Page 18 - Summer Issue 2018 Final

Zone 3:Layout 1 16/06/2018 09:28 Page 1

18

Champions Oriel
Champions Oriel

Finalist North West
Finalist North West

On mat 3, it was a similar story with Adam Rankin’s rink only picking up 5 shots in 3 ends as they
went down 12-5 to Niall Hand. North West’s only crumb of comfort was mat 2, where the youthful
Jamie Cochrane’s rink came back from 8-1 down to Sean Trainor to finish 8-8. Oriel were 17 shots
up and the second half looked a formality. On mat 3, Leigh Harrison picked up 5 on the first end
against Paul Duff along with Martin McNicholl’s 2 against Kevin Conroy to give North West some
hope but with Paddy Hanlon dominating his game in the early stages against Trevor McIntyre Oriel
were still odds on to win.
North West’s hopes seemed to rest with Leigh Harrison who was building up a 10 shot lead.
The 17 shot deficit narrowed to 4 as McNicholl continued to lead Conroy and McIntyre pulled back
against Hanlon. The 5th end proved crucial when it looked as if Duff and Hanlon could have
dropped 11 shots but came away losing only a couple. Harrison continued to dominate his game
winning 17-7 but with Hanlon holding on and Conroy only losing 7-5 Oriel were able to secure a
successful defence but it could have been so different.