Mid Cork’s junior A championship has six contesting and first through to the last four is David O’Mahony. A seasoned campaigner at this level, the Five mile Bridge man was pitted against the grades newcomer, Ger O’Driscoll, last year’s junior B winner, in an opening round score at Ballinacurra, Upton on Sunday last. For a €1,700 total it was a competitive joust from the off. Little separated them approaching the last quarter after O’Driscoll rallied to make inroads on O’Mahony’s good lead earned with a massive seventh past ‘Perrott’s’. O’Mahony’s strong finish was decisive with a powerful third last restoring a commanding lead as the end line neared. O’Mahony will play Kieran Murphy in the semi-final. On the other side of the draw, Aidan Desmond will play Sean Murphy with the winner meeting Denis Wilmot in the last four. The women’s intermediate championship had its first score at Derrinasafa. The group C all Dunmanway clash of Louise Collins and Rachel Kingston was a hard-fought duel right to the end. A winner of the championship back in 2004, Louise had experience on her side and it counted in a narrow win over the reigning All-Ireland and European U18 champion. Rachel’s next engagement is against the redoubtable Gretta Cormican with much hinging on the outcome of their Bauravilla set-to. The South-West junior B championship is underway. Shannonvale is the venue for all round-robin scores with Johnny O’Driscoll having set an early marker in his win over Ger Connolly a few weeks ago. David Hegarty joins him at the head of the group after his victory over Seamus O’Sullivan on Sunday last. In South-West novice B in Grange, the former Carbery man, Enda Conneally defeated Darren Harrington. A significant result in East Cork saw former senior All-Ireland winner, Phillip O’Donovan make a return after an extended lay-off. It was a winning one too at Ballincurrig as he advanced in junior veteran with a comprehensive victory over Michael O’Leary. He will have more hurdles to cross in this championship as Mick Hurley is also in the mix after an impressive win at Clashmore over last year’s champion, Paul O’Brien.
Also in East Cork, in novice veteran Aidan Sexton defeated Donie O’Sullivan at Clashmore. West Cork’s championships continued apace. At Durrus, in novice C, Brendan Burke defeated Stephen O’Farrell in the last shot and in D, Daniel Hayes, Kilronan, defeated Jan Tessyman by two for €600. At Ardcahan in novice C, Keith Sheehan won from Darragh Kehilly. Two big hitters in novice C had victories at Derrinasafa. Brian Horgan defeated Jason Daly and Mark Deane defeated Stephen Daly. At Ballinacarriga, in D, Johnny Hurley defeated Sean Calnan and in C Kevin O’Sullivan defeated Timmy Roberts. In D at Bantry, Peter Hickey defeated Kieran Collins. Scores in Gaeltacht’s U18 championships went ahead at Ballyvourney. Jack Lynch won from Odhran O’Leary; Kayla Healy won from Abby Lynch and Liam Twomey won from Jack O’Donoghue. In Gaeltacht championship action at Terelton, novice C, Evan Kelleher won from Aaron Murphy and in novice A round-robin two seasoned campaigners clashed. Noel Murphy won a tough battle with veteran’s champion, Tim Kelleher. North Cork’s championships also progressed. At Ballinagree in novice D, Jack Oldham defeated Michael Casey, last shot, for €1,760 and, in the same grade, Bill Casey defeated T J Willis for €800. In novice C at Beal na Morrive on Sunday, Martin Kelleher won from Clifford O’Flynn and Tony Hickey won from Daniel O’Sullivan. At Curraheen in the City junior B championship there were big wins for Aidan Bowen and James O’Sullivan. Bowen accounted for John O’Reilly on Saturday by a three-bowl margin and former under-age star, O’Sullivan defeated an off-from Declan Murphy by two on Sunday. In junior veteran, Noel Gould received a walk-over from Pat Butler. At Paddoes in the novice D championship, Pascal Bowen defeated Feidhlim O’Neill and Jamie Bowen defeated Mike Murphy. In North-East novice D at Corrin, Michael Kelleher defeated Barry Coughlan by three bowls for €200 and Eugene Hanley defeated Tom Allen by a bowl for €200.
Munster (Cork) boys and Ulster’s girls were winners at the inter-provincial U12 and U14 team finals at Newcastle Co. Dublin on Saturday last. The event was enhanced by a full compliment of teams from Westport/Aughagower representing Connaught many of whose participants more than matched their rivals from the strongholds. The overall strength of teams north and south and the greater practice opportunities in the lead up was the deciding difference. Newcastle club chairman, Sean McBride, welcomed all the young bowl-players to the capital and, in conditions perfectly suitable for bowl-playing, the action was soon underway on the Lyon’s Road. Forty-eight young bowlers showed their paces with Munster, Ulster and Connaught bringing twelve teams of boys and girls in the allocated categories. Munster’s U14 boys with Carbery’s Tom McCarthy and Gaeltacht’s Ross O’Brien in splendid form and ably assisted by West Cork’s Oisin Murray and Gaeltachts Dylan O’Shea who made vital plays at different junctures, had the southern camp in the winner’s enclosure early in the day. Their overall total had them on 2,254.4 metres over eighty ahead of Ulster on 2,170.6 metres. Ross O’Brien had the best individual tally. The U12 boy’s were no less impressive and secured another win for Munster with a 1,992.1 metre total. Mid Cork’s Jack Allen and Tadg Hickey, Gaeltacht’s Eoin Kelly and West Cork’s Eoin Hickey all hit the heights here in a comprehensive win over Ulster and Connaught. Ulster had a real star in Jack O’Reilly, and it was he who won the individual prize. Ulster’s new youth programme has seen a big influx in the girls U12 and U14 brackets and it showed in top-class performances in both categories. Eleanor Sweeney, Kayla McCartney, Megan O’Reilly and Cliodhna Donnelly were superb in carding an overall total of 1,818.8 almost 220 ahead of a game Munster quartet of Maebh Cuinnea, Anna Deane, Orla Murphy and Lelia Foley on 1,599.2. Connaught’s Katie Hughes was brilliant in this category and along with Ciara Sheridan, Jennifer Maguire and Shona Gibbons hit a fine total of 1,421.1. Eleanor McSweeney’s star performance won her the individual prize. Girls U12 was a closer set-to but Ulster’s Connie Mallon, Aoife Cahill, Ellie May McArdle and Aoife Hughes had wonderful consistency in their favour as they edged Munster (Chloe Hubbard, Caoimhe Hurley, Grace O’Sullivan and the determined nine-year old, Cait Young) 1,545metres to 1,413.2. Connaught were excellent here too hitting 1,291.5. Despite Ulster’s dominance, Chloe Hubbard’s star quality shone through as the Rylane lady won the individual prize. Michael Brennan expressed his delight at the turn-out and overall success of the second inter-provincial hosting. Chris Mallon spoke of its importance for the development of the sport and Connaught’s David Hughes expressed his delight at his team’s performances.
In club action at the weekend, Michael Carroll, Gloun, won the Beal na mBlath three-way from James Kelleher, last shot, with Darragh Kiely forced to retire injured. They played for a total of €2,100. Back the road here, Ger O’Driscoll, showed no ill effects from his morning championship defeat when he took on Vincent Kiely in a return score that carried a €2,600 total. O’Driscoll took the victory here by a big fore bowl. At Lyre in a big money set-to, Wayne Parkes finished strongly to deny Donal O’Riordan for a €12,400 total. Back the road, Denis Wilmot returned to winning ways with a big last shot victory over South-West junior A champion, Alex O’Donovan. For a €12,000 total Wilmot’s was a last shot win.
It was a good day for the North Cork punters at Doneraile. Andrew O’Callaghan defeated Eamonn Bowen by a bowl for €4,400 and, in the return, Edmund Sexton defeated Liam Walsh for €2,000. At Carrignavar, P J Cooney defeated Andrew O’Leary by a bowl for €2,000. At Beal na Morrive on Saturday, Carbery’s Darragh Dempsey came with a late surge to deny local, David Hubbard, last shot, for €5,400 and, in a return here, Luke Connors defeated Deccie O’Mahony. In singles contest at Curraheen, Garret Bourke came from a good distance back to forge a last shot win against Noel Gould for a stake of €2,400. In doubles scores at Curraheen, Stephen Bowen and Trevor O’Meara defeated Wayne Callanan who was partnered by John Donnellan for a stake of €2,200 and Bowen was in the winner’s enclosure again on Sunday when he teamed up with Jonathan Curtin to defeat Declan O’Leary and Darragh O’Donovan, last shot, for €1,200.
The inter-regional draws for the county rounds of bowling’s various championships were announced at last Wednesday’s March executive meeting. Regions playing in preliminary rounds will have an earlier deadline to adhere to when completing their championships. Separate draws were required to facilitate participation of outer regions.
The draw with venues is as follows:
For Junior A and B and junior veteran;
Preliminary Round:
(A) East Cork v London/Leinster/Connaught at Grenagh;
(B) Gaeltacht v City at Beal na Morrive;
Quarterfinals:
1. North East v West at Castletownkenneigh;
2. (A) winner v South-West at Curraheen;
3. Carbery v (B) winner at Lyre;
4. Mid Cork v North Cork at Inchigeelagh:
Semi-finals; 2 v 4; 3 v 1.
Draws for Junior C, Novice A, B, C, D, Novice veteran, Junior lady’s and All under-age grades (U18, U16, U14, U12, Boys and Girls).
Preliminary round:
(A) East Cork v London/Leinster/Connaught at Carrignavar;
(B) North-East v South-West at Templemartin;
Quarterfinals
1. (B) winner v Carbery at Terelton or The Clubhouse;
Under-age venues for above The Clubhouse or Clondrohid:
2. Mid Cork v (A) winners at Whitechurch; Under-age venue The Bog Road;
3. West Cork v North Cork at The Mons (All grades);
4. City v Gaeltacht at Kilcorney; Under-age venue, Bweeng;
Semi-finals: 4 v 1; 2 v 3.
The women’s senior and intermediate championships will be played under a round-robin group stage format and the fixture list, unveiled recently, promise a series of lively encounters to be played out over the coming months. In senior, defending champion, Hannah Sexton is placed in a difficult group of four. Last year’s runner-up, Veronica O’Mahony, who was in terrific form recently in a doubles victory at Ballygurteen, Emma Fitzpatrick, Rosscarbery and the returning former three-time county champion, Geraldine Curtin are all formidable rivals but anything other than a top-two place in the group for Hannah would constitute a major surprise. Group two has three more likely contenders. League winner, Maria Nagle, the always consistent Meghan Collins and, back in the top tier for the first time in a while, Denise Murphy, whose intermediate winning form was a stand-out last year will vie for the semi-final places.
The senior lady’s score list is as follows.
Group A:
Hannah Sexton v Emma Fitzpatrick at Drinagh; Emma Fitzpatrick v Veronica O’Mahony at Ballinacurra, Upton; Geraldine Curtin v Emma Fitzpatrick at Lyre; Hannah Sexton v Veronica O’Mahony at Templemartin; Hannah Sexton v Geraldine Curtin at Grange; Veronica O’Mahony v Geraldine Curtin at Newcestown.
Group B: Meghan Collins v Denise Murphy at Grenagh; Meghan Collins v Maria Nagle at Shannonvale; Denise Murphy v Maria Nagle at Beal na mBlath.
Women’s intermediate will be played out in four groups of three. The top-two from each will go through to the knock-out quarterfinals. They include last year’s junior winner, Margaret Sexton and U18 trailblazer, Rachel Kingston as well as Helen Whyte, Gretta Cormican and Juliette Murphy who have mainstays of women’s bowling for many years. The intermediate fixture list is as follows:
Group A: Julianne Hayes, Helen Whyte, Hannah Cronin.
Julianne Hayes v Helen Whyte at The Clubhouse; Julianne Hayes v Hannah Cronin at Ballinacarriga; Helen Whyte v Hannah Cronin at Drinagh.
Group B: Chloe O’Halloran, Lisa Hegarty, Margaret Sexton.
Chloe O’Halloran v Lisa Hegarty at Ballinacarriga; Chloe O’Halloran v Margaret Sexton at Castletownkenneigh; Margaret Sexton v Lisa Hegarty at Shannonvale.
Group C: Louise Collins, Rachel Kingston, Gretta Cormican.
Louise Collins v Rachel Kingston at Derrinasafa; Louise Collins v Gretta Cormican at The Clubhouse; Rachel Kingston v Gretta Cormican at Bauravilla.
Group D: Ciara Buckley, Louise Daly, Juliette Murphy.
Louise Daly v Ciara Buckley at Beal na mBlath; Louise Daly v Juliette Murphy at Clondrohid; Juliette Murphy v Ciara Buckley at Carrignavar.