Ballinrees celebrateMorrisonCup win

Playing now in their familiar red shirts Loughanreagh looked a formidable team on paper, but the boys in blue from Ballinrees were not overawed by the big occasion.

On mat one Alan Irwin's (Loughanreagh) four played Kenny McNeill's four. The latter won the first end by one shot. Picking up three shots in the second end things looked brighter for Loughanreagh, however Ballinrees fought back and after five ends held a two shot advantage.

Going into the last end Loughanregh had fought back to level the score at 7-7 and with his last bowl Irwin moved the jack back to pick up one shot leaving the score 8-7 in his favour. This game featured the Brewster brothers with Uel playing for Loughanregh and Norman playing for Ballinrees. Both preformed very well and it would be difficult to say who came out on top. William Kerr at number two for Ballinrees also caught the eye.

Over on mat two Ian Ross's (Loughanregh) rink took on William Calvin's four. James McKee and Jimmy Gault at lead and two respectfully for Loughanreagh got to grips with the mat and with Martin Jamieson (third) and Ian Ross (skip) piling on the pressure Louganreagh held a three shot lead after five ends.

Ballinrees started to come into the game as Edward Jamison in the sixth end played the perfect delivery to allow Ballinrees to pick up two valuable shots. In the eighth end and with only one bowl left to play Calvin found himself five shots down. He then played with controlled weight to force the jack into the ditch where his team's bowls were lying to give him a count of 4 shots. Ballinrees also won the ninth and tenth ends to give them a one shot advantage to leave the half time score 16-16.

After a beautiful supper provided by the members of Boveedy, play resumed.

On mat one A Steele's (Loughanreagh) four faced Victor Millen's four. Ballinrees started well and after four ends led 4-0. After six ends the lead was extended to six shots for Ballinrees. In the next end Alastair drew twice to the jack to further reduce the deficit. Then in the eighth end son Gareth brought the jack back into the ditch to leave the score 6-6 and by playing a great bowl with his last delivery in the final end, Alastair had gained a very valuable win by 7 shots to 6. Ballinrees probably felt hard done by, for the rink as a whole played the better bowls but that's bowls for you.

Edwin Irwin's (Loughanreagh) quartet took on Jonathan Calvin's rink in the final pairing on mat two. Ballinrees settled better and with their front two building good heads they led 9-1 by the sixth end.

By end eight, Loughanreagh had pulled back another two shots but Jonathan held his nerve and on the ninth end he played two terrific bowls down the extreme edge of the mat to move into a commanding seven shot lead. Calvin also won the next end to run out comfortable winners by 11 shots to 3 and in doing so lift the trophy for Ballinrees with a 33-26 victory.

On presenting the trophy to the winning captain Jim McIlroy complimented both teams on the sporting manner in which the game had been played and also the high standard of bowling. Jim thanked Boveedy for hosting the final and he gave his thanks to Bryan Shaw for umpiring the game.

This year the League had decided to lift collections at each of the Morrison Trophy games and he was delighted to announce that 500 would be going to the MacMillan Nursing Trust to help with the caring of cancer patients.

On receiving the trophy, William Calvin captain of Ballinrees, thanked Loughanreagh for being such good opposition and for their sportsmanship. He thanked his own team for winning the trophy and said he hoped they would be back next year to try and retain it.

Complimenting Ballinrees on their win Nigel McMullan, captain of Loughanreagh, agreed that on the night Ballinrees proved the better team.