Hawks swoop to impressive win in first outing

In Group A Parochial Hawks played their first game of the season, having had a bye in the first week, and Danny McGarry's side got off to a great start with a 4-0 win over their Parochial Lions clubmates.

Although the scoreline suggested a comfortable night for the Hawks, it was anything but as Ronnie McCart's Lions battled hard forcing a deciding frame in three of the four games.

John Martin, debuting for Hawks, had a come from behind win against Rodney McAleese and it was a similar story as Paul Casey dropped the opening frame only to fight back for victory against Billy Goodall.

Pat McNally, aided by a 32 break, saw off league chairman Ronnie McCart in straight frames before Danny McGarry sealed maximum points for the Hawks, again battling back from a frame behind to defeat Dennis Curran.

In the other Group A game Dunloy United took a big step towards qualifying for the quarter finals with their second three-points haul of the season, this time against Dunloy Cowboys.

Cathoir Cunning got the first point on board for United with a 2-1 win over John Joe O'Neill. The next game saw a battle of the team captains and it was United captain Michael Crilly who overcame his Cowboys counterpart Aidan McErlaine after a couple of hard fought frames.

Martin Crawley was pushed all the way in his game with Gerard McAuley before the United player secured a third point for his side by winning the deciding frame.

Randal McDonnell continued his fine early season form for the Cowboys and he made sure his side had something to take away from the game with a comfortable straight frames win over Brendan McTaggart.

Parochial Lions 0, Parochial Hawks 4: (20] R McAleese 1, (60] J Martin 2 (81-70, 46-91, 17-79); (65] B Goodall 1, (35] P Casey (65-32, 45-52, 59-74); (70] R McCart 0, (55] P McNally 2 (39-65, 54-69); (70] D Curran 1, (45] D McGarry 2 (65-38, 41-75, 56-67). Break - Pat McNally 32.

Dunloy Cowboys 1, Dunloy United 3: (50] JJ O'Neill 1, (50] C Cunning 2 (20-46, 63-13, 2-70); (70] A McErlaine 0, (45] M Crilly 2 (51-70, 44-55); (50] G McAuley 1, (15] M Crawley 2 (55-70, 71-61, 54-83); (20] R McDonnell 2, (35] B McTaggart 0 (93-42, 72-31).

In Group B, Minnesota A had their first game of the season and they got off to a winning start with a 3-1 win over Minnesota Strikers.

Brian Hannaway secured the first point for the 'A' side with a 2-0 success over Niall McElroy with Brian winning the opening frame with some ease before edging the second frame on the black.

Trevor Alexander drew the strikers level, taking advantage of a rare off night for D avid McClintock to secure a straight frames win with the second on being a respotted black.

Gary Clarke's experience proved too much for young Matthew McFall and the 'A' man recorded a 2-0 win.

The final match of the night was a battle between Rodney McFall and Bill McKane who was making his first appearance for the Strikers. Bill took the first frame on the black only for Rodney to reply with a black ball win in frame two. It was still fairly close in the decider until Rodney stitched together an ultimately match winning 38 break in the decider to get Minnesota A off to a winning start and leaving the Strikers facing elimination from the Shield with only two points from their first two games.

In Antrim, Shield holders Fountain Aces bounced back from a 4-0 opening game loss to inflict a similar result on their Fountain Jokers clubmates.

Paul Bloomer made a winning start for the Aces with a 2-0 success over David Gould.

Sean French then doubled the Aces' advantage with a 2-0 win over Callum Lindsay.

Billy Thompson and Ian Templeton fought out a close contest before Ian secured a third point for the Aces with a narrow victory in the deciding third frame.

Richard Hayes completed a great night for the Aces with a straight frames win over experienced Jokers captain Joe Bingham.

Minnesota A 3, Minnesota Strikers 1: (10] B Hannaway 2, (35] N McElroy 0 (82-50, 68-61); (10] D McClintock 0, (35] T Alexander 2 (43-64, 58-65); (10] G Clarke 2, (60] M McFall 0 (97-77, 79-62); (10] R McFall 2, (25] B McKane 1 (52-55, 62-50, 74-41). Break - Rodney McFall 38.

Fountain Jokers 0, Fountain Aces 4: (50] D Gould 0, (35] P Bloomer 2 (31-63, 29-77); (50] C Lindsay 0, (60] S French 2 (44-48, 36-64); (55] B Thompson 1, (60] I Templeton 2 (33-64, 53-20, 36-44); (35] J Bingham 0, (40] R Hayes 2 (48-59, 24-68).