Drama as three League Cup ties settled by single shot margins

The two-leg format of the competition means that on many occasions, the second instalment is little more than a ‘dead rubber’ with the outcome already long since decided after the first instalment.

No so on this occasion, with no less than three of the seven ties played being decided by a SINGLE shot margin at the end of two meetings.

Nowhere was the tension more acutely felt than at Moneyglass, where the home side won on a tie end after their battle with Eaton Park had ended deadlocked at 86 shots apiece.

Having lost by just three shots in their home leg, the Division Three basement dwellers reversed that result thanks to wins from John Carruthers and Gary Shaw and had it not been for Sean McNeilly’s rink winning by 11 shots, Moneyglass wouldn’t even have reached the ‘penalty shootout’ scenario of a tie end.

All Saints were another third tier side to eliminate second division opposition when they beat Division Two high-fliers Portglenone by a shot.

Although losing on three rinks, All Saints were able to restrict the damage just enough for Eugene McReynolds rink to guide them to victory by the narrowest of margins.

The third single-shot margin might not have been anticipated after the first leg of the all-first division clash between BIBC and BPFA.

BIBC started the game 29 shots in arrears and came within a whisker of overturning the seemingly impossible and this result is sure to give them fresh heart that they can compete in the top flight.

The remaining ties went with the formbook although BIBC ‘A’ suffered a surprise second leg defeat at third division Glenravel, scoring just 29 shots on the night, although they had a comfortable cushion from the first leg.

Elsewhere, Clough made no mistakes against Golf Seniors, having entered the second leg 10 shots ahead, while Golf Club continued their impressive early-season form as they cruised into the last eight with a comfortable victory at Harryville Community Centre.

SCOREBOARD

Portglenone CC 44, All Saints (+10) 33: J Gaul 12, T Dillon 4; G McLarnon 11, P Martin 6; J McErlean 15, S Haveron 4; E Cassley 6, E McReynolds 9. Aggregate - Portglenone 77, All Saints 78.

First Ballymena (+10) 43, Antrim Indoor Bowling Club 43: J Clarke 6, D McCullough 14; J Shields 7, R McCullough 6; L McQuitty 10, J Logan 15; D McCullough 10, T Evans 8. Aggregate - First Ballymena 90, Antrim IBC 78.

BIBC 52, BPFA ‘A’ 23: J Coulter 9, D Turtle 7; R Torrington 10, R Rodgers 9; D Torrington 17, A Cahoon 7; N Robinson 16, I Craig 0. Aggregate - BIBC 76, BPFA ‘A’ 77.

Golf Seniors (+10) 35, Clough Rangers 36: G McCrea 4, A Armstrong 10; I McMaster 8, J Gilchrist 5; J Nichols 3, W Patton 18; D Smyth 10, R Aitcheson 3. Aggregate Golf Seniors 72, Clough 83.

Harryville CC (+10) 30, Golf Club 60: H Smyth 3, S McGarry 15; B McBride 4, D McCullough 15; S Wilson 11, J Jamieson 11; J Patton 2, J Lynn 19. Aggregate - Harryville 66, Golf 104.

Glenravel (+20) 44, BIBC ‘A’ 29: M McKeegan 8, D Elliott 5; T McKeegan 4, J Gaston 8; M McKillop 6, A Bonnar 10; J McKeegan 6, B Magrath 6. Aggregate - Glenravel 81, BIBC ‘A’ 91.

Moneyglass 41, Eaton Park (+10) 44: B McCusker 9, J Carruthers 11; S McNeilly 17, B Hill 6; H Marron 7, G Shaw 9; T Magee 8, G Reid 8. Aggregate - Moneyglass 86, Eaton Park 86 (Moneyglass won on tie end).

QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

The revised quarter-final draw is: Moneyglass v Golf Club; Clough Rangers v BIBC ‘A’; First Ballymena v Michelin; All Saints v BPFA ‘A’.

DIVISION TWO

There was one re-arranged Division Two match last week which saw BPFA ‘B’ take full points from their home game against Antrim IBC.

BPFA ‘B’ 42 (5), Antrim IBC 22 (0): H McCullough 8, R McCullough 5; D Kernohan 12, D McCullough 7; J Campbell 14, T Evans 5; N Graham 8, J Logan 5.