IMPRESSIVE WILMOT TAKES SPOILS AT BALLYGURTEEN
At Ballygurteen Denis Wilmot Bandon, had a trap to line win over David O’Mahony from Fivemilebridge in a junior a tournament semi-final for a total stake of €3,300. Poor opening bowls from both players but both recovered well to open the first bend in three where Wilmot had a marginal lead of ten meters. O’Mahony just back of the Women’s Lane in three more and Wilmot at the end of the railings extending his lead to thirty meters. O’Mahony got what was thought a bowl that might take the lead but Wilmot wasn’t having any of it and got a huge seventh bowl to just back of O’Mahony’s Avenue. After four more to the Coffee Doc for Wilmot, O’Mahony was still in this score if he could open O’Donovan’s bend in two but his first shot turned in right also at the Coffee Doc and only just fore of Wilmot’s tip so almost a bowl in it here. Wilmot up and around O’Donovan’s bend in two more and O’Mahony failed in two so a big bowl of odds on him here. O’Mahony went for it with his last but it was too far right and got caught just fore of Wilmot’s tip and almost two bowls in it now, matters were terminated after another shot, Wilmot awaits the winners of Jimmy O’Driscoll or Cian Boyle in the final. In a return score back D.D Carroll beat Jerome O’Mahony for a stake totalling €2,200.
O'LEARY AWAITS O'DRISCOLL AGAIN.
At Drinagh a Vintage A score between Kieran O’Driscoll, Ardfield and Jimmy Collins, Union Hall, a great start by Collins but O’Driscoll reeled him in and took his first lead at the Church, Collins missed down and O’Driscoll out full sight and up to Shandrum Cross in two more where he had a bowl of odds, both missed the black sticks with their next, both up to the top of the hill and into the pond in two more where O’Driscoll still had a bowl of odds with only one shot remaining, O’Driscoll now takes on the opponent that beat him in the Junior Veteran final Andrew O’Leary of Fermoy in the Vintage A semi-final at Jagoes Mills.
LIVE FROM WAMPUTUCK STATE PARK.
Our live streamers Michelle and Eamonn travelled to Boston over the weekend, where scores were played for to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of bowling around the Womputuck State Park. The All-Irelands were held here for the first time in 2004 and again in 2018. Super middle weight boxer Tommy Hyde from Gurranabraher on the North side of Cork City launched the weekend with a fine shot of a bowl. Togging out first were Christy O’Donnell from Farranree Cork playing Sean O’Mahony whose parents hail from Ballydehob but now domicile in Boston, for a total stake of €2,300. This was a close score but O’Mahony’s third last cost him. Up next was Eamonn Bowen v Donal O’Riordan for a stake of €6,400. O’Riordan started this score with two unreal bowls never seen before in the Park. Bowen kept it under the bowl for the first four or five shots but O’Riordan rose the bowl and almost a second one until Bowen slowly reeled him in and won by the last shot. To be fair O’Riordan picked up an ankle injury so his finishing wasn’t great. Darren O’Donovan a native of Kinsale but now living in Boston took on Noel Gould of Fairhill for a total stake of €7,000, O’Donovan dominated this score and rose a bowl of odds with his tenth shot. He gave Gould opportunities but he didn’t take them and held out to win by almost a bowl.
From Boston 4000 miles away Martin Coppinger travelled to Italy this past weekend and took on the best of what the Italians had to offer in Emanuele Subissati. Emanuele had everything strength, precision and an impeccable technique and has won everything the Italian game has to offer, but in Coppinger he came up against a player of immense power, they had a ding dong score and Coppinger held out in the end to win by a mere fifteen meters.
Storm Ashley blew strong and fierce at times around all venues of county Cork, but this did not deter the players or followers from venturing out to get their fix of bowling on Sunday.
CROWLEY LEADS FROM START TO FINISH AT LYRE.
Cathal Creedon was back in Lyre again the weekend to take on his European under-age team mate Anthony Crowley from The Glen in a first round score of a new junior tournament for a stake of €6,200. Unfortunately Creedon came out the wrong side of this tussle. He was way behind his bowling of the previous week. Crowley lead from start to finish. Two great opening bowls to the forest entrance where Crowley had forty meters of odds, Crowley rose the bowl with two more great bowls just back of the tunnel, he took this lead to Crowley’s bend and on to McCarthy’s, where Creedon missed full sight and buried his next in right now facing almost two bowls. Things didn’t get any better for Creedon and matters were finished after two more.
MURPHY REVERSE'S THE RESULT.
At Shannonvale in a Noel Phair Cup score and for the second consecutive week Arthur McDonagh took on Aidan Murphy for a stake totalling €4,100. The form that McDonagh has shown over the last few weeks made him a huge favourite here. Murphy had the better start in this score throwing over sixty meters heading for the quarry bend. From here to Desmonds Cross McDonagh rose a bowl of odds. Three more shots down to Sam’s Lane and McDonagh still held big odds of a hundred meters. Murphy stuck in there though and at Tobin’s the odds was down to sixty meters. Level at Campbells Lane in two more, Murphy was back in front by a foot back of the junior line. Murphy had an advantage of fifty meters for the last shot and reversed the result of Lyre the previous week. McDonagh the holder of the Noel Phair Cup from 2023 bowed out and Aidan Murphy who has never won this tournament progresses on to the next round.
COUGHLAN A CONVINCING WINNER AT BEAL NA BLATH.
Beal Na Blath wrapped up a Novice C nine man tournament on Sunday, here the vintage player Mick Murphy, Innishannon took on the youth of Newcestown Barry Coughlan and Dylan Galvin. The money here totalled €1,650. Galvin had the better start over both opponents leading by twenty meter after three shots, Coughlan got a great fourth bowl to Murphy’s Palms and took his first lead, and suddenly Galvin was last of the three. On through Bradfield’s Cross and Coughlan was cruising having almost a bowl on both players, he rose the bowl with a jet up the centre past Den Joe’s Lane, the fight now looked to be for second place between Murphy and Galvin who were level here. Two more super bowls from Coughlan to the Bull’s Gate rising odds now with every shot. Murphy had thirty meters on Galvin at this juncture. Two more out sight for the finish line from Coughlan, almost a two bowls of odds winner. Murphy still holding a thirty meters advantage on Galvin. Galvin bowl broke badly for him and missed the line, Murphy also missed the line, Galvin lined a huge last to O’Mahony’s entrance to take second place as Murphy missed this tip.
WILLIAM WOLF WINNER STAYS IN THE CITY.
A feast of eight scores entertained spectators at the famed Waterloo road in the City over the weekend for their annual William Wolf tournament. In the first semi-final on Saturday Stephen Spillane beat Colm O’Regan and Gary Maguire and in the second semi-final John Donnellan beat Michael O’Driscoll and Deckie O’Mahony. This set up the final on Sunday between Stephen Spillane from Ballinagree and John Donnellan from Douglas, they played for a total stake of €4,200. Spillane was aiming to win back to back titles having taken this trophy in 2023. But Donnellan a very seasoned campaigner whose name pops up in results every weekend bowled a fine steady score and took the top prize by a bowl of odds. Supporting scores David Crowley beat Declan O’Leary and Sean O’Leary. Wayne Callanan beat Michael Murphy. Timmy Murphy and Michael John O’Brien had one each. And into the mix also was a mixed doubles score where Ciara Buckley and Jack O’Leary beat Veronica O’Mahony and Paul Murphy. Our chairman Willie Murphy was on hand to make the presentation of prizes and he commended the club on running this annual event and all the players who took part.