Team NI make dream Commonwealth Games start as bowls star hopes close friendship 'gives us the extra gear'
Team NI’s Shauna O’Neill admits making a perfect start at the Commonwealth Games was exactly “what we were planning on” after beating Singapore 2-0 alongside Chloe Wilson in the opening Women’s Pairs match – and hopes their close friendship can provide the “extra gear” required for a deep run in Glasgow.
Limavady’s O’Neill and Wilson of Portadown kicked their campaign off with a comfortable victory, continuing what was a dream first morning for Northern Ireland after Gary Kelly celebrated Men’s Singles success over Niue’s Frederrick Tatafu.
O’Neill and Wilson won a triples bronze medal at the 2023 World Outdoor Championships in Australia and have been placed in Section A at the Commonwealth Games alongside Guernsey, Isle of Man, Australia, Zambia, Singapore and Niue.
With only the section winner progressing to the semi-finals, Northern Ireland’s pairing knew there was no room for error on Thursday – and were delighted with their performance.
"You really couldn’t (ask for much more), it’s what we were planning on going into the day,” said O’Neill on the Commonwealth Games NI’s social media platforms. “A win would have been nice but winning 2-0 makes it a bit more comfortable.
"You want to avoid those tie-breaks so we’re happy. The start eased the pressure for us and made us feel more confident going into the second set.
“We didn’t even have to speak to know what each other was going to do, which is really nice...I’m hoping that gives us the extra gear we need to go far in the competition.”
On the conditions in Glasgow, Wilson added: “It is extremely different, we really don’t play under a shot clock that often.
“It is harder in the pairs as well because I’m trying to communicate with Shauna but you don’t want to eat into her time too much so she still has time to deliver her bowl.
“It was important to start with a win especially as only the top of the group gets through so you don’t want a bad start.”
Ballymoney native Kelly won a bronze medal in 2010 before picking up silver in Birmingham four years ago and is now hoping to go one better.
“It’s fantastic to get of to a winning start and hopefully that will set the tone for Team NI,” said Kelly. “I think I settled in reasonably well and got off to a good start.
"Unfortunately I really didn’t take it into the second set, I enjoyed the challenge of the second set.
“You can try to mirror it, but at the end of the day, it’s nothing like it until you are out there doing it.”
Team NI will be taking part in the Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremony at 8pm on Thursday evening with more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations preparing to officially launch the competition.
The King and Queen will be at the Hydro in Glasgow for the curtain-raising spectacle while Tom Walker, KT Tunstall, Callum Beattie, Nina Nesbitt, Valtos, Nathan Evans and Saint PHNX will be performing.