Page 22 - SMI Summer 2015 proof

Page 22:Layout 1 29/07/2015 20:49 Page 1

The IIBA finals took place at Richill and
promised to be an exciting day’s events but
as is often the case not all of the games lived
up to expectations. The day opened with 3
competitions – the National rinks, National
triples and Ladies triples.
The expected close encounter in the
rinks never materialised. It was expected
that the final, involving several internationals
would be keenly fought but it was the Oriel
Rinks winners Gerry McCabe, Paddy Hanlon, rink of Paddy Hanlon, Gerry McCabe, John
John Murnahan & Brendan McCabe
Murnahan and Brendan McCabe which
with IIBA President Mrs Flo McNally
dominated throughout against Leight Harri-
son, Ryan O'Neill, John Devine and Robert Allen winning 11 - 3.
The National triples between Donegal's John
Quinn, Eddie Curran and David Crawford and
Northern's Declan McCann, David Gaile and
Matthew Steen did live up to expectations with little
separating them throughout. It went to the last bowl
of the 12 ends with Quinn's triple squeezing home
9 - 8.
The ladies triple proved to be a one sided af-
fair with Armagh's Pauline Beattie, Rachel Cassells
and Mat Cassells in total control against West
Down's Angela Cannaway, Virginia Leckey and
Annie Burrell winning 16 - 3. Triples winners John Quinn,
David Crawford & Eddie Curran with
IIBA President Mrs Flo McNally

The second session saw 4 finals being completed.
In the National pairs Oriel's Kevin and Sean Conroy
were strong favourites to lift the title and for 12 ends
it looked as if the Monaghan pairs of Malachy
Trainor Senior and Junior might pull off a shock es-
pecially after picking up a 4 on the 10th end. The
Conroy’s however responded to edge home 15 - 12.

Pairs Winners Kevin & Sean Conroy
with IIBA President Mrs Flo McNally
The ladies pairs saw South Tyron's Margaret Mc-
Grath and Sue Trainor meet Mid Ulster's Sheila Ander-
son and Mildred Martin. It was a game which was
ultimately decided on the 7th and 9th end when the
Mid Ulster pair dropped 7 shots and despite picking
up 3 on the 11th end could not reduce the deficit to
leave the South Tyrone ladies winners by 16 - 9. Ladies Pairs Sue Trainor &
The other 2 finals produced perhaps the best
Margaret McGrath with IIBA
games of the day. In the over 55's Western's Bernie President Mrs Flo McNally
Donnelly and Eamon McParland finished all square
after the 15 ends with Mid Down's Dessie Curran and Tony Ward.