O’Reilly’s regain the lead as the race for the title hots up

O’REILLYS A 6

With the season racing to an exciting end, O’Reillys recovered from the top of table defeat at the hands of Higgins last week to record their eighth win of the campaign.

The biggest cheer was reserved for news that their nearest rivals had dropped a point at home which leaves O’Reillys one point clear at the top with two matches remaining.

The away team were never under threat in this match and took control early on as M McClean opened up the scoring and Mark Kinneen remarkably won his 12th league match on the bounce and keeps his 100% record intact.

Stephen Fitzpatrick pulled one back for the Castle but Colly Wilton was not long restoring a two frame advantage. when Ryan Fitzpatrick won frame five it looked as if the joint league leaders were going to be under pressure for the second week running but three frames in a row settle this one.

Higgins’ 4

Imperial Inn 4

This result could spell total disaster for Higgins’ fight for the league title although anyone in this league knows that this team won’t give up so lets not write the Higgins’ team off quite yet.

It was not the fact that the match ended in a draw but it was that for the fourth time this season the home side found themselves 4 - 2 up going into the doubles and failed to convert the two points that has proved their downfall, this is not taking away from a great performance from the visitors.

D Noble gave the Imperial the first frame but then the home side kicked into gear as Trevor Martin, Tony Greenan (who is only one win behind Mark Kinneen) and Gareth Mc Carten all won to open up a 3-1 lead.

C Chambers pulled a frame back for the Imperial but when Brendan Davis made it 4-2, it looked like the points were going to the home side only for the comeback.

Market Bar A 3

Coach Inn 5

With Higgins’ draw and O’Reillys defeat last week, the Coach are only two points behind and play Higgins in the last game of the season so we can not rule out these experienced players one bit.

Mucker McMullen opened the scoring for the visitors but Malta Bound Keiran Mallon levelled it in the next. Stephen Docherty and Barry McGeown pulled the Coach away. Owen Cull then gave the home side some hope of gaining a point but that was dealt a severe blow as Bill Thompson and the doubles of Mucker and Tom Moore secured the points.

Mulhollands 3

Banbridge Legion 5

With this defeat, the slim chance Mulhollands had of completing a hat-trick of league titles is now gone.

The visitors are definitely ruing their poor start to the campaign as their recent results are up there.

Their last two games were a home win against league chasing Coach and now an away win against the double defending champions. This game was over as a contest very quickly as the Legion raced into a 4-0 lead through Andy Magill, J McCarhan, Lee McCullough and Sid Kerr.

Raymie Jess gave the home side a glimmer of hope in the fifth but that was wiped out by Anthony Thompson who secured both points.