The Championship finals played in the spacious Rathcoffey GAA hall on Saturday April 28 provided entertainment aplenty in the various categories. Played on a knockout basis it continues to be a very popular competition with clubs. Indeed many clubs enter multiple teams into the different categories.
Ladies Singles
Loreto Farrell from the Ardclough club and Phian Neylan from the Rathangan club went head to head in this one. Both of these ladies are top class bowlers and a classic was expected. No disappointment for the spectators as it proved to be a hard fought game. Loreto got a terrible start as her opponent after four ends had jumped into a 9/0 lead.
From thereon it was a classic contest as it was mostly score for score. Loreto just gave herself too much to do after the bad start and was defeated on a scoreline of 18/11. This make Phian the Singles champion for the second year in succession.
Ladies Pairs
This was another thrilling encounter between the Brownstown pair of Lily Higgins and Mary Stynes and the Rathmore pair of Helen Feane and Breda Fenner.
There was very little between the teams for most of the game but when Rathmore edged ahead in the last quarter to take a lead of five with only two ends to play it looked comfortable enough for them to see out the game.
A late surge by the Brownstown ladies in those last ends narrowed it down to one score and Rathmore just made it on a final score of 12/11.
Open-Pairs
Father in-law and son in-law Michael Beckett and Liam Heffernan (Kildangan) against Fintan Downey and Mark Caldwell provided the entertainment in this contest.
Level on two occasions and very little separating the sides at any time during the game it proved to be a tough battle right to the finish.
Kildangan the victors with a finishing score of 16/13.
Open-Singles
Brendan Murphy (Straffan) and Dom Kavanagh (Caragh) were the contestants in this category.
This was a great game between two very good bowlers. Dom who has been in devastating form throughout this championship was always ahead through the course of the game, albeit by only a couple of score. Brendan proved to be a formidable opponent and made it tough for Dom right to the finish. Final score 17/12 in favour of Dom.
Open-Fours
Baltinglass/Kiltegan and Caragh were the teams in opposition in this final. Although the West Wicklow side were ahead at all times in the game they never could relax especially against a team of exceptional bowlers. These top two teams produced a mighty contest and it was fitting it went down to the last bowl to decide the winners. A close call but Baltinglass/Kiltegan win the Cup on a scoreline of 13/12.
Baltinglass/Kiltegan: John Kehoe, Joey Fagan, Pat Brazil and Edward Lawrence.
Caragh: Dom Kavanagh, Martin Lynch, Denis Judge and John Joe Byrne.
Mixed-Triples
In this final Ryston found themselves up against a very experienced Kildare team.
Unfortunately it took Ryston too long to settle into the game and it wasn’t until the ninth end that they got their name on the scoresheet. Against such formidable opponents there was just no way back for them at that stage. Kildare therefore just strolled to an easy victory.
Kildare: Una Downey, Fintan Downey and Mark Caldwell.
Ryston: Michael Swan, Mervyn Molyneaux and Eileen Kelly.
Recent League Results (home team first)
Div.1: Brownstown 0, Caragh 5; Kildangan 5, Hollywood 0; Ardclough 5, Rathmore 0; Hollywood 5, Castlemitchell 0.
Div.2: Baltinglass/Kiltegan 5, Balyna 0; Rathmore 5, Prosperous 0; Athy 2, St. Laurences 3.
Div.3: Kildare 0, Straffan 5; Straffan 2, Donard/Glen 3; Caragh 5, Kildare 0.
Div.4: Clane/Staplestown 0, Ardclough 5; Kilcullen 3, Balyna 2; Kill 5, Donard/Glen 0; Rathcoffey 3, Celbridge 2.
Div.5: Clane/Staplestown 5, Kill CBC 0.
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