BOWLS: Donegal primed for women's zone challenge

The McIlroy Cup holders have accounted for Monaghan, Oriel and West Down en-route to the decider, yet Aicken believes there is more to come.

“We are thrilled to be back in the final,” he said. “The win at West Down last time out was based in a great first half performance.

“Fair play to them, they came back at us strongly after the break, but we still and enough in the tank to get us over the line. To be honest, we have still to reach the level of performance we achieved last season. I still think the best is yet to come.

“We’ll certainly require our best form against Armagh in the final.”

In contrast, Armagh just about edged over the finish line in their semi final clash away at Cor, winning by only two shots.

They earlier ushered Mid Antrim and Mid Tyrone, but zone convener Jal Richardson insists a big improvement is required if his team are to scribble their name on the trophy for the seventh time.

“We looked down and out at one stage in Cork,” said Richardson. “But the team displayed great fighting qualities to grind out a result. We’ll need to up our game in the final.”

Donegal: Rink one: Ruby Graham, Kathleen Lynch, Mary McClintock, Margaret Montgomery.

Rink two: Ann Hume, Syliva Bell, Paula Friel, Audrey Gilfillan.

Rink three: Jean Buchanan, Lisa O’Kane, Donna Hegarty, Ruth Crawford.

Rink four: Maureen Beattie, Pearl Bustard, Isobel Duncan, Elizabeth Doherty.

Rink five: Phyllis Lyttle, Lila Finlay, Kathleen Duggan, Vera Paterson.

Rink six: Rae McCausland, Martina Brogan, Vanessa McHugh, Rachel McDonnell.

Armagh: Rink one: Zoe Minish, Michelle Wright, Ann Patton, Rachel Cassells.

Rink two: Eileen Trainor, Rosemary Beattie, May Cassells, Daphne Marshall.

Rink three: Anne Crrozier, Hilary Agnew, Elizabeth Smyth, Irene Doone.

Rink four: Agnes Crozier, Jean Hawthorne, Lesley Strain, Irene Douglas.

Rink five: Christina Breen, Eileen McDonald, Sadie White, Lisa Douglas.

Rink six: Laura Cassells, Flo McNally, Linda Milligan, Pauline Beattie.