DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR O'DONOVAN AND SEXTON
The mixed doubles contest involved senior practitioners James O’Donovan and Hannah Sexton on one side and Michael Bohane with Geraldine Curtin in the opposing camp drew a good Saturday morning crowd to Shannonvale. Margaret Daly’s Cancer Research fund-raisers are by now an August staple and, in general, are very well supported by the game’s leading lights. The series, ongoing since Thursday evening had several high-profile clashes and a grand total of sixteen scores overall, was headlined by Saturday’s event which did not live up to its billing due to the Bandon/Timoleague dominance of O’Donovan/Sexton. The hot favourites in the €5,500 total stake, they justified the odds given in their favour with a commanding display. O’Donovan’s well-cut opener and Sexton’s sweet second on the rise ensured a hundred metres odds after three and this transferred to a bowl lead after six to ‘the quarry’. Bohane/Curtin kept it at that in the bowling to ‘Desmond’s’ and did better in the exchanges to ‘Kingston’s wall’ where the margin was under the shot. They tried to further reduce with fine efforts to ‘Tobin’s’, but O’Donovan and Sexton matched both and the odds remained at the even bowl. The contest was effectively over when O’Donovan and Sexton went almost two shots clear at the D line. Back the road on Saturday morning Brendan O’Neill and John Cahalane engaged for a €10,800 sum and it was Enniskeane man O’Neill who was away to a bowl lead by half-way. A mistake by the leading man and a spirited rally by Cahalane cut the odds to thirty at the three-quarter point but O’Neill held on for a last shot win. The punters weren’t holding back at Shannonvale all of which helped a bountiful return for the worthy cause, and it was the redoubtable Skibb man, Cahalane, casting defeat aside, who returned to the fray for a big money joust with old adversary, Jim Coffey. For a €29,600 total, Cahalane was the master from the off and was two bowls clear by ‘Desmond’s’. It was enough for a comprehensive win.
PARKES BLITZES THE SHANNONVALE ROAD
Four more scores followed the most notable being the sixth of the day when Wayne Parkes literally blitzed the road with an awesome display of bowling that included a magnificent six-shot sequence to sight at ‘Desmond’s’. Eleven in total to the novice line represented near-record bowling for the road and Tim Young could do little against such a performance. Their contest carried a €27,600 total. Sunday’s feature was another senior set-to. Gary Daly and Seamus Sexton were the protagonists, evenly matched rivals who have scored wins off one and other in championship and tournament duels over the years. Both carried support from the large throng that converged on the South-West venue resulting in a €29,100 total stake. Sexton started with intent rising a hundred meres with his first four before Daly with two in row of the very best wiped out the deficit and the contest went level to ‘Desmond’s’ in eight each. Again, Sexton took a nice lead with a powerful drive on the rise, but his follow-up was not of the same quality, and it was back to level by ‘Kingston’s wall’. It was the start of a dip in the North Cork man’s form and his Fermoy rival wasn’t long in taking advantage. Sexton’s twelfth caught the left whereas Daly hit a rocket all the way to ‘Tobin’s’ and suddenly a bowl of odds separated them. It was the crucial turning point. Daly held his bowl of odds to score a convincing win. A fund-raising weekend would not be complete without the irrepressible Flor Crowley throwing one his well-matched rivals for a substantial stake and Shannonvale at the weekend was no exception. The last of the series saw the former Carbery campaigner taking on Darren Harrington for a sizable €51,100 total stake and, after a ding-dong struggle in which both held the front at different points, Crowley prevailed thanks to a stirring finish from the ‘quarry point’ in wards. All results are in the Carbery section.
In the weekend’s aftermath Margaret Daly was made a special presentation by the members of Shannonvale Bowling Club in appreciation of her sterling efforts over many years. Margaret was effusive in her praise of all who contributed, players and punters, stewards, referees and markers. A presentation of the sum raised will be made to CUH shortly.
NORTH CORK DOMINATE AT CLONDROHID
Clondrohid were hosts for the county quarterfinal clashes of North and South West regions and in several instances the outcome meant elimination for some fancied contenders. Such was the case on Tuesday when a novice A set-to involved Conor Lucey (North) and Eoin McCarthy (South West). Lucey made a blazing start beating a massive tip of McCarthy’s by fully forty metres and it propelled him to a bowl of odds lead after four. The north champion continued to lead by a bowl plus at ‘The Bell Inn’ but McCarthy fought it tooth and nail and a big cast to ‘Geoff’ lane’ cutting the odds to under the shot. The opportunity to pile more pressure on came McCarthy’s way in the next exchange but unfortunately for him he caught the left and the bowl of odds was there again in Lucey’s favour. Once again, the South West champion rallied and a piledriver towards the line heaped pressure on Lucey. With two to beat the target, he managed to negotiate a difficult task and goes forward to a semi-final meeting with City’s Anthony Crowley. The stake money at Clondrohid amounted to €9,100. There was no joy either at Clondrihid on Tuesday for South West as in a county D quarterfinal, Rathcoole’s Martin McSweeney defeated Joe Williamson (South West). McSweeney goes through to a semi-final meeting with Gavin Quirke. Clondrohid on Wednesday proved no happier a hunting ground for South West’s champions with a particularly galling defeat for novice B challenger Garoid McCarthy a low point for the region on a tough two-day sojourn to the Gaeltacht venue. David Crowley (North Cork) was his nemesis and for a €3,200 total stake it was an even enough opening. Short seventh and eighth shots by Crowley left McCarthy a bowl clear just back of the ‘Bell Inn’. Crowley fired a good effort on the hill to reduce the margin but got little from his next two. McCarthy spurned chances to increase his odds and when Crowley hit ‘Geoff’s lane’ with a super cast, the North Cork man was back in front. Yet, when McCarthy forged into fifty metres close to the line it appeared vital but Crowley got a late reprieve when the Ballygurteen man missed that target and fell hind of Crowley’s final effort. Billy Connolly (North East) is next up for Crowley in a semi-final joust at Whitechurch. The novice C contest on Wednesday had Liam McCarthy (North) and Jason Harrington (South West) going head to head for €3,500. After an even start this quickly went McCarthy’s way. He rose seventy metres with his fourth and was a bowl clear after five. That margin doubled two shots later and despite a big tenth by Harrington, a two-bowl margin separated them at the finish. In novice B Innishannon’s Kevin O’Cruolaoi has acquired the winning habit. Having come through a tough regional campaign unbeaten he foray in the county rounds saw give a very impressive display at Ballinagree where he accounted for a strong Gaeltacht representative, Anthony Lynch by a two bowl margin. The contest carried a whopping €15,400 total stake and, in a blistering start, O’Cruolaoi’s speedy second shot propelled him to a bowl lead after four. Despite the odd blip in between, the Mid Cork champion held off Lynch’s best before doubling his lead with a super twelfth to the ‘Bridge’. It was enough to set-up a semi-final meeting with West Cork’s Brian Horgan. Horgan won his quarterfinal at Jagoe’s Mills taking the verdict by a bowl of odds from East Cork champion, the former Carrigtwohill star, Seanie O’Farrell. For €3,100, Horgan scorched to a bowl lead at ‘the recycling’ and would not be caught. O’Cruolaoi/Horgan is fixed for Ballygurteen. Back to Ballinagree for another North/Mid confrontation, this time a county novice C quarterfinal clash. Gaeltacht go the verdict here but only just after Garoid Lucey edged an unlucky Joshua Murphy. Going for a €4,120 total, it was nip and tuck with the lead changing on numerous occasions. Lucey had a handy lead with five to go only to lose it for the last shots when Murphy lined two super efforts, the second on which was most unlucky not to pass the finish mark. That it didn’t gave Lucey the opportunity to fire a do or die effort that snatched a dramatic victory. There was victory too in novice A the following evening for Gaeltacht who’s in-form Gold Medal winning tyro, Liam Murphy was on top of his game in accounting for Mid’s Chris Murphy at Ballinagree. This one carried a €2,700 total and from the get-go, Murphy scorched to a bowl lead after five and this after winning the tips in the opening exchange. By the novice E line, Murphy was two bowls ahead and, although Murphy finished strong that margin stayed between them. Pat Daly is next up for Murphy and the West Cork champion is proving a handful for everybody. East Cork’s Paul Butler is an experienced, hard beaten performer but could not counter Daly’s fine finish in their quarterfinal at Jagoe’s Mills on Thursday. Mid Cork have a serious contender in novice D. Belgooly’s Colm O’Regan is one of the game’s most active and getting the results too. Winner from sixty starters in his division he embarked on his county run with a quarterfinal back Ballinagree against the highly rated Brian Crowley who won out an equally large Gaeltacht championship. The pair took issue for a €10,900 total and it was Crowley who held the initiative early on going close to a bowl up after four. O’Regan was quickly into his stride and lined a ferocious bowl, his eighth of the score which completely transformed the contest. From being odds down the Belgooly man went a shot clear. By ‘Manning’s lane’ he was two ahead and he repelled Crowley’s best for the remainder. West Cork’s Kieran O’Driscoll is next up for O’Regan in a semi-final joust fixed for Lyre. O’Driscoll was a two-bowl winner from East Cork’s Dylan Beechor in their quarterfinal at Jagoe’s Mills. The stake money in that contest amounted to €1,000.
DOUBLE FOR NORTH EAST AT BEAL NA BLATH
On Sunday at Beal na mBlath in the novice B county, North East’s Billy Connolly triumphed against Carbery’s Patrick Crowley. For a €2,000 total, Connolly shot into a big lead by ‘Bradfield’s cross’ and was not threatened thereafter. There was a double for the North East camp at the Mid Cork venue when Gavin Quirke came late to overhaul Martin Collins bowl of odds lead and advance with a last shot win over the Carbery champion, They played for a total of €4,060. Earlier in the week, Collins bowled well in a one-shot preliminary round D win over City’s long-time campaigner, Johnny Byrnes. Played on the novice route at Ballinacurra, Upton for a €1,320 total, the Leap man rose his winning odds on the wider section before the turn-off for Brinny P&P.
The King and Queen of the Roads is also on the horizon. A Queen qualifier at Bottlehill on Wednesday resulted in victory for Veronica O’Mahony over Ciara Buckley by a two-bowl margin. At Ballincurrig in a Jim O’Driscoll Cup qualifier, Patrick Stokes scored a two-bowl win over Eamonn Bowen. The South-West/North junior C clash between Vincent Cahalane and Olan Noonan is scheduled for this week. West Cork’s novice E competition is ongoing. At Togher Cross on Wednesday, Liam McCarthy defeated Mark Shannon by two bowls and Jamie Kearney defeated Jerry Cahalane, last shot, for €1,240. In regional action in Mid Cork, Chloe Desmond won in junior ladies at Beal na mBlath from Karen O’Callaghan. In the same competition Evelyn Foley won from Joan Coughlan. In the North East, at Carrignavar, Chris Smith won the novice E from Adam Daly. In finals in North Cork at Kilcorney, the u12 decider, a three-way, was won by Layla Fleming who had a good battle with Mia O’Donoghue and Lauren O’Rourke. Interestingly the North Cork junior ladies champion for 2024 is Kathleen Cooney who has marked a most welcome return with a regional title. Kathleen had a great battle with Rosin McAuliffe before taking the verdict in the last shot. Kathleen has played at the top level in the past being an All-Ireland U18 winner in 1995 and a Queen of the Roads title in 1997.
At Jagoe’s Mills in the junior tournament Timmie Murphy, Ballyclough, got the better of Noel O’Regan. For €3,100 a contest that was going shot for shot went the way of Murphy who put in a sprightly finish. A bowl of odds separated them at the line. In other club action, Rico O’Brien defeated Liam Walsh, last shot in a close score at Whitechurch that had €2,900 at issue. Back here, Junior A’s Michael Murphy and Paddy Stokes engaged for €300. All-Ireland champion, Murphy won this, last shot.
CARBERY NOTES
Only Denis O’Sullivan remains in contention for county honours from Carbery’s junior C and novice winners after a disappointing return in Beal na mBlath on Sunday last when both Patrick Crowley and Martin Collins bowed out of the B and D championships respectively. Crowley could do little with a strong performance by North East’s Billy Connolly who, despite a hesitant start, stormed to a bowl of odds plus lead by ‘Bradfield’s cross’. A slip throwing his fourth did not help Crowley’s cause and a big margin separated them throughout. More frustrating was Martin Collins’ defeat in the D championship. The Leap man had started well and built up a sizable lead of a bowl of odds which he held to the ‘palms’ with four to go. A miscalculation with his third last into a left-hand bend cost him leeway and North East’s Gavin Quirke was quick to snatch a reprieve. Two good last shots from the Fermoy man turned the score on its head and finally ended the Leap player’s long winning run. Denis O’Sullivan will hope for better fortunes when he travels to Beal na mBlath this week for his junior C quarterfinal with North East’s Alan O’Leary.
Collins did score a good win earlier in the week when he accounted for City’s Johnny Byrnes in a preliminary round novice D championship fixture at Ballinacurra, Upton. A shot of odds separated them at the end.
On a quite week in the region, the remaining championships at under-age level progressed. Girls U12 has been an enjoyable competition with several newcomers trying their hand. The benefits of practise over the winter months at the regions off-road facility at The Showgrounds was evident in some with marked improvements in technique and accuracy. The girls U12 semi-finals on Friday saw Ciara Harrington take a hard-earned win from Aoife McCarthy and Lauren McCarthy just edge out Katie Whelton. Meabh Cuinnea is undoubtedly the one to beat in U14. Given her exploits in winning county U16, Meabh holds all the aces in terms of experience and ability, but lapses may be punished. Jodie McCarthy contested with Meabh in an U14 semi at The Marsh Road on Sunday and, although on the losing side, performed well for the scores duration.
Carbery bowlers contributed handsomely to Magaret Daly’s Cancer Research Fund-raisers at the weekend. Jimmy Collins, John Cahalane and former member, Flor Crowley all participated the latter two winning big money stakes on Saturday and Sunday.
County Championships Results
Ballinacurra, Upton: Novice D County preliminary round, Martin Collins (Carbery) defeated Johnny Byrnes (City), one bowl, for €1,320.
Beal na mBlath: County novice B quarterfinal, Billy Connolly (North East) defeated Patrick Crowley (Carbery), last shot, for €4,000; County Novice D quarterfinal, Gavin Quirke (North East) defeated Martin Collins (Carbery), last shot, for €4,060.
Carbery Chammpionships:
Marsh Road: Girls U12 semi-finals, Ciara Harrington won from Aoife McCarthy; Lauren McCarthy won from Katie Whelton; Girls U14 semi-final, Meabh Cuinnea won from Jodie McCarthy.
Club;
Rosscarbery: Thomas Maloney defeated Jack Cahalane, one bowl, for €2,200; Three-way contest, Darren O’Driscoll defeated Curly Collins and James Coughlan, all last shot, for €950.
Ballinacurra, Upton, Colm O’Regan defeated Kieran O’Sullivan, last shot, for €2,600.
Ballinacarriga: Andy Kelleher defeated Donal McCarthy, last shot, for €2,600.
Inch, Dunmanway, Corneilus O’Mahony defeated Sam Kingston last shot for €2,500.
Shannonvale: Cancer Unit fund-raisers; John Connolly defeated Jimmy Collins, one bowl, for €5,000; Jim Coffey defeated Alex O’Donovan, two bowls, for €2,800; Johnny O’Driscoll defeated Jim Coffey, last shot, for €2,600; Liam Hurley defeated John Young, one bowl, for €6,700; Adrian Cronin defeated Jack O’Driscoll, two bowls, for €,4,000; Mixed doubles, James O’Donovan/Hannah Sexton defeated Michael Bohane/Geraldine Curtin, two bowls, for €5,500; Brendan O’Neill defeated John Cahalane, last shot, for €10,800; John Cahalane defeated Jim Coffey, two bowls, for €29,300; Adrian Cronin defeated Mickey Harrington, last shot, for €10,600; Michael John O’Brien defeated Kenneth Murphy, one bowl, for €16,600; Wayne Parkes defeated Tim Young, two bowls, for €27,600; Ryan Buckley defeated Alan Brickley, last shot, for €12,000; Sunday Aug 11; Michael Casey defeated Tom Reaney, last shot, for €6,000; Ryan Buckley defeated Jamie McCarthy, last shot, for €8,100; Ryan Buckley defeated Jamie McCarthy, last shot, for €8,000; Michael Casey defeated Tom Reaney, one bowl, for €6,000; Gary Daly defeated Seamus Sexton, one bowl, for €29,100; Flor Crowley defeated Darren Harrington, one bowl, for €51,100