced Oriel’s in form Paul Duff,
John McMahon, Nial Hand and Gerry Crosby whose rink had won their all previous games. The
Oriel rink got off to the better start to lead 4 – 1 after 4 ends.
7 shots on the next 4 ends saw Mid Ulster move into an 8 – 4 lead and they were unfortunate
to only pick up a two on the 7th end when a five looked the more likely outcome. Duff’s rink picked
up a 2 on the 9th and were lying two on the last end when the Mid Ulster skip played an excellent
bowl to turn out Duff’s last bowl to reduce it to 1 and claim an 8 – 7 win.