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25th. Feb. 12
Inishowen Draughts
The destination of the three Cups were decided last Tuesday night at The Rock bar, Muff, as the curtain came down on our annual cups tournament. Thirty two players had pitted their wits for seven gruelling weeks of highly competitive draughts which was slightly mellowed by the spontaneous wit of some of our club “characters” who added that vital ingredient to the tournament.
In the senior section. Fahan’s Hugh McCarron got the fright of his life when he played Neil McLaughlin senior in the final match of the George Devlin Cup. McCarron was a clear leader by 3 points but as the first game ended the deficit was reduced to just one point. The final game was a nail-biting affair but McCarron managed to hold the experienced Clonmany man to a draw and lift the George Devlin Cup for the first time. Neil took the second prize. Newly promoted Joe Collins from Carndonagh, who was the dark horse of the competition, secured 3rd. Prize as he turned the tables on Buncrana’s Willie John McLaughin. Willie John took the 4 points in their last meeting but Joe has now blossomed beyond recognition.
Culdaff’s Tony Gibbons and Dungiven’s Kevin McLaughlin were both knocking on the door of success but their final drawn match put both players down the leader board. Redcastle’s Paddy Barr who had a very good win over Buncrana’s Joe Fullerton, was also up there with the front runners, but missed the podium by 2 points. The match between Culdaff’s Seamus Doherty and Buncrana’s Sean McGonagle ended all square.
In the intermediate division, Jim McGowan saw his aspirations of silverware dealt a serious blow as he got a really cruel lesson from Buncrana’s John Hegarty. The Derry man only required 1 point to secure a victory but it was not to happen, as Hegarty collected all 4 points in this top class final of the Liam Kelly Cup. Jim’s disappointment was softened by qualifying for 2nd. prize.
We have the very popular Paddy Kerr in 3rd. Place. This quick-witted Derry man, who played very good draughts during the tournament, knocked some of our high-flying competitors off their perch while accumulating 17 points. Fahan’s David Walker finished in 4th. Place. Dungloe’s Mary Gallagher collected 2 points in her match with Fahan’s Noel Devlin. Both players finished in joint 5th. Place with Buncrana’s Liam Kelly senior, who defeated Carndonagh’s Michael McLaughlin by a 3 – 1 score line. The most improved player of the competition was Carndonagh’s Paddy Diver who drew his match with Drumfries’s Gerard McLaughlin.
In the John Caldwell Cup, Our President, John Joe McGee showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels as he won The John Caldwell Cup for the first time by 4 clear points. His final match was a real tough one against Redcastle’s Brian Lafferty. Brian has won most cups and trophies on the draughts scene but had to submit to defeat by the over powering Buncrana man. Brian collected 3rd. Prize. The match between Moville’s Sean McCauley and Carndonagh’s Julian McGuinness was the other big attraction of the night, as both players were playing for a podium position. Julian was 2 points ahead of Sean before the match started therefore the result being 2 points apiece was sufficient to place Julian in 2nd. spot. Sean McCauley, Neil McLaughlin junior and Billy Grant all shared 4th. Place.
Compliments to the management and staff at the Rock Bar for their hospitality and courtesy throughout the tournament. There will be a draughts clinic in The Foot Inn, Burnfoot, on Tuesday night.
Don’t forget, the Donegal Open Draughts Championships starts in Coyles Bar and Lounge, Newtowncunningham, on Tuesday week, 6th. March. ’12. All categories of players catered for.
Gerald Callaghan P.R.O. Inishowen Draughts Club.