Vinny McKeon ensures victory for Collooney
Vinny McKeon’s performance in the final of the 60 x 30 team league proved the difference in an exciting win for Collooney over a determined Ballymote side. Both sides met in the qualifying stages and Collooney bt Ballymote on that occasion by 78-55. Collooney were represented by Hugh McGarry, John McLoughlin, Vinny McKeon, Michael McGee & Michael Bruen. Representing Ballymote were Martin Golden, Conor Meehan and father and son combination of Francis & Colm McCann. Ballymote’s 1st doubles pairing of Martin Golden & Conor Meehan took the fight straight away to McGarry & McLoughlin. Golden was in tremendous form and helped Ballymote to an 21-12 win in game one. In the 2nd Ballymote opened up well and McGarry & McLoughlin were forced to play their best handball. McGarry covered every inch of the Ballymote court while McLoughlin was beginning to turn the tide in Collooney’s favour playing effectively on the left. Collooney managed to take the 2nd game by 21-17 with Ballymote still holding a 5 point advantage.
In for Collooney’s 2nd doubles team came Vinny McKeon & Michael McGee who faced the father & son combination of Francis & Colm McCann. The Collooney men recording a good 21-7 win in the opening game. In the 2nd Francis McCann had a terrific game while son Colm came more into the contest. Ballymote raced into an 9-1 lead and looked all set for overall victory. Then Vinny McKeon showed his pedigree & class. With a cool head he brought the fight to the Ballymote men with some excellent passages of play and was able to keep the Ballymote men into defensive positions in the back court. McKeon’s powerful display brought Collooney back into contention and with Michael McGee playing steady handball on the right it was to prove Collooney’s day yet again. In an exciting finish Ballymote won by 21-18 but overall McKeon & McGee had the damage done in game 1 to record a narrow victory in the end by 72-66. Peter Chambers of Diageo kindly sponsored the trophies and presented the winning Collooney side with their trophies and the runner-up prizes to the Ballymote team.