Morrison’s moving across city as they join Hilden ahead of the new season

It has been a difficult decision to make for all three as they have all been at the Warren Gardens club for many years, but it is particularly hard for Keith Morrison, who has been with Garvey since his teenage years and has skipped at the club for many seasons.

Hilden maintained their place in Division 2 of the Private Greens League last year and are keen to remain there during the coming campaign.

It is thought they have also signed a few other useful players to strengthen their ranks, including a top player from Dunbarton.

The Hilden B team are in a difficult Division and will hope to perform to the best of their ability.

Garvey will be hoping for a good year

Lisnagarvey will be hoping for a good year and they are also thought to have a few new signings in their ranks.

The ambition will again be to win Division 1 of the NIBA League, but this is a difficult proposition with Bangor and Whitehead normally dominating at the top.

Balmoral have also been hopeful of winning honours and Garvey will again face a tough time ahead if they hope to claim the major crown.

It is also a testing season for the B team, who gained promotion last season to Division 3 and the general opinion at the end of last season was that it will be a new challenge against several teams they have never met before.

Wait and see on this one.

Others will hope for better things ahead

It is a case of hoping for better things ahead for the other four clubs in the area.

Lagan Valley had a terrible year last time and will be hoping it gets better this time around. Surely it will.

Dromore had a good season in NIBA Division 2 and may go even a little better this season, while the B team also were satisfied with performances last time, but probably hope to do better this time around.

Finaghy had an up and down campaign last time and will hope to make life a little easier this year.

Malone were relegated last year, but the re-organisation in the Private Greens has not really made their chances of doing well any better.

Transport trip will be tough for Garvey

Lisnagarvey have not exactly drawn the easiest of ties in the first round of the IBA Senior Cup in which they travel to Ulster Transport.

It is an evenly balanced tie and Garvey will hope to be at their best for it.

Dromore will also have a difficult one - at home to Kenilworth with a 1pm start on May 9.

In the new IBA Intermediate Cup, Hilden are home to Belfast and Malone host Ballymena B on Saturday, June 6 in the first round.

The IBA Junior Cup will be played on Saturday, May 9 with Dromore B travelling to Donaghadee, Hilden B at home to Musgrave and Lisnagarvey B hosting Mossley B. Lagan Valley have a bye.

In the NIBA Senior Cup first round Lisnagarvey travel to Carrick on May 20 and Dromore go to Rathfriland.

Finaghy and Lagan Valley have byes in the Intermediate Cup and on June 3 Garvey B are home to Musgrave B in the first round of the Junior Cup, while Dromore B have a bye.

Hilden travel to PSNI in the first round of the Private Greens Senior Cup on May 7.

Hilden B will play Pickie B away in the first round of the Junior Cup on June 4 and Malone travel to Ballymena C.

Brothers clash in Moira final

The final of the St John’s Moira Open Singles Tournament brought together two brothers from Ahoghill on Saturday night in the Parish Centre.

Andrew Morrison beat his brother William in the final watched by a large number of spectators.

William had beaten last local survivor, Raymond Gourley, Loughaghery in the semi-final and Andrew Morrison won against Owen Breen, who had beaten his brother, Dessie in the quarter finals.

Glen Harvey, Annahilt Parish reached the quarter finals but lost to William Morrison.

Mrs Irene Cunningham presented the R. J. Allan Perpetual Challenge Cup to the winner along with the other prizes.

Mrs Sadie White, the tournament organiser, thanked all the competitors and spectators and said they had a full entry on each of the four nights.

Results

round-up

SECTION WINNERS: William Morrison Ahoghill, Glen Harvey Annahilt Parish, Andrew Morrison Ahoghill, Adrian Smith Tullysaran, Dessie Breen, O. Breen both St John’s Gilford, Sean Trainor St Anthony’s, Raymond Gourley Loughaghery.

QUARTER FINALS: W. Morrison beat Harvey. A. Morrison beat Smith, D. Breen lost to O. Breen. Trainor lost to Gourley .

SEMI-FINALS: A. Morrison beat O. Breen, W. Morrison beat Gourley.

FINAL: A. Morrison beat W. Morrison.