Mackle and O’Reilly in Armagh double at Barry Cup

Armagh bowlers had a double in the Mick Barry Cup when Thomas Mackle beat Christy Mullins and Bryan O’Reilly beat Trevor O’Meara at Ballincurrig on Sunday.

Mackle achieved a rare win over Mullins after leading from start to finish. He opened with a brilliant bowl, which Mullins missed by just five metres. Mackle drove his next past Moore’s gate to open up a big lead. He missed a chance to increase his odds with his third. Mullins then got two great bowls to just short of the no-play line to cut the odds to ten metres.

Mackle’s next was tight on the left but it held the road and gave him an important 30m lead at Heaphy’s. He held his advantage in the next exchange. When Mullins narrowly missed sight in nine, Mackle hit back with a great bowl to Leahy’s to push his lead almost a bowl. He followed with another brilliant bowl to make the big corner in ten, where he was close to two in front.