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The eagerly awaited clash between local rivals Cookstown Parochial, winners in 2006 and Cookstown High, winners in 2007 proved the quality of the Parochial side. This is a club which has won the Mid Ulster league on 19 occasions including 16 out of the last 18 and the charity shield on 12 occasions as well as bringing back many Irish , British and world titles. The Parochial may not have been confident follwoing their league defeat against the High two days earlier but this was a stronger and better balanced Parochial side. Parochial amde a good start to lead by 7 after the first end with the best bowler never to win an Irish singles title, Colm McHugh picking up a 4 against fellow international Alan Paul. It was clear from early on that the game would probably be decided by how this game turned out and so it proved. Alan Paul is an exceptional talent and on several ends produced shot saving deliveries, as he has done all season, but in the end it proved too much for him. The rink managed to stay within striking distance of the Parochial rink for 6 ends but proceeded to drop 11 shots in the last 4. Colm's rink played exceptionally well and even when Alan managed to produce a wonder as with his first delivery on the 9th end, the Parochial skip stepped up to the mark with an excellent bowl to pick up a four and go on to win 17 - 4. The other two games were much tighter. Mark Wilson and Damian McElroy's rinks were never far apart and were all sqaure after 7 ends. Single shots over the remaining ends gave Wilson a 7 - 4 win. It was not perhaps the best bowling by both rinks but neverthless a keenly contested one. The final game pitted Dane Jordan against Sean Quinn. The Parochial rink got off to the better start leading 8 - 3 after 6 ends, including a costly bowl over the fender. A pair of three's on the next two ends brought the High back into the game and a 9 - 8 lead. Quinn's rink then picked up a three to retake the lead and clinch the game 11 - 9.
With the High currently in top spot in the league by 7 points , the scene is set for a league decider in the last game of the season and a Parochial side, if they produce a similar performance amy wel be favourites to retain that title too.
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