Page 29 - Summer 2019

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20 teams took part in the competition and a cheque for £750 was presented to the Ivolve 29
Volunteer Centre which among all its volunteering services helps with the early stages
of Alzheimer’s and issues relating to mental health. George Shield received the cheque
on behalf of the Volunteer Centre.

Proceeds of the event presented by Muriel
McCulloch Charity Shield McCulloch to George Shield of IVOLVE
presented by Muriel McCulloch VOLUNTEERS with competition organiser
to Rainey’s Gary Merron & Mid Ulster Zone Convenor Seamus Kyne.

STUNNING VICTORY FOR MID TYRONE
STUNNING VICTORY FOR MID TYRONE
The men’s Inter zone final produced one of the most enthralling finishes for several years. Oriel
had taken over from Mid Ulster as the dominant men’s Inter zone team. Their motivation was to
achieve a 3 in a row, only achieved by Mid Ulster and even match the 5 in a row achieved by
Mid Ulster. Oriel won the title in 2014 and 2015 but lost the 2016 final to Mid Ulster.
They returned to winning ways in 2017 and 2018 raising the prospect of achieving a treble
in the eight successive final. Whether it was pressure or simply losing to a better team on the
day is debatable. This was Mid Tyrone’s opportunity to win the Boomer Cup for the first time in
the 51 years of the competition.
The first half was dominated by Mid Tyrone. They got off to the best start on all three mats.
On mat 1, Mid Tyrone’s rink skipped by Robbie Foster were in control throughout against the
Oriel rink skipped by John Murnihan running out 10 - 4 winners. On mat 2, Mid Tyrone’s Norman
Rutledge was behind for the first 3 ends but despite Oriel’s Stephen McMahon picking up 5
shots on the 6th and 7 ends, it was Rutledge who came out on top by 13 - 10. On mat 3, Colin
Shortt’s rinks saw Mid Tyrone in control throughout against Sean Trainor who won only 3 ends
in picking up just 4 shots. Shortt’s rink finished 12 - 4 up to leave Mid Tyrone 35 - 18 up at the
interval.
This deficit would not normally have overly concerned Oriel as they had twice in earlier
rounds overcome such deficits. They needed to get off to a good start but it was soon clear that
2 of the games were going to be very tight with little separating Oriel’s Niall Hand and Mid Ty-
rone’s Gary McNabb on mat 2 and Oriel’s Paddy Hanlon on mat 3. Their big opportunity came
on mat 1 where Gerry McCabe’s rink totally dominated a very disappointing Mid Tyrone rink
skipped by Stuart McSorley who only won 3 ends.
McCabe’s rink led 18 -4 going into the last end but his opponents finally came good to pick
up a very vital 3. Meanwhile on mat 3, Oriel’s Paddy Hanlon had an 8 - 6 win over Gerard Con-
roy’s rink.
It all came down to mat 2. Oriel’s Hand led 5 - 4 going into the last end but Mid Tyrone
held a 52 -49 lead but after Hand’s final delivery Oriel lay 4 shots and a winning position. The
pressure was on McNabb’s last delivery. His backhand shot looked as if it might go off the mat
but it proved an excellent delivery under extreme pressure to produce an incredible reaction
from all involved in Mid Tyrone.