Exciting conclusion to the KWWIBA Ned Byrne Shield finals as Kildare and Donard/Glen reach final

Kildare West Wicklow Indoor Bowling Association (KWWIBA)

Ned Byrne Conclusion Creates Plenty Of Excitement

The Ned Byrne Shield bowling competition came to its conclusion on Sunday 14^th May in the Rathcoffey GAA Hall. A hectic schedule on the day with both semi-finals and final been played and to add to the attraction the loser of the semi-finals having to play to determine 3^rd place. In the first semi-final we had the distinction of two West Wicklow teams competing against each other, namely Donard/Glen (A) and Donard/Glen (B). While in the other semi-final Kildare and Celbridge were the participants. The winners of each match would be decided on the aggregate of shots on both mats.

                            Vast Experience The Telling Factor          

The semi-final between Kildare and Celbridge was a very close game for about ten ends, but from that point to the finish it was the Kildare side that started to pull away to run out convincing winners. It was the vast experience of the winners that was the telling factor, as this was the first time a Celbridge side had reached this stage of the competition.

Final Spot  

The second semi-final between the two Donard/Glen teams was a very well fought match on one mat with only a couple of shots separating the teams, but on the second mat it was all one-way traffic for Donard/Glen (A), but at least either way one of their teams were assured of a final spot.

Real Cracker

The match for 3^rd place between Celbridge and Donard/Glen (B) was a real cracker on both mats. With both teams playing great bowls it was always going to be a close call as to the winner. It was the Celbridge side that prevailed and at the finish won by the narrowest of margins on a scoreline of 25/24. Celbridge team (Mat 1): Noreen Neville, Tom Davitt, Noel Murphy, Dan Griffin and sub Marie Byrne. (Mat 2): Rosie Cleary, Paddy Kinnerk, Des Doyle and Eddie Murphy. Donard/Glen B (Mat 1): Joe Murphy, Harry Mangan, Michael O’Reilly, Paul Barrett and sub John Lloyd. (Mat 2): Pat O’Neill, Alan McEvoy, Heidi Kennedy and Pat Kennedy.     Scene Set The scene was now set on Mat 3 and Mat 4 for the final between Kildare and Donard/Glen (A). There would be no real pressure on either team because of the virtue of reaching the final both teams were assured of promotion to Division 3 for the upcoming season next September. Kildare would be the favourites to win the title, but it would be no easy task against the West Wicklow club who have improved immensely in the three years of the club’s existence.

Dramatic Turnaround

On mat 3 it looked like the punters got it right, as Kildare from the start were very much the masters, while their opponents were struggling to get into the game. With just over the half-way stage of the match completed the Kildare team were leading by a comfortable five shots, and with their opponents only scoring on two ends in that period Kildare didn’t seem in any danger. But in the last eight ends we witnessed a dramatic turnaround and change of fortunes as Donard/Glen unbelievably held the Kildare team scoreless and finished on a score of 18/9. Kildare: Una Downey, Mick Kearin, John McLoughlin and Tommy Martin. Donard/Glen: Eric Hanbridge, Michael Cummins, Helen Jones and Billy Jones.          Evenly Matched Mat 4: It was really fantastic stuff on this mat as both sides were very evenly matched. There were never more than two scores between the teams at any time in the course of the game. The fact that the teams were level on four occasions throughout the match tells it own story. Kildare with a deficit of seven from mat 3 needed scores much more than their opponents, but were never allowed to dictate the game on their own terms. Even though they finished this mat with a 13/11 advantage, it wasn’t enough as they lost on the aggregate of the two mats, with Donard/Glen the champions by 29/22 overall. Kildare: Jimmy Rowan, Pat Baker, Tony Harrington and Fintan Downey. Donard/Glen: Gertie Carpenter, Hugh Fox, Heather Pierce and Eamon Lennon.