This year’s Irish club championship came to a conclusion on Saturday with Monaghan representatives, Clontibret, taking the title out of Mid Ulster for the first time. Previous winners, Cookstown Parochial, were most people’s favourites to reclaim the championship. Unfortunately, the Mid Ulster side failed to sparkle until it was too late and came up against a Clontibret side which had great self belief in their ability.On mat 1, the normally very reliable Parochial front end never got into the game but still managed to get with striking distance of B.Maginnis’s rink. The last end was crucial. With Parochial lying three, the Clontibret skip played a running shot to lie one. S.Quinn was unable to draw shot and left the Clontibret rink up 7 – 5. On mat 2, G .Moen’s rink was in total control for the first half of their game against L.McHugh building up an 8 – 0 lead but gradually the Parochial found some form and picked up six shots in the next fours ends to close the gap to 2 shots but left their comeback too late to finish 6 – 8 down. The final game also saw Clontibret in control. They built up a 7 – 2 lead after 6 ends and never looked like losing. M.Trainer’s rink finished 8 – 4 up on C.McHugh. Clontibret led at one stage by 19 -3 but Parochial despite pulling it back to 19 – 16 just left it too late.
In the second semi-final St.Mary’s Newcastle played Cranagill from Armagh Zone. This game was much closer throughout with rarely more 2 shots separating the sides. On mat 1, T.Mulholland Cranagill won 5 ends but only picked up singles in each. The St.Mary’s skip, E.Smith picked up seven in three ends to finish up by 8 – 5. On mat 2, A .Hughes Cranagill had a one shot win over St.Mary’s M.Sproule. Nothing separated the sides throughout with only a shot an end being scored. Hughes rink squeezed through 5 – 4. In the final game, I.Perry Cranagill’s played the best of the three games with St.Mary’s A.Corrigan. Perry’s rink only won three ends but one of these was a 4. There was some excellent bowling by both skips with nothing decided until the final bowl. In the end the St.Mary’s rink finished 7 – 6 up.
The final between Clontibret and St.Mary’s produced some excellent bowling with the result in doubt to the last couple of ends. On mat 1, A .Corrigan played M.Trainer. St.Mary’s dominated the first 4 ends and led 4 – 0. The remaining ends went the opposite way with the Clontibret rink picking up 6 to finish 2 up. On mat 2, B.Maginnis’s rink were in total control over the St.Mary’s rink skipped by E.Smith winning 6 ends. After picking up a 4 on the first end they were never in any danger of losing and finished 11 – 4 up. The final game was the only game lost by Clontibrett with G.Moen losing out by a single shot, 6 – 5 to M.Sproule.
Clontibret fully deserved their success and their win confirms the progress being made in the Monaghan Zone, something which can only be good for the game.
Prizes were presented by IIBA President, Ronnie McDermott and the shield by Cecil Morrow Maghera Pres who donated it for the championship.
For full details see: www.iiba.co.uk
