Impressive Cookstown turn in sizzling cup performance

Cookstown turned up the heat in the IBA Senior Cup at the weekend with a stunning 30 shots win over the much fancied Whitehead at Gunningmore Park.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Jun 2016, 08:59 BST
Action from the Ewarts versus Lisnagarvey in their Irish Cup tie.Action from the Ewarts versus Lisnagarvey in their Irish Cup tie.
Action from the Ewarts versus Lisnagarvey in their Irish Cup tie.

Having lost only one game in the Provincial Senior League this season -- they are currently battling it out with Ballymoney at the top -- Cookstown transferred that form to the game's to knockout tournament.

They produced possibly their best performance of the season by dramatically sending NIBA kingpins Whitehead spinning through the exit door.

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The Provincial boys won on all four rinks with Mark Wilson returning the most impressive card following his 24-14 win over Marty McHugh.

Sean Quinn, Liam McHugh and Damien McElroy completed the job by beating James Caldwell (25-19), Stephen McKinley (21-15) and Barry Brown (21-14).

Meanwhile, Andy Duncan turned in a majestic performance which was the catalyst in Ballymena’s dramatic win over Dunbarton at Church Street.

In a repeat of last season’s final, the Sky Blues reaped a dollop of revenge on their rivals with the this narrow 12 shots victory.

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The boys form the Braid were still smarting after losing a game they had dominated for 15 ends. But they lost the plot as the finish line approached, letting Dunbarton nick the trophy for the fourth time.

And, Dunbarton looked like they would pile on the agony -- only for that man Duncan!

The international could just do nothing wrong has he skipped his rink to a whipping 31-5 win against his Ireland colleague Andy Hughes.

It was the result that turned the game on it’s head as the Gilford boys won on the three other rinks.

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Marty Trainor led the assault with a 22-15 win against Nigel Robinson, while DJ Wilson and Conor McCartan played their par by beating Jim Baker (22-16) and Stephen Coleman (16-17).

Draws at a glance . . .

IBA Senior Cup, round three: Portrush v Bangor, Dun Laogharie v Ewarts, Old Bleach v Ballymena, Divis v Mossley, Cookstown v Larne, Falls v Blackrock, Belmont v Lurgan, Dunluce v Ballymoney.

IBA Intermediate Cup, round three: Shaftesbury v Cavehill, Dungiven v Salisbury, Ards v Musgrave, Clarendon v Sydenham, Forth River v New Castle, Hilden v Bessbrook, Westmanstown v Curran, Belmont B v Newtownabbey.

IBA Junior Cup, round three: Ballymoney v Crumlin, Whitehead v Old Bleach, Cookstown v Carrickfergus, BETS v Letterkenny, Ballymena C v Larne, CYM v Portadown, Belmont C v Falls, Balmoral v Ards.