Kilcullen edge Ballymore in thrilling KWWIBA battle

Kildare West Wicklow Indoor Bowling Association (KWWIBA)

Bottom Of The Table Clash

Ballymore undertook the short journey across to the Kilcullen GAA Hall on Tuesday 8th Nov. to take on Kilcullen in this Division 3 bowling league game.

With both teams lying at the bottom of the league table it was of huge significance for each club to salvage the points. This match was expected to be a really great battle, as anything short of the five points on offer for either team would not change their positions in the table.

Terrific Battle

Mat 1 produced a very good contest throughout. Ballymore started off in great fashion and after only two ends had moved into a five score lead. Even though it was early times it looked like Kilcullen were in trouble as their play was a little bit erratic in those early ends.

Thinking the worst as far as the hosts were concerned was a little bit premature, because on the next few ends not alone did the haul in their opponents but took the lead for the first time by a score of two. But Ballymore narrowed the gap and then went back into the lead by two scores.

We were now witnessing a terrific battle between these two teams, as Kilcullen on the next end brought the sides level. On the eight end a bad, bad, bad mistake allowed the visitors to move ahead by six scores. Now with their confidence high and the pressure off they increased that lead to eight on the next couple of ends.

With only four ends left to play it seemed that the Kilcullen challenge would just peter out. But this was not the case as the home side bravely threw everything into the game to try and redeem the situation and even though they won those last four ends it was just too big a gap to close and lost out on a finishing score of 18 for Ballymore and 14 for Kilcullen. In fairness the visitors just about deserved their win.

Ballymore: Paddy Nolan, Sean Horan, Seamus O’Brien and Noel Mooney.

Kilcullen: Dina Dillon, Mary Murphy, Bernie Dunne and Liam Sherry.

Enthralling Match

Mat 2: If mat one produced a cracking game of bowls this mat surpassed it for sheer drama and excitement. The start of this game took on a similar pattern as the previous mat except the roles were reversed whereas this time it was the home side that were quicker off the mark.

After only three ends Kilcullen had raced into a lead of six scores against their opponents one.

Even though the visitors had looked a little edgy in those few ends they quickly settled into the game after that early set back. On the next couple of ends the came thundering back to reduce the margin to one score. Kilcullen took up the challenge and opened up a gap of three.

On the following end Ballymore had narrowed it back to two, and on the eight had the sides all-square. If up to now we were witnessing a superb game of bowling it was nothing compared to the edge of the seat stuff for the remaining half of the game.

Both teams continued to exchange the lead for the next couple of ends, but on the eleventh end the sides were level for the second time. Kilcullen forged ahead again by one on the next end. On the thirteenth Ballymore again brought the sides level for the third time. Could we have a winner in this game with two ends still to play? Yes, but only just, as the home team got the sufficient scores to breathe a sigh of relief after such an enthralling match.

Ballymore win three points while Kilcullen take the remaining two. Even though this share of the points does not change their respective positions in the league table, they could be valuable before the closure of this league come next May.

Kilcullen: Betty Barker, Mary Phelan, Mary Sherry and Billy Murphy.

Ballymore: Peter Fisher, Peter Clarke, Tim Counihan and Tony Campbell.

Recent League Results (home team first)

Div.1: Prosperous 0 Kill CBC 5, Caragh 5 Kildangan 0, Hollywood 3 Allen 2.

Div. 2: Rathangan 3 St. Laurences 2, Coill Dubh 2.5 Athy 2.5

Div. 3: Kilcullen 2 Ballymore Eustace 3, Allenwood 3 Balyna 2.

Ned Byrne Shield (Sec. 1): Allenwood 0 Kildare (A) 5, Allen 5 Clane/Staplestown (A) 0.

Ned Byrne Shield (Sec. 2): Kildare (B) 3 Ardclough 2.