Advantage Banbridge in away leg of cup semi final

Kilkeel had the home advantage and they were hoping to gain somewhere around 20 points of the 32 available.

The Banbridge team captain, Cathal O’Neill, was quietly confident that his new look team would perform well.

Jamie Thompson and Neil Comiskey were the only two survivors of the Banbridge team, which qualified so brilliantly at Dundalk at the end of July.

The four singles games went out first, each worth 4 points. Conor Mulholland lost his game but got one point for the back nine. Mark McCoy won 4 and 3 and he got all four points. Jamie Thompson won 4 and 3 and he got three and a half points. Josh Crory won 2 and 1 and he collected 3 points.

That was a brilliant result from the singles but the two foursomes games were vital as they carried double points.

Neil Madeley and Roy Sipson were sensational. They won 5 and 4 and picked up six points. Neil Comiskey and the 13-year-old wonder kid, Luke Crory, lost 4 and 3, but they managed to secure what could be a crucial one point.

The score, after the first leg, is Banbridge 18.5 Kilkeel 13.5.

This has put Cathal’s team in a very strong position going into the second leg next Sunday over the Huntly Road links. It all adds to the excitement as the summer season comes to an end.