Super McCloy at the double

The Ireland international was in top form over the three-day event – and emerged victorious in the open singles and pairs disciplines.

McCloy sent out a message of intent in his semi final meeting with Ballymoney’s Alan Paul by claiming a comprehensive 21-14 victory.

And, in the final, he came up against a player determined to repeat his 2007 singles success – Ballymoney’s Gary Kelly.

But McCloy was having none of it. He again shot from the blocks, giving Kelly little opportunity to get a foothold in the match. The Portrush man again crossed the finishing line in some style – a 21-12 winner.

“I’m thrilled,” said McCloy. “I couldn’t have two tougher opponents, playing my Ireland team mates, Alan and Gary, in the semis and final.

“But I was happy with my form and approached the semi finals with confidence.

“My last victory in the singles was back in 1994, so it was worth the wait.”

Earlier, McCloy mounted the podium along with his Portrush colleague Ian McClure after winning the pairs title.

They blew away the opposition on both the semis and final. McClure and McCloy roared to a one-sided 24-4 victory over Coleraine’s experienced Victor Dallas and Stephen Brewster before claiming an equally impressive 25-12 win over another Lodge Road duo, Alistair Davison and Mervyn McKeeman.

“It’s the first time I’ve won the pairs, so it makes it a little bit special,” added McCloy.

“Ian was outstanding in both games.”

Kelly grabbed a little crumb of comfort by retaining the junior singles title.

The 21-year-old, who will represent Northern Ireland in the singles discipline at the Commonwealth Games, saw off the challenge from Portrush pair Robert Allen – in the semis – and Adam Wilson to guarantee involvement in the Irish Championships at Old Bleach in September.

It certainly wasn’t a good few days for Brewster and Dallas because they were also dumped out of the triples at the semi final stage by Ballymoney’s Martin McAleese, Davy Walker and Ken Shirley – the eventual winners.

They turned in another powerful display in the decider, romping to a 20-4 win over Dunluce triple Alistair Kennedy, Tommy Mullan and Uel McKeeman.

McAleese also toasted victory in the fours. He was joined by Aaron Walker, James Martin and Alan Paul, who beat Eric Sands, Philip Wallace, Mark Wilson and Colin Hogg, from Cookstown, 23-15 in the final.

Provincial Bowling Association Progressive Building Society Championships:

Semi finals: Open Singles: R Allen (Portrush) 14 G Kelly (Ballymoney) 21; G McCloy (Portrush) 21 A Paul (Ballymoney) 14.

Junior singles: R Allen (Portrush) 13 G Kelly (Ballymoney) 21; A Wilson (Portrush) 21 R Kincaid (City of Derry) 18.

Youth singles: B Taylor (Limavady) 11 JP Fahy (Brooke Park) 21; A Tennant (Ballymoney) 15 M Jones (Portglenone) 8.

Pairs: I McClure, G McCloy (Portrush) 24 V Dallas, S Brewster (Coleraine) 4; B Smyth, B Kane (Dunluce) 17 A Davison, M McKeeman (Coleraine) 18.

Triples: A Kennedy, T Mullan, U McKeeman (Dunluce) 15 U McCloy, R Allen, G McCloy (Portrush) 13; M McAleese, D Walker, K Shirley (Ballymoney) 22 J Dallas, S Brewster, V Dallas (Coleraine) 4.

Fours: A Walker, M McAleese, J Martin, A Paul (Ballymoney) 23 S Colvin, B Smyth, R Kane, B Kane (Dunluce) 9; M White, D O’Kane, J Quinn, J Marshall (Letterkenny) 10 E Sands, P Wallace, M Wilson, C Hogg (Cookstown) 28.

Finals:

Open singles: Kelly 12 McCloy 21.

Junior singles: Kelly 21 Wilson 4.

Youth singles: Fahy 21 Tennant 16.

Pairs: McClure, McCloy 25 Davison, McKeeman 12.

Triples: McAleese, Walker, Shirley 20 Kennedy, Mullan McKeeman 4.

Fours: Walker, McAleese, Martin, Paul 23 Sands, Wallace, Wilson, Hogg 19.