Winter League Report – Round 4
Sponsored by Bowe Dental
Welcome back, and happy New Year to all teams, captains, and supporters!
After a well‑earned break, the KBTC Bowe Dental Winter League roared back into action with Round 4 — the halfway mark of the season. With every team now settling into their rhythm, the battles across Rock, Punk, Pop, and Metal delivered drama, tight scorelines, and a few statement wins. Let’s dive into how 2026 kicked off on the courts
Thanks as always to Bowe Dental for keeping the league smiling into 2026.
Round 4 Tables
🎯 Perfect Performances – 22‑Point Firestarters
Six teams blasted into the New Year with maximum scores:
Rock Section: U2 (Claire O’Brien) lit up the scoreboard with a flawless return. Queen (Sinead Mannix) had a regal start to the year, and Nirvana (Mick Collins) came as they were and left with perfection.
Pop Section: ABBA (John Geary) danced into the new year with another immaculate performance. Ace of Base (Neil Williams) opened 2026 with a perfect base line of 22, and No Doubt (Efi Cocco) showed no hesitation, no doubt and no mercy.
🎶 Round 5 Fixtures – “Here Comes the Sun” Edition
As we stride into Round 5, the Winter League hits full cruising speed. The holiday cobwebs are well and truly shaken off and every section is starting to feel the pressure of the road to the semi‑finals. Rivalries tighten, leaders defend their turf, and a few dark horses are quietly tuning up for a late‑season surge. Here’s what’s coming up in the next blockbuster round.
🎸 Rock Section – “Livin’ on a Prayer”
U2 (Claire O’Brien) Pearl Jam (Brian Fitzgibbon) – A heavyweight clash between table‑toppers and grunge royalty. Will U2 keep their elevation, or will Pearl Jam “Even Flow” their way back into contention?
Queen (Sinead Mannix) vs. Coldplay (Aoise Carrol) – A regal showdown meets stadium‑pop serenity. Expect “Don’t Stop Me Now” energy from Queen and a “Viva La Vida” fightback from Coldplay.
Heart (Geraldine O’Brien) vs. Nirvana (Mick Collins) – Heart look to steady the ship, but Nirvana arrive buzzing after a perfect 22. Will it be “Barracuda” bite or “Lithium” lift?
AC/DC (Fintan Byrne) vs. Boston (Karen McCarthy) – Classic rock meets classic rock. AC/DC aim to thunder forward, while Boston hope to “More Than a Feeling” their way to a big result
🎤 Pop Section – “Call Me Maybe”
Wham! (Leo Dufficey) vs. ABBA (John Geary) – A chart‑topping showdown. Wham! bring the sunshine, ABBA bring the sparkle — this one screams “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” drama.
Maroon 5 (Martina McKoegh) vs. Bananarama (Donagh O’Sullivan) – Both sides chasing momentum. Will Maroon 5 find “Moves Like Jagger,” or will Bananarama deliver a “Cruel Summer” surprise?
Westlife (Carol Ann Murray) vs. *NSYNC (Claire Hassett)– Ballads vs. boyband bangers. Westlife look to fly high, but *NSYNC will be shouting “It’s Gonna Be Me” all night long.
No Doubt (Efisio Cocco) vs. Ace of Base (Neil Williams) – Two in‑form teams collide. No Doubt bring the ska‑punk swagger, Ace of Base bring the Europop precision. Expect a “Don’t Speak” nail‑biter.
🤘 Punk Section – “I Fought the Law”
The Cure (Maciej Kanik) vs. The Clash (Pat Clarke) – A moody masterpiece in the making. The Cure’s calm control meets The Clash’s rebellious roar — “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” energy guaranteed.
Soundgarden (Mary Murnane) vs. Misfits (Edel Neary)– Heavy alt meets horror‑punk chaos. Soundgarden will dig deep, but Misfits arrive ready to “Hybrid Moments” their way to another big win.
Husker Du (Vishal Singhal) vs. The Outcasts (Deirdre Storan)– Two sides hungry for points. Expect grit, grind, and maybe a “New Day Rising” for one of them.
Green Day (Tommy Casey) vs. The Ramones (Liam Breen) – A pop‑punk classic. Green Day look to bounce back, but The Ramones march in with “Blitzkrieg Bop” confidence.
⚡Metal Section – “Breaking the Law”
Skid Row (Suzanne Noble) vs. Quiet Riot (Alison Power)– A high‑stakes battle between two contenders. Skid Row are flying, but Quiet Riot will be shouting “Come On Feel the Noise” from the first serve.
KISS (Sinead Spain) vs. Iron Maiden (Bernie Lynch/Kathy Casey)– Glam meets gallop. KISS aim to protect top spot, while Maiden return from their bye ready to charge like “The Trooper.”
Def Leppard (Conor O’Reilly) vs. Black Sabbath (Dawn Keane) – A clash of eras. Leppard look for a spark, while Sabbath bring the doom‑laden “War Pigs” intensity.
Metallica (Graham Ryan)– Bye week; The thrash titans take a breather before the final push toward the playoffs.
🎧 Here’s to Sunshine and New Beginnings –
Check out some tunes to welcome in spring and good weather. Remember to send in suggestions for future music selections to [email protected].
Rock –“Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQUlA8Hcv4s
Pop – “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U
Punk – “Growing Up” by The Linda Lindas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm1Sew7lAG4
Metal – “Rise Today” by Alter Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYG3BPvFOgs
Alan Williamson & Juli Moticka
Competition (and bad pun) Organisers