Grading was the major item on the agenda of Bol Chumanns November executive meeting. Up from Intermediate in 2024 we have three South West players Tommy O’Sullivan, Denis O’Sullivan and Wayne Parkes, bringing the total no of seniors for 2025 to 14. In the Intermediate grade more came down than went up, going up to Intermediate we have Junior A champion for 2024 Michael Murphy from Mallow and David Shannon from the Carbery division and brought down from senior was Michael Harrington bringing the total no of Intermediates to contest for the 2025 championship to 11. A shakeup was also done in the junior a grade the second oldest grade run by Bol Chumann, going forward it is to be divided into the three divisions of Carbery/South West/West, North/Mid/Gaeltacht and City/East/North East. With two semi-finals and a final to accommodate London.
Bantry hosted the final of the Dan Riordan Cup between current holder Arthur McDonagh and local man Martin Coppinger, for a total stake of 10,600. One fore bowl for Coppinger in this score that being his first shot, McDonagh raised good odds with his shots up to McSweeneys Farm, and with his fifth he raised the bowl of odds, up past Casey’s Avenue McDonagh had almost two bowl of odds. Coppinger lined a super bowl from here but it was “called” and his second effort was too far right and now he faced almost two bowl of odds. McDonagh took a dip in form with his eighth, ninth and tenth shots and suddenly the odds was down. McDonagh recovered well with a huge eleventh shot from a bad stand, Coppinger followed this to keep it under the bowl and keep his chances alive, McDonagh got the sweetest touch off of Connolly Wall that took him sight for the finish line, this also finished the score and McDonagh retained the Dan Riordan Cup. Dan Riordan was present to present his own cup. Chairperson of the club Tim Young, thanked all the lads that took part in the tournament and thanked the officers of the club on completing the tournament in twelve months. Also on this evening the Bantry Bowling Club made a generous donation of €2,000 to Cancer Connect a West Cork organisation who ferries people to various Cork hospitals for cancer treatments.
LADIES COMMITEE HAVE A BIG TURNOUT AT INCH.
The Ladies Committee of Bol Chumann had a big turnout for their Ladies/Under-age morning at Inch, over 35 players took part from seven year olds to ladies, the winning team were Hannah Cronin, Abbie O’Callaghan & Jena Healy, in second place Roisin Allen, Alicia Hurley and Ellie Gibbons, and in third place Meabh Cuinnea, Aisling Courtney and Ava Healy. A long shot was had for the different age groups that resulted as follows over 18 in first place Hannah Cronin, second place Ciara Allen and in third place Emma Fitzpatrick, in the Under-16 first Roisin Allen, second Naomi Scannell and third Jena Healy, Under-12 first Shannon Scannell, second Lillie O’Sullivan and third Alicia Hurley, and in the Under-10 in first place Sophie Hurley, second place Aoife McCarthy and third Annie Young. Caroline O’Leary, chairperson thanked all who took part, thank the club for hosting them, thanked all who helped out with marking and measuring and thanked especially the parents who brought their children along.
MCDONAGH POWERED ON AT BRINNY
At Ballinacurra on Sunday Timmy McDonagh Fermoy played Jimmy O’Driscoll Skibbereen for a total stake of €2,200. O’Driscoll took his first lead through Brinny Cross in four each, it was also to be his last lead, as McDonagh powered on from here, two more to the Gas line and two more past Perriots where he now had odds of over a bowl, O’Driscoll missed sight for the Bridge with his eleventh and now McDonagh had odds of two bowls at Innishannon Cross. McDonagh went sight of the line with his eleventh and on top of the finish line with his twelfth winning by a two bowls margin.
The Vintage championship is closing in, on Sunday at Kilcorney in the vintage B group B final James O’Leary Gaeltacht beat Paddy Kinsella North East for €1,040, in the vintage B group A final at Drimoleague John Nagle, Rosscarbery beat John Murphy Togher for a total stake of €1,800.
BOHANE PROGRESS IN BARRY CUP
A Paddy Barry Cup score was played at Rosscarbery, Michael Bohane playing Brian Wilmot for a total stake of €5,000. Wilmot let chances get away from him in the first five shots of this score to the Priests house, he could have had big odds or even a bowl of odds if he could line them, but instead he had only ten meters. Bohane took his first lead with a great sixth bowl up the hill. Wilmot got a super ninth shot to Barrys Boreen that won him back the lead by twenty meters, two more each past the B & B and still nothing separated them, it looked from here that they would go to Cahermore Cross level, but a monumental blunder from Wilmot in left just above the farm entrance left himself with no chance of Cahermore Cross. Bohane out in two more where he had an even bowl. Wilmot got the better of the shots off the cross but that was as good as it got for him as Bohane lined a massive seventeenth shot that made the big pillars and he opened the last bend for the line and won by a bowl. Back the road a Novice D tournament score was played between Thomas Maloney and Shane Healy for €1,100. Thomas won this by a narrow margin.
COLSE ENCOUNTER AT THE BOG ROAD.
The Bog Road wrapped up a Novice doubles tournament Stephen Cahill and Stephen Bowen beat Denis Connolly and John Donnellan for €2,300. Three shots each to the factory with Donnellan/Connolly fore bowl by twenty five meters. Out the bend in two and three where Connolly/Donnellan were a bowl up. A super bowl from Stephen Cahill that levelled up the score two blunders form Connolly/Donnellan and the two Stephens take the lead. After three more the Connolly/Donnellan combination are back in front, a huge bowl from Donnellan giving them big odds. But Stephen Bowen produced a special one of his own and levelled up the score again. Luck was on the side of Stephen Cahill as he played his bowl very left but touched nicely and opened the bend keeping it level. Nothing separated them for the next few shots it was a ding dong battle. The two Stephen’s took the lead with one shot to the line, a bad blunder from Donnellan in the Cow Gate cost them a lot of ground. Connolly missed the line, Cahill should have beat it but missed it by a couple of meters and they now had a twenty five meter advantage for the last shots. Donnellan laid down a good last shot but not enough as Bowen beat it by a few meters.
CHAMPIONSHIP DEADLINE.
The deadline for the 2025 championship entries is fast approaching, closing date is Friday November 15th all members are asked to have their signed affiliation forms in to their local club for this date, regional grading meetings will take place in all regions on Monday November 18th. Club affiliations will also be accepted on this night. Insurance and championship fees have remained as they were in 2024, Club €350, Junior/Novice players €55, if playing Veteran and Vintage €55, vintage alone €25, boys and girls u-18 €25 with no additional cost if playing in an adult grade, for all other underage the cost is €10.
DENIS TRUNWIT RIP.
Denis Trunwit, Allen Square, Bandon passed peacefully to his eternal reward on Monday November 4th, predeceased by his wife Mary in July 2022, they were seldom seen without each other, in 1970 he started up Trunwit Transport along with his late brother Christy, a business that is still thriving today under the guidance of his sons and grandchildren. Denis didn’t believe in retirement, so much so that when he gave up driving the trucks he took to driving the vans. Denis had a huge love of GAA and Road bowling he travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to attend Counties and All-Irelands or special Road bowling events. He was known to have thrown a bowl or two in his younger days. He kept up to date with all his grandchildren’s GAA matches. Denis was a very mild, kind-hearted and gentle man. Bol Chumann are honoured to have a Cup in his name for the Vintage championship. Rest in peace Denis.
The Annual Presentation evening of Bol Chumann will take place at the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway on Saturday November 23rd with tickets priced at €35