Exciting finish to Ryston tournament as Kill and Rathmore land silverware

The Ryston bowling tournament concluded on Saturday 23 August with the Semi-Finals and Finals in both the Cup and Shield. Tournaments seem to be getting more popular and going from strength to strength especially judging by the upsurge in entries this year in all tournaments.

Again this was another event that attracted a very large entry. In fact it surpassed all previous entries for this tournament with a total of thirty-eight teams. Played in the spacious Ryston Sports and Social Centre which could accommodate eight mats it was able to be run over four dates, starting on Wednesday 20th and continuing on Thurs and Friday with the completion as stated above on Sat 23rd.

Shield Semi-Finals

In the first shield semi-final Donard/Glen saw off the challenge of Allen2 on a scoreline of 15/8.

In the second semi-final it was Kill Community Bowling Club against Rathcoffey2. This was a close contest up to the last quarter, but from thereon Kill CBC with a succession of score saw off their opponents with a finishing scoreline of 19/9.

Cup Semi-Finals

In the first Cup semi-final Kildare3 just edged out Allen1to win by three scores after a mighty game on a score of 16/13. In the second semi-final Kildare1 fell victims to a rampant Rathmore side in a one-sided contest.

Shield Final

Rank outsiders and the surprise packets to reach the final Donard/Glen were up against a very experienced Kill CBC team who were winners of the Cup last year.

There was no reading of the script by the West Wicklow side as they settled into the game immediately and had their opponents in real trouble from the beginning. With only a third of the game played it was Donard/Glen that were the more impressive team. Indeed it looked as if a shock was on the cards as the rank outsiders showed no fear of their more accomplished opponents as they held a lead of eight scores to one at this point.

Kill CBC with patience and coolness started to eat into the lead and by the tenth end had taken a lead of 9/8, holding their opponents scoreless for five ends. On the next end Donard/Glen were back on level terms and on the twelfth end were 10/9 to the good.

It was on the run in that Kill CBC showed all their experience to kill of the challenge and were a very relieved team to survive such a massive battle and get over the line on a score of 15/12

Kill CBC: Phyllis Burke, Josie Garvey, Donal Burke and Johnny Flynn.

Donard/Glen: Pat O’Neill, Harry Mangan, Michael O’Reilly and Alan McEvoy.

Cup Final

This was a contest between the ‘Big Guns’ of the game, Rathmore against Kildare3. Rathmore were the slight favourites in this tie due to their consistent and impressive form throughout the competition. It was Kildare that got the better start with a score of three, however it was short lived as Rathmore in as many ends had levelled up the contest. Rathmore outscored their opponents on the next five ends by five score to one to lead by 8/4.

It was the next end that ultimately was the deciding moment of the game. With Kildare holding three scores and still a bowl to play, but alas, disaster struck, it looked like the perfect shot but unfortunately it sent the Jack of the mat, thus conceding three penalty scores to their opponents as this was the third time to happen.

Now instead of the score being 8/7 the turnaround gave Rathmore a massive advantage with the score now standing at 11/4. Kildare fought hard to retrieve the situation but it was more or less score for score for the remainder of the game and Rathmore ran out the victors on a scoreline of 15/7.

This was a very good final; it was the one unfortunate incident that was the game changer and made the finishing score look very deceiving.

Rathmore: Mary Hayden, Ann Shaw, Helen Feane and Frank Feane.

Kildare3: Jimmy Rowan, Margaret Gorry, Frank Connolly and Fintan Downey.

Ann Field (Ryston) thanked John Murphy (Caragh) for always being on hand to umpire proceedings throughout the competition and to their sponsors, to all the business people that supported the club, the volunteers and especially to the catering staff for their commitment and dedication and hard work throughout the tournament. Go raibh maith agaibh go leir.

Recent League Results (home team first)

Div.1: Rathmore 2 Kildangan 3.

Div.2: St. Laurences 4 Prosperous 1; Athy 3 Balyna 2; Baltinglass 5 Rathmore 0.

Div.3: Kilcullen 3 Donard/Glen 2; Ballymore Eustace 5 Kildare 0; Caragh 5 Naas 0; Allenwood 5 Donard/Glen 0; Ryston 5 Naas 0.

Div.4: Ardclough 5 Donard/Glen 0; Clane/Staplestown 2 Kilcullen 3; Donard/Glen 3 Balyna 2.

Div.5: Monasterevin 0 Kill CBC 5; Balyna 5 Kildare 0.