Page 29 - Summer 2012

Page 29:Layout 1 07/08/2012 15:06 Page 1

On mat 3, the game between Sean Quinn, Danny McStravock, Anthony Bradley and Sea- 29
mus McGlinchey and John Murnaham, Michael Hand, Jim Fox and Noel Mackin produced
9 single shot ends with the outcome decided by the only count of 4 in the 30 ends across
the mats. Mid Ulster were unfortunate in opening up the jack but credit to Oriel they took their
chance to win 7 – 6. As is usual the case the first few ends of the second have can prove decisive.
After 2 ends Oriel had reduced the deficit to 3 but by the 4th end they had outscored Mid Ulster
by 18 – 6 and were clearly on what appeared to be a roll.
They were the side showing the greater determination and accuracy. On mat 1 Alan Paul,
Clark Hill, Glen Wilson and Nicholas Barnes were 8 – 2 down against Gerry McCabe, Fra Dillon,
Sean Trainor and Billy McCabe, on mat 2 Dayne Jordan, Liam McHugh, Damien Grimes and Colin
Hogg were 5 – 2 down against Stephen McMahon, Jason Hand, Seamus McParland and T Martin
while on mat 3 Kevin Conroy, Colum Comiskey, Billy Taffe and Michael O'Connor were 5 – 2 up
on Colum McHugh. Conroy was proving what a class act he is with several superb shots. Paul
and Jordan’s rink picked up 6 shots on the 5th end but Conroy’s rink continued to dominate and
moved into an 11 – 2 lead.
Meanwhile on mat 2 Jordan’s rink were picking up shots as they began to totally dominate
their opponents picking up 14 shots in 5 ends while Paul’s rink picked up 8 in the same period.
The pendulum was now swinging Mid Ulster’s way with much still hinging on whether the Conroy
steamroller could be at least slowed down. Not to be outdone the McHugh rink got going and
picked up 8 shots without reply over the final three ends to reduce the deficit to 11 – 10.What had
seemed to be unlikely mid-way through the second half had become the achievable.
It was a tremendous last 5 ends by Mid Ulster but one has to feel for the Oriel side. Was it
the pressure, was it the inability to keep going in the manner they were playing, was it Mid Ulster
upping their game or was it the more experience of the Mid Ulster side that told in the end. Cer-
tainly it will be a final to remember for the huge crowd and for both teams. Oriel has a side full of
young talent and there is little doubt that their day will come. For Mid Ulster, their 10th title has
perhaps been the sweetest of the lot given the circumstances and they will look forward to another
top team competition was confidence.
DONEGAL TAKE THE LADIES INTER-ZONE TITLE

The final was a repeat of last season's and most expected Armagh to be just too strong and retain
their title but the message obviously did not get to the Donegal ladies because in an astonishing
second half they simply swept Armagh away.

DONEGAL
DONEGAL