Bowling activity at the weekend took place under the shadow cast by the tragic accident that claimed the life of popular Mid Cork player, Finbarr Coleman. The U16 final billed for Newcestown on Saturday was cancelled as a mark of respect. The senior final at the Marsh Road on Sunday went ahead as scheduled and had a slightly different perspective too as the finalists were aware that whoever came through would not be meeting Thomas Mackle in their bid for All-Ireland glory. Colm Rafferty would present a different challenge at Eglish.
COPPINGER BACK AT THE HELM.
As it transpired Martin Coppinger prevailed in his duel with Brian Wilmot and returns to the pinnacle of Cork bowling seven years after his last county and All-Ireland success. He is a worthy champion who kept his composure to wear down his Bandon rival who was at his best over the opening segment. The overwhelming favourite, Coppinger, was hind after the opening exchange but then fired one of his specials, a thundering drive along the centre that yielded a hundred metre lead. Wilmot’s response was admirable as excellent third and fourth shots left Coppinger with shots to beat. He did so but only by small margins and Wilmot kept pressing aided by a big touch with his fifth. Wilmot led with a fine sixth to the ‘silvery gate’ but a couple of poor ones particularly his tenth marked a dip in form and Coppinger was back in the ascendancy as he hit sight at ‘the steps’ in ten. It was a score that sparkled only intermittently but it certainly did when Coppinger, from a long way back, lined a magnificent twelfth shot that raced past ‘Thornhill cross’ almost to sight at ‘Ballyhilty’. Wilmot was getting no run in his bowling at this point and suddenly found himself a bowl of odds and thirty metres down. With the advanced finish line at ‘Coombes’ there was time for the Bandon man to close the gap and the odd opportunity did present itself as Coppinger did not drive home his advantage in the subsequent exchanges. Both lofted well at ‘Jim Hurley’s bend’ but when Coppinger’s effort past ‘Bohane’s cross’ ran the proverbial mile, the contest was effectively over. The Bantry man will be the favourite again at Eglish and should bring the Hugie Trainor Cup back to Cork but caution is advisable against the Rafferty clan for whom All-Ireland success is no stranger these weeks. The Marsh Road stake amounted to €4,460.
Colm Rafferty, brother of intermediate champion, Ethan, shocked All-Ireland champion, Thomas Mackle in the final score of their best of five play-offs at Eglish on Saturday. A shot down beyond half-way, Rafferty came good in the last quarter to deny the titleholder his bid for three-in-row.
A COMPSOSED CREEDON TAKES JUNIOR B TITLE.
Gaeltacht have claimed another county from the current season after Conor Creedon crowned a superb campaign with the 2024 junior B championship at Firmount on Saturday afternoon last. Son of former senior and 2022 All-Ireland junior A winner, John, Conor’s star has been on the rise since winning U18 in 2017 and he has shown consistency and an excellent temperament in seeing off a host of worthy challengers at regional and county level on his way to the title. North East’s Willie O’Donnell came with the reputation of an experienced, tough, hard-beaten exponent who had come through a tough side of the draw and he put it up to Creedon at several junctures. The support both men carried was evidenced in the €23,000 total stake the contest went for and it was O’Donnell who took the opening shot. He was desperately unlucky with his second as Creedon took the lead, but it was O’Donnell again who looked more likely firing a magnificent fifth along the centre to regain a forty-metre lead. Creedon’s response here was crucial to the outcome. Two of the finest to ‘Buckley’s cross’ put him back in pole position. These were the turning points as the Baile Bhuirne man now powered on to rise a bowl of odds. Buoyed by these exchanges, Creedon never relented and a smashing thirteenth through ‘Gurrane cross’ consolidated his lead. O’Donnell was not doing a lot wrong but could not stay with Creedon’s bowling and its another Gaeltacht title for the famed Creedon clan.
WERE READY TO GO FOR 2ND SERIES IN EGLISH.
Following events at the weekend and mid-weeks under-age deciders all is ready for All-Ireland series two on this Bank Holiday weekend. Eglish, adjacent to the popular Tyrone village of Moy, proved a popular setting last year. An efficient, hard-working committee had all contingencies catered for and with the same team at the helm in 2024, a warm welcome can be expected to greet the large Cork delegation heading northward. The programme is rich and varied. That senior final on Sunday will constitute the feature and will now have the novel pairing of Colm Rafferty and Martin Coppinger vying for All-Ireland glory. Rafferty has been closing in on the top spot in Ulster with a few years and now that he is at the helm will want to add the All-Ireland crown to his laurels. Coppinger at his best should have his measure but mistakes will be punished.
The women’s intermediate final has Shannon Maguire again as Ulster champion. An U16 All-Ireland winner in 2019, she lost out to Denise Murphy in intermediate in 2022 and is constantly gaining experience. Munster’s champion, Hannah Cronin, will bring her finely honed competitive instincts and will be buoyed by her terrific county final success at Bauravilla.
Ulster junior B champion, Paul Rafferty is vastly experienced having contested four All-Ireland intermediate finals winning two in the 90’s but losing out subsequently to Brian Wilmot and Michael Harrington in 2011 and 2017. We find him at Ballingeary in 1993 as All-Ireland U16 winner having defeated Cork Micheal O’Sullivan. He is capable of posing problems for Conor Creedon but surely the Gaeltacht man’s confidence has to be high following a magnificent campaign in winning the Cork championship. Andrew O’Leary should be capable of bringing the All-Ireland veterans title southward following an impressive campaign in Cork. Either local, Joe Donnelly or Michael Rafferty will provide the opposition.
The three under-age finals will be well-contested. Cork has worthy representatives in all three. Ross O’Brien has plenty of All-Ireland experience going into his battle with Eoghan McVeigh in U16. McVeigh, who resides close to the All-Ireland venue will have plenty road knowledge at his disposal. Meabh Cuinnea, should she bring her devasting Cork championship form to Eglish, should have the measure of Megan O’Reilly, who as defending Ulster champion will have last years’ experience to call on.
Fionan Twohig and Kielan Fullerton will contest at U12. Fionan Twohig in U12 is well-tested following an excellent campaign in Cork and carries tradition too as he attempts to emulate his father, Gavin and brother, Cillian who have garnered All-Ireland glory at Intermediate and U14 all in northern territory. Ulster champion, Keilan Fullerton, though, comes with a big reputation as a major rising talent in Ulster.
The line-up for Eglish August 3/4 is as follows:
Saturday August 3 at 10.30 Out from O’Neill to ‘Daly’s line’: Womens intermediate final: Shannon McGuire (Ulster) v Hannah Cronin (Munster).
12.30pm In ‘Daly’s’ to O’Neill’s’ Girls U16 final: Meghan O’Reilly (Ulster) v Meabh Cuinnea (Munster).
2.30 pm Out ‘O’Neill’s to ‘Reid’s’; Junior B final, Paul Rafferty (Ulster) v Conor Creedon (Munster)
4.00pm In ‘Reid’s’ to ‘O’Neill’s’ Boys U16 final, Eoghan McVeigh (Ulster) v Ross O’Brien (Munster).
Sunday August 4 at 10.30am Out, ‘O’Neill’s to ‘Reids’ Veterans final: Joe Donnelly/Michael Rafferty (Ulster) v Andrew O’Leary (Munster).
12.30pm In, ‘Daly’s’ to O’Neill’s’, Boys U12 final: Keilan Fulerton (Ulster) v Fionan Twohig (Munster).
3.00pm Out ‘O’Neill’s’ to ‘Currans’ Senior Men’s final: Colm Rafferty (Ulster) v Martin Coppinger (Munster).
O'BRIEN BIDDING FOR A DOUBLE.
A remarkable county double can be achieved by Gaeltacht’s Ross O’Brien should he triumph in the deferred U16 county decider this week. Culann Bourke of North Cork will again present a tough obstacle as he did in the U14 final of which U16 is a repeat but with the bigger bowl in play. Originally scheduled for Newcestown on Saturday last this play-off was cancelled as a mark of respect to Finbarr Coleman who tragically died in a car accident on the previous evening. Earlier in the week O’Brien saw off the challenge of West Cork’s Daniel O’Sullivan in the semi-final at Lyre. O’Sullivan, with a good winning record won county U14 in 2022 and was expected to provided a good test for the Gaeltacht player but his challenge petered out after a poor fourth gave his opponent an opening. Playing up from Ballinascarthy cross, O’Brien rose a bowl of odds with an excellent sixth and defied O’Sullivan on the ‘mason’s hill’ to hold his odds, eventually winning by the bowl.
ROSSMORE PRODIGY TAKE UNDER 12 TITLE.
Fionan Twohig is county U12 champion for 2024. The Rossmore prodigy crowned a great campaign with another fine showing on the famed old Inch road, Dunmanway, on Thursday where he eclipsed a strong Gaeltacht challenger, Eoghan Kelly, in a last shot score. Fionan, led in the early exchanges before Eoghan unleashed a piledriver up past ‘Arnold’s yard’ to take the lead. Top-class exchanges followed as Fionan, with a big response, regained the lead before forging a shot in front. Kelly rallied with a great effort to ‘Doumlena lawn’ but Twohig came close enough to retain big odds. That was vital to the outcome as the Rossmore boy’s advantage was enough to secure the Finbarr Murphy Cup which was presented to him by Bol Chumann youths officer, David Murphy. Fionan, a son of former two-time intermediate All-Ireland winner, Gavin, and brother of 2020 U14 champion, Cillian, has bowling pedigree in spades and is ably guided by an experienced entourage comprised of family members and very loyal supporters.
O'LEARY WELL FANCIED TO BRING BACK VETERAN TITLE TO CORK.
Andrew O’Leary duly won the junior/novice veteran play-off and will carry the Cork banner to Eglish in the over 50’s grade All-Ireland this weekend. At Whitechurch on Friday, novice veteran champion, Padraigh O’Brien made a right score of it for a €560 total. O’Leary’s big one down the hill to ‘bula’ put him a bowl in front but O’Brien lined a few big ones of his own and cut the odds to forty metres. O’Leary held on to win by a good fore bowl.
A RARE DEFEAT FOR SEXTON BUT STEADY PERFORMANCE FROM CRONIN.
The two ladies’ finals at Bauravilla on Sunday evening ensured another packed road who witnessed thrilling hard-fought encounters. Hannah Cronin inflicted a rare defeat on two-time U18 champion, Ellen Sexton to capture the John Harrington Cup on offer for the womens intermediate championship. There was confidence in the Togher camp as evidenced in the €2,200 total stake the contest went for and it was justified from the off as Hannah lined a huge opener. Ellen showed why she has enjoyed a long winning run by beating that formidable mark and did so again as they played to ‘Robin’s cross’. The subsequent exchanges brought the best out of the Togher Cross challenger as she lined a succession of quality shots that rose a bowl of odds as they played to ‘Dekker’s’. She recovered from a blip to fire a super tenth to the ‘rock’ just as Ellen looked like levelling. Ellen came again with a great cast to ‘O’Sullivan’s’ but once again Hannah matched it to hold her lead. The closing exchanges saw Hannah Cronin double her lead and she deservedly claimed her first adult championship.
AT 13 MEABH'S FUTURE IN BOWLING LOOKS BRIGHT.
The U16 final brought the curtain down on a hectic day in Carbery. Emma Hurley has been a splendid U16 champion and an outstanding ambassador for youths bowling. Meabh Cuinnea is a rising star in the Carbery division, but many felt winning a title in an age group that she is eligible for several more year was a step too far. The pair delivered a gripping contest. Meabh proved her mid-week performance against Laura Sexton was no one-off as she held her own with Emma in top-class bowling over the opening quarter as they played inward from the D line at Bauravilla. That a shock was on the cards became apparent when her fourth swung back from the right to run a huge distance up the rise from ‘the rock’ It gave the Rosscarbery girl a forty-metre lead. Emma rose to the challenge with big shots to ‘the netting’ but with determination and no little focus, Meabh held the front at each exchange. When she hit ‘Robin’s cross’ with her tenth, it was the signal for a home charge that would bring the county title to Rosscarbery. Emma fought it to the end and lost no caste in defeat to such an accomplished new champion. Meabh will travel with confidence to Tyrone where she will vie with Megan O’Reilly for All-Ireland honours. The mid-week semi-final at Drinagh was one of the scores of the championship. Carbery’s Maebh Cuinnea pulled out all the stops in a magnificent display to deny previous winner, Laura Sexton in the last shot of a terrific score.
MIXED FORTUNES FOR THE CARBERY MEN AT BALLINACURRA.
Preliminary round scores at Ballinacurra, Upton on Wednesday in junior C and novice C involving Carbery and City regions saw spoils shared in two good contests. Carbery’s Denis O’Sullivan and City’s Maurice Connolly duelled for a €2,800 total and it was Connolly who had the better of it to half-way with big casts to the ‘GAA pitch’ and Innishannon cross’ giving him a bowl lead. O’Sullivan staged a great recovery from there levelling the contest by the novice line and firing a score-winning last shot of prodigious length that put him through to the quarterfinal against the North East winner. City were in the winner’s enclosure in the novice C shoot out as John Donnellan, who led for most of the score beat a big last shot of Carbery’s Brendan Crowley, who had rallied well. They played for a total of €1,000. In the vintage grade at Ballincurrig Grade C (group B) Tom Reaney defeated Donie Connolly, almost a bowl. In a doubles back here, Reaney combined with Birol Kat to defeat Donie and Patrick Connolly for €500.
In a Queen of the Roads qualifier at Beal na mBlath on Wednesday, Denise Murphy won from Emma Fitzpatrick.
There is a deadline for regional novice and junior C championships with August 1st the cut-off point. The urgency is to complete county rounds and finals in the four novice grades and junior C by August 31st. Regions not complying may have to forfeit fixtures to ensure everything is in place for the All-Ireland finals at Courtmacsherry on September 7th/8th. Fixtures secretary, Richie Fitzgerald is liaising with all concerned.
Meanwhile action continues in the regions. The West Cork junior ladies championship had a semi-final joust at Drimoleague on Friday and here, Marie Russell came through by a two bowl margin from a game Kate Murray. Grace Hickey and Emer O’Connell meet in the second semi.
R.I.P FINNY.
The Mid Cork region was plunged into sadness when the news came through on Saturday morning of the tragic accident that claimed the life of Finbarr Coleman. Finbarr, a regular competitor in Mid Cork’s regional competitions, had attended the Jagoe’s Mills D tournament final earlier on Friday evening where he enjoyed the victory of his friend, Donnacha O’Driscoll, who won the competition from Pascal Bowen, Paddoes. Finbarr’s passing is mourned by all within the bowling fraternity. Bol Chumann extends its sympathies to his grieving family. Ar Dheis De go raibh a Anam Dilis.
The Mid Cork girls U14 final was on at Ballinacurra, Upton, on Tuesday and here a splendid contest saw Anna Deane just edge out Eva O’Sullivan.
In the South-West division at Grange, Joe Williamson won the novice D final defeating Richie Lawton, last shot, for €1,400. Also, in South-West a junior A tournament quarterfinal at Ballygurteen went the way of David O’Mahony who scored a bowl of odds victory over Trevor O’Meara. O’Meara recovered from a slack start and it was a very even contest until O’Mahony unleashed a score-winning brace past ‘oakmount avenue’. They played for a total of €700.
FRIENDSHIP ASIDE, MURPHY TAKE GAELTEACHT NOVICE TITLE.
Liam Murphy and Cathal Creedon are clubmates, friends and international teammates as well as being in the top echelons of rising stars in the bowling firmament. Both outstanding exponents and both holders of county championships at under-age level their performances are often spurred by the sporting rivalry that exists between them. They contested for the Gaeltacht novice A championship at Inchigeela on Tuesday and an engaging duel it proved to be with a €3,000 total stake at issue between them. Murphy made the better start and rose a bowl of odds after five to the ’Castle entrance’. He responded well then to big pressure from Creedon whose ninth and tenth were top notch. It was Murphy who took the spoils by a bowl of odds. Back the road, Cillian Kelleher defeated Darren Oliver by a bowl for €2,200.
A Gaeltacht novice B semi-final at Terelton on Monday saw victory for Anthony Lynch over Joe Creedon. Lynch went on to win the final from Donal Og O’Leary at Terelton on Friday, two bowls, for €1,000. In the Gaeltacht novice C semi-final at Clondrohid Shane O’Driscoll defeated Donnacha Lucey by a bowl for €1,900 and, in a return here, Garoid Lucey defeated Jamie McCarthy for €1,000. In a return at Terelton on Friday, Jamie McCarthy defeated Shane Buttimer, last shot, for €1,300.
Gaeltacht’s novice C final at Clondrohid on Saturday carried a €10,000 total stake with Gearoid Lucey and Shane O’Driscoll both carrying big support on the back successful campaigns to the final. Lucey’s seven shots to The Bell Inn’ put him a bowl up and he responded well to good efforts by O’Driscoll to hold his advantage to the line. Back here, Deccie O’Mahony defeated Brendan O’Callaghan for €800.
Still in Gaeltacht the novice D final took place at Cill na Martra on Sunday morning and here, Brian Crowley prevailed against Jack Lynch.
In the North Cork novice A final at Ballinagree, Conor Lucey was in sublime form in winning a score of very good bowling from Eamonn Murphy. Lucey won by two for €3,520. In a doubles back the road, Stephen Spillane and Brian Crowley defeated T J Homan and Will Harrington, for €1,000.
The novice B final at Beal na Marbh on Friday was a cracker. For €1,600, O’Donoghue led to half-way and was unlucky when an accidentally blocked bowl cost him some odds as he attempted to pull clear. Crowley was dogged and kept within striking distance in good bowling and levelled it up for the last shots. It was Crowley who took the spoils from that vital exchange and will go forward to the county rounds and a meeting with South-West’s Gearoid McCarthy. Back the road after the B final juniors, David Hubbard and Eoin O’Riordan took issue for a €2,000 total. Hubbard was a last shot winner.
The North novice D final was on at Kilcorney on Saturday. Martin McSweeney emerged the clear winner here defeating Luke Philpott by two. In the novice C semi-final at Kilcorney on Thursday, Liam McCarthy defeated Shane Dennehy, by a bowl, for €900.
CARBERY NOTES;-
MEABH THE PRIDE OF ROSSCARBERY.
Maebh Cuinnea is Carbery’s star turn after her sensational county U16 win at Bauravilla on Sunday evening last. Not yet fourteen and unheralded at the championship outset, Maebh achieved a stunning triumph when defeating defending champion, Emma Hurley, in a score of top-class bowling. It was a hard-won victory as the Rosscarbery girl needed to start well to stay with her Drinagh rival. Maebh was sight at ‘’the rock’ in four before showing her prowess with an incredible bowl up the rise that would have done justice to players of higher rank. It gave her a lead she didn’t relinquish. Emma fought her defence in splendid fashion particularly with an excellent effort to the ‘netting’, but that too was repelled when Maebh gained vital metres on a big tip. Maebh rose a bowl of odds just past ‘Robin’s cross’ and it was enough to see her shouldered high by her ecstatic Rosscarbery support shortly after. She has the region’s best wishes as she heads for Eglish this weekend in search of All-Ireland honours against Ulster champion Megan O’Reilly.
Maebh’s victory marked the conclusion of a busy day for Carbery organisers with three major county finals down for decision. It was a day for all hands on deck as Martin Coppinger and Brian Wilmot fought out the county senior final at The Marsh Road on Sunday forenoon before a large attendance. Coppinger was a popular winner here throwing the vital shots that secured a one bowl win.
The action moved to Bauravilla post match, and the large crowds followed for two ladies finals. Hannah Cronin delivered a tour-de-force in defeating Ellen Sexton to claim the intermediate title. Stewards, markers, sign-bearers and safety personnel all ensured smooth-running events while the redoubtable Dermot Herlihy had a special role in the day’s events when acting as referee for all three finals. He was assisted in his task by six sporting finalists.
Meabh’s semi-final win at Drinagh on Wednesday came after a terrific duel with previous winner, Laura Sexton. Both girls gave their all matching each other with shots of prodigious length in a wonderful battle for supremacy. Maebh’s sixth to sight at the church was exceptional and kept her in touch just as Laura threatened to make a break. It went shot for shot in excellent bowling to the ‘blacksticks’. Maebh eventually got ahead with three to go and beat huge tips particularly with her final effort in securing a thrilling victory.
Denis O’Sullivan was a big Carbery winner mid-week. The regions junior C champion advanced to the quarterfinal of the county rounds with a hard-earned last win over strong City contender, Maurice Connolly at Ballinacurra. O’Sullivan was a bowl of odds in arrears but put in a blazing finish to snatch the spoils. There was no joy, however, for novice C champion, Brendan Crowley who bowed out of his championship title race at the hands of John Donnellan.
The Carbery novice D final involving Cian Bowen and Martin Collins scheduled for Reenascreena last week was deferred as a mark of respect to Frankie O’Driscoll. Frankie, brother of All-Ireland winning great, Mick, resided close to the bowling road and was an interested observer of all things local. Rest in Peace.
At Leap the ladies junior championship advanced with two scores. Natalie Dempsey won a great battle with Nicola O’Sullivan while Abbey Kelleher edged out Louise McCarthy. The quarterfinal line up reads, Natalie Dempsey v Aisling Crowley; Abbey Kelleher v Triona Murphy; Emer Caverley v Shannon Ronan; Eileen McCarthy v Jessica Baker/Abbey Caverley.