Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Gary Kelly and Adam McKeown secured Northern Ireland's third gold medal of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
ByNigel RinglandBBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow- Published28 minutes ago
Northern Ireland bowlers Adam McKeown and Gary Kelly have won Commonwealth Games gold in the men's pairs after a dramatic extra-end win over England’s Nick Brett and Jamie Walker.
McKeown and Kelly won the first set 6-2 but Brett and Walker won the second 6-2 to level - before the Northern Ireland pair prevailed to win the tiebreak 1-0.
It is a third gold medal for Northern Ireland at the Games in Glasgow after Kate O'Connor won the heptathlon and Jon McConnell's men's 70kg boxing success on Saturday.
It is a fourth Commonwealth medal for Kelly, and he finally adds gold to the bronze medals he won earlier in the Games in the singles and in Delhi in 2020, and his silver in Birmingham four years ago.
It is a second gold for McKeown after he won the fours with Northern Ireland in 2022.
It is also a third bowls medal at the Games in Glasgow after Kelly's singles medal and a third-place finish for Chloe Wilson and Shauna O'Neill in the women's pairs.
Kelly said it was "incredible" to win gold alongside McKeown, as the 36-year-old joins Neil Booth as NI's most successful bowler at the Commonwealths with four medals - something he admitted he "wasn't even aware of".
"It's pretty cool company to be in, but I don't think of that stuff too much, to be honest," Kelly told BBC Sport NI.
"It's an amazing feeling and it's been an incredible journey. It's just amazing to complete the set and gain that ultimate goal for our country."
McKeown said it was "surreal" to be a two-time gold medallist, and the duo "had worked so hard for this".
"I know how much it means to Gary, especially. It's relief and satisfaction just to get over the line," McKeown told BBC Sport NI.
"I'm just thankful for the opportunity I had to come into the Northern Ireland team and try to perform at best, and try to get a good result for the country."
'Enjoy and embrace it'
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, It is a second gold medal for Adam McKeown, while Gary Kelly won his fourth Commonwealth Games medal
After reaching the final with some tiebreak heroics in the semi-final win over Malaysia, it seemed only fitting that the final would go the same way.
McKeown and Kelly were out of the traps fast in the first set as they took four shots in the third end on route to a 6-2 win.
The English pair fought back in a tight second set to build a 3-0 lead, and they held on to win 4-2 and send the final to a one-end shootout.
It was Kelly who came closest to the jack and Walker was unable to respond with his final bowl, which started the celebrations for a well-deserved gold medal.
"We wish it wasn't always an extra end but we played really well," added McKeown.
"We got a huge four shots early on and kicked on from there in the first set.
"In the second set we lost a three early on in probably the worst end of the game, and then clawed our way back into it.
"Gary had a chance to win the game with his last bowl and unfortunately just missed, but he played an absolute bomb on the tiebreak end to secure the win."
Kelly said he had to grab the chance "with both hands" with the decisive bowl of the match.
"Obviously there's nerves and there's pressure, but you've just got to have belief and trust.
"I've been lucky enough n my career that I've done it before, so you've just got to reach into those moments and believe.
"You have to enjoy and embrace those moments as well, and thankfully I delivered."
