PARKES BLISTERING PERFORMANCE TAKES HONOURS AT LYRE
Clon’s Wayne Parkes and Bantry’s Tim Young have engaged in a few keenly contested confrontations over the past twelve months with honours fairly evenly shared. Young was the master in their Mick Eoin Cup final set-to in Bantry in November 2022, but Parkes was in control when they clashed in the mid-summer Tim Foley Cup decider at Templemartin. Parkes has the bragging rights at the moment having won their latest head-to-head at Lyre on Saturday last, his victory coming on the back of a stirring performance that matched Seamus Sexton’s fine bowling of the previous Saturday. Again, a smart start was vital. Parkes gained seventy metres with an opening brace that brought him above the ‘forestry entrance’. Young closed with a good third but Parkes; thanks to a massive sixth, went sight at ‘Crowley’s corner’ in seven holding odds of close to a bowl. Young challenged well with two fine drives from here to ‘McCarthy’s bend’, but Parkes matched both and rose the shot of odds. The Bantry man came again with a super effort to the ‘ash tree’ only for his Clon rival to once more come on the tip. Young’s fine finish could not get him close enough to trouble Parkes who ran out a big fore bowl winner. The stake at issue amounted to €10,800. Honours were even in a couple of doubles back the road at Lyre. Anthony Gould and Deccie O’Mahony won their first joust with Jim Coffey and Luke Connors, three bowls, for €7,000 before Coffey/Connors came good in the second, one bowl, for 6,400.
NEW CLUB BALLYHOOLEY UP AND RUNNING.
A busy mid-November weekend saw a range of scores, mostly tournament and novice E, played out at venues from Ballyhooly in the North East division to Schull in Carbery’s far west. Andrew O’Leary defeated James O’Sullivan in the last shot of a good contest at Ballyhooly on Saturday. The stake money at issue was €2,000. Back here, Jamie McDonagh defeated Michael Gould, last shot, for €600.
There were mixed fortunes for the Leap men at Schull where, Kieran O’Sullivan put the brakes on Jack Cahalane’s good run. O’Sullivan had a bowl to spare on the vintage finalist for a €1,600 total. Donal Harnedy evened it up for the Skibb camp when he defeated David Minihane, last shot, for €1,900.
At Ballinacurra, Upton, on Saturday, Conor Lucey defeated David Horgan by a bowl for €2,500. The Beal na Morrive man built on a good start to rise a bowl of odds at ‘Perrott’s’ and it was a lead he held to the finish.
BURSELL AND MCCARTHY TAKE NOVICE E TITLES IN WEST CORK.
The West Cork division completed their novice E competitions with two well-contested deciders on The Inch road, Dunmanway, on Saturday. In final 1 Conor Bursell edged out Timmy O’Sullivan, Durrus, for a €1,700 total while in final 2, Jack McCarthy just got the better of Michael Carroll, last shot, for €1,500.
CLIODHNA'S HISTORIC SUCESS IN THE FIRST GEALTEACHT NOVICE LADIES FINAL.
In Gaeltacht, a first ever novice ladies final took place. The Coolea road, Ballyvourney hosted a cracking play-off between Cliodhna Murphy and Louise Desmond. Cliodhna’s strong finish gave her a historic win. Also here, Ron Lynch defeated Brian Twomey. The Gaeltacht division had their novice E final at Terelton. Ronan O’Callaghan took the winners prize here after a good contest with Finbarr Buckley. Local clubman, Connie Lehane made the presentations.
At Clondrohid, Sam Pickering won from Gearoid Lynch, Charlie Kenneally won from Danny O’Connell and Ron Lynch won from Odhran O’Leary. North Cork’s novices were in action at Firmount. Here Mickey McAulliffe defeated Will Harrington, last shot, for €1,200 and Cathal O’Hanlon won from Dave Harrington for €800.
ORLA O'SULLIVAN GETS BOWLING CAREER OFF TO A WINNING START.
Meanwhile Mid Cork had their girls U10 competition final at Ballinacurra, Upton, at the weekend. Playing for the Margaret Murphy Memorial Cup, Orla O’Sullivan just came ahead of a very talented Elsie O’Flynn.
FINE UNDER-AGE TURNOUT AT DRINAGH.
Still on under-age there was a fine turnout of close on thirty at Drinagh for the West Cork team trials on Sunday morning. One from each of the boys U10, U12 and U14 and girls U12, U14 and U16, categories will be selected to represent the division at the inter-regional finals next February.
O'DRISCOLL WINS AT DERRINASAFFA IN A BELOW PAR PERFORMANCE.
There was a good gathering at Derrinasafa on Sunday morning for the tournament meeting of Clon’s John O’Driscoll and Bandon’s Eugene Kiernan. Going for a €3,400 total, O’Driscoll won the early shots before Armagh native, Kiernan, got going with a massive fourth shot. In front now, Kiernan made ‘Nattie’s bend’ in seven at which point he held a good lead of almost a bowl of odds. He undid his good work with two poor shots in the bowling to ‘darkwood’. O’Driscoll regained the lead at ‘Walshe’s’ lane’ and stayed in front over the closing stages as chances came and went with both below their best. Back the road here, Thomas Maloney defeated Tom Reaney, last shot, for €1,800.
On a weekend that was not kind to Bantry punters, Stephen Murphy won two from two with Adrian Buttimer at Ballinagree. For a €3,200 total, Buttimer held sway in the first of these, leading, although only marginally, all the way to the ‘E’ line. Both played big shots to the ‘bridge’ at which point Murphy came in front. Ballinagree man, Murphy, beat a big tip of Buttimer’s to stay ahead and a huge second last secured the win. Back the road, for a similar €3,400 Murphy again prevailed, this time by a bowl of odds margin.
Woodfield’s Ivan Buchannon won his tournament score at Curraheen defeating Glanmire’s Denis Connolly by a bowl for €1,100. Connolly rebounded in the return defeating Buchannon, last shot, for €1,400. At Jagoe’s Mills, Derrick Murphy won by two bowls from Richie Lawton for a €1,000 total and at The Bog Road, there were wins for Stephen Bowen and Jeremy Downey. Bowen won a good contest with Declan O’Leary, last shot for €1,700 while Downey won by the same margin from Johnny Byrnes for €1,500. At Beal na mBlath, Michael Waugh won two from two with Barry Coughlan, one bowl and last shot for stakes of €800 and €1,400.
MID CORK REFLECT ON A BUSY YEAR.
The last of the current round of regional AGM’s was held at Knockavilla Hall on Tuesday last when the Mid Cork division held their annual review. There was a good representative attendance which included officers from all clubs. Bol Chumann’s James O’Driscoll attended and heard positive reports from chair, Martin Foley, secretary, David Murphy and treasurer, Denis Kelly, all of which reflected a united effort that saw an extensive championship undertaken and completed within the allotted timeframe. There was discussion on the length of the championship season, currently running from February to November, the multiplicity of grades and the commitment involved from club and regional personnel. In Mid Cork this runs to twenty-one separate competitions ranging from boys U10 to novice E. There was satisfaction at the level of entry and returns from all grades. The region looked forward to their two-year stint as All-Ireland hosts and there was special praise from James O’Driscoll for Castletownkenneigh, the venue for next year’s national finals, whose club members have facilitated the trials and training sessions for the forthcoming European Championships in Germany. James thanked Michael Brennan for his endeavours during his term as Association chair and paid tribute to Caroline Smith and David Murphy who continue to work effectively as officers within Bol Chumann. The region had championship success to celebrate primarily, David Murphy’s senior county win and David Desmond’s victory in the novice C final. There were big championship performances too from county finalists, Noel O’Donovan, (jun B), Chloe O’Halloran, (intermediate), Siobhan Kelleher (jun ladies), Conor O’Donovan and Rosin Allen (U18) and Jack Allen (U14). The region returned its sitting officers for another term. Serving Mid Cork for 2024 are, President, Tim Buckley, Chair, Martin Foley, Vice chair, Jimmy Hennessy, Secretary, David Murphy, Treasurer, Denis Kelly, Assistant treasurer, Darragh Murphy, Fixtures, John Murphy, PRO, David Murphy, Registrar, Linda Kelly, Safety representative, Eugene Desmond, Ladies Committee, Bernadette Murphy and Caroline Smith.
BOL CHUMANN ARD MHACA 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
Bol Chumann Ard Mhacha are celebrating their sixtieth anniversary as the year winds down. Founded on February 27, 1963, when Joe Horan was elected chairman, Brian Toal, Honorary Secretary and Henry Neary, Treasurer, their ten-man committee set about making some momentous decisions not least of which was the inauguration of the All-Ireland series in cooperation with their counterparts in Cork. Bol Chumann’s founding chair, Flor Crowley and secretary, Eamonn O’Carroll, were very receptive to the northern overtures and, at a special meeting of north and south at the Devonshire Arms Hotel, Bandon, on Easter Sunday April 14th 1963, plans were finalised for an All-Ireland final between the champions to emerge from championships in Armagh and Cork. That historic event duly came about on August Bank Holiday Sunday 1963 when Danny McParland and Derry Kenny threw off on the Moy road --- Armagh having won the toss for choice of venue ----- before a large gathering. Brian Toal, in his book, ‘Road Bowling in Ireland’ describes it thus ‘The slow-moving mass of shirt-sleeved spectators, in perfect weather conditions, provided a magnificent splash of colour with the score taking over six hours to complete the three-mile course’. Danny McParland won, and his name is indelibly in the record books of road bowling history. The initiative was, in many ways, the saviour of bowling and, sixty years on, the All-Ireland championships, now expanded to three separate annual hosting’s encompassing sixteen grades to include men and women boys and girls, are the season’s highpoints. Gretta Cormican’s compilation. ‘Glory Day’s, A Complete History of Road Bowling All-Ireland finals 1963-2013’ gives a detailed evaluation of the All-Ireland bowling series over its first half century. In celebration of their sixtieth, Bol Chumann Uladh are holding an exhibition to mark the anniversary of the first All-Ireland championship. The exhibition will take place in the Cardinal O’Fiaich Library in Armagh beginning on Saturday November 11 and will run for a week. Included in the exhibition will be pictures and articles from the first official championship score between Armagh’s Danny McParland and Cork’s Derry Kenny which took place on the old Moy Road beginning at Abbey Park and continuing out to Tullygoonigan. The exhibition will begin a weekend of activities which will include a presentation of the Hall of Fame award on Saturday evening at the O’Fiaich library.
CARBERY NOTES
NOVICE GRADE WILL BE PACKED FOR 2024.
Carbery’s registration night for the 2024 bowling season showed affiliation numbers more or less on a par with previous years. All clubs submitted player lists and there was general satisfaction with the final figures allotted to under-age and adult grades. Many from the 2023 U16 championship will enter adult grades resulting in heightened competition in the novice sector for the coming year. In keeping with the current trend in all divisions, it is the novice grades that will hold the vast majority of the regions membership with downgrading the preferred option of most of those entering. While all grading decisions on Monday night last will require ratification at Bol Chumann’s overall grading on November 29th, the regions premier championships, those at junior level, look like being further dismantled.
There was also discussion at Carbery’s meeting on the viability of setting up a novice E competition with consensus on deferring a final decision to a later date.
On a busy mid-November weekend, there were scores at four venues. The last of the novice B tournament semi-finals went ahead at Rosscarbery and it was the proverbial score of two halves. Clon’s Shane Nugent got off to a flier against Castletownkenneigh’s Jack O’Callaghan rising the bones of a bowl of odds with his opening six. The O’Mathuna’s marksman rallied to level by ‘DeBarra Lodge’ before unleashing a piledriver from this juncture that proved to be a score winner. O’Callaghan will contest for the tournament prize with Sidney Shannon and Conor Lucey.
In scores in the Schull tournament, Kieran O’Sullivan, Leap, defeated Jack Cahalane, by a bowl while Donal Harnedy had a last shot win over David Minihane. The doubles tournament progressed at Caheragh, where the Gaeltacht duo of Adrian O’Driscoll and Brendan O’Callaghan got the better of the Dunmanway partnership of Jason Daly and Alan Crowley while at Ballydehob there was a Drimoleague double as Brian O’Driscoll won from Michael A Cronin and Alan Keane defeated James O’Driscoll (Aghakeera).
RIP DENNY RONAN.
Carbery Bowling regrets the passing of Denny Ronan, Carhugariffe. Denny was a passionate follower of bowling and the life and soul of many an after-score get together. He was a long-time member of Reenascreena bowling club and played in Carbery’s novice championships in the eighties. Denny followed the fortunes of many from the locality, through thick and thin, Mick O’Driscoll and Jerry Connolly among them, always with good humour and, occasionally, with a wry comment when things hadn’t gone to plan. He will be missed.
Bol Chumann’s presentation night is on at The Parkway Hotel, on Saturday night next November 25th at 8.00pm. Although county honours eluded Carbery’s champions in 2023, there was much to celebrate in the performances of Gavin Crowley who was runner-up in the novice C final, Brian Harrington, likewise in U12 and Jack Cahalane’s vintage C winning run. All will receive presentations on the night.
CLUB RESULTS;-
Rosscarbery: Novice B tournament semi-final, Jack O’Callaghan defeated Shane Nugent, one bowl, for €1,200; Return, Sean O’Neill defeated James O’Sullivan, last shot, for €920.
Schull: Kieran O’Sullivan (L) defeated Jack Cahalane, one bowl, for €1,600; Donal Harnedy defeated David Minihane, last shot, for €1,900.
Ballydehob: Brian O’Driscoll defeated Michael A Cronin, two bowl, for €800; Alan Keane defeated James O’Driscoll (A), one bowl, for €3,400.
Caheragh: Doubles, Adrian O’Driscoll/Brendan O’Callaghan defeated Jason Daly/Alan Crowley, last shot, for €1,400.
Lyre: Wayne Parkes defeated Tim Young, last shot, for €10,800; return doubles, Anthony Gould/Deckie O’Mahony defeated Jim Coffey/Luke Connors, three bowls, for €7,000; Coffey/Connors defeated Gould/O’Mahony, two bowls, for €6,400.
Grange: Deckie O’Mahony defeated Conor Sheehy, last shot, for €600.
Ballygurteen: Ger Shanahan defeated Vincent Dullea, one bowl, for €640; Mike Casey defeated Ger Shanahan, last shot, for €2,100.
Derrinasafa: John O’Driscoll defeated Eugene Kiernan, last shot, for €3,400; Tom Maloney defeated Tom Reaney, last shot, for €1,800.
Phale Road: Ted Hegarty under-age tournaments, Boys U16, Ross O’Brien won from Daniel Wilmot; Boys U14, Culann Bourke won from Ciaran O’Sullivan; Boys U12, Charlie O’Leary won from Frankie Flynn; Boys U10, Lucas Cahalane won from Cillian Hurley; Boys U8, Colm Bohane won from Cillian Hurley; U18 Girls/Junior Ladies, Ellan Sexton won from Rebecca Wall; Elaine Connolly won from Niamh O’Callaghan; Girls U16, Laura Sexton won from Katie Broderick; Emily Long won from Eabhe Kehilly; Girls U12, Robyn O’Brien won from Ayesha Daly; Girls U10, Cara Keane won from Clodagh Wilmot; Ayesha Daly won from Shiela Bradley.