Toon see off Ballymena to set up final tie with Coleraine

COLERAINE will take on Ballymoney in the forthcoming IBA cup final after the Toon saw off Ballymena on Saturday.
Ballymoney and Ballymena in Irish Cup action at Coleraine Bowling Club on Saturday.Ballymoney and Ballymena in Irish Cup action at Coleraine Bowling Club on Saturday.
Ballymoney and Ballymena in Irish Cup action at Coleraine Bowling Club on Saturday.

The Braid men knew that it wasn’t going to be their day when Jim Baker’s rink lost seven shots on the first end and with only four or five ends played across the green Ballymoney were over 20 shots to the good. The Braid men did their best to get back in the game but they could never repair the early damage and in the end they came up short by 10 shots.

On rink one after 10 ends played the Braid men held a four shot lead. The Ballymoney rink though won the next five ends to edge in front by five shots, however Ballymena fought back to regain the lead with one end remaining. Two shots on the final end though gave the Ballymoney rink victory by 18-17.

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On rink two Ballymena made the worst possible start conceding seven shots and from then on the Ballymoney rink took control. Over the next 17 ends the Ballymena men could only score four singles as the Toon extended their lead to 20 shots and although the Braid rink won the final ends they were well beaten on the day by 25 shots to 8.

Gary Kelly’s rink were up by seven after 12 however six ends later the Braid men hit the front for the first time when they outscored their opponents by 9-1. The last 3 ends were close but Ballymoney rink claimed 3 singles to win 16-14.

On rink four the Braid turned round a four shot deficit to win the next seven ends to move in to a five shot lead. Three ends later the advantage was down to three shots but Coleman’s rink finished strongly to claim victory by 21-11.

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