DALY DASHES COPPINGERS HOPES OF CUP TITLE DEFENCE
Martin Coppinger's bid for back-toback Willie Whelton Cup titles came unstuck at Grange on Saturday. The Cup in honour of Willie Whelton who was a staunch follower of road bowling and a committed follower of the O’Donovan’s from Courtmacsherry, Brendan, Declan & James. The Grange Club felt that it was only right and fitting that his memory should be kept alive by putting up a Cup in his honour.
On Saturday Coppinger was looking for back to back wins of this Cup he started favourite in the €11,400 stake, and he put down a marker with his first that he made a statement with that he was in this final on merit. Daly didn’t get off to the best of starts but certainly got himself back into this score with an incredible third bowl that opened light at the Stud Farm corner to take his first lead by thirty meters. Coppinger up sight at Hollands Wall with his fourth and Daly got a nice touch of the wall to put him 40mts fore. Coppinger unleashed another one of those special ones out sight to De Barra’s, Daly was robbed with his next as he played it to perfection but just got caught right three meters hind bowl.
Two more bowls each down to the School Cross with Coppinger a valuable twenty five meters fore bowl. Coppinger was rising odds with his eight out sight for Mickey Sullivan’s but Daly was not letting up as he produced two of the finest up past John Bill’s farm entrance. Coppinger followed these but were it not for the aid of two rubs he would have been well hind bowl, but at this juncture he lead by fifty meters.
After two more up the rising road for the White House the margin was down to ten meters, with the finish line approaching. Daly opted for the right hand track here, seldom done but he does have a left hand pull in his bowls, however, he left his bowl out left of the track and it got caught up left well short of the final bend. They said that’s it now, odds flying on a Coppinger win. He had to open the bend but what seemed to be a perfectly played bowl veered off right and unbelievably missed Daly’s tip by ten meters.
Coppinger caught the bend with his fourteenth and it rolled down the hill just back of the pub, Daly didn’t play his great either but it missed all obstacles, pillar’s, steps and cars and made the middle of the Car Park winning law. Coppinger’s last hit the stone wall before the line and shot across the road, nothing for Daly to beat.
Daly now joins James O’Donovan who had won this Cup twice & Martin Coppinger and presentation of prizes were made by the Whelton family and Daly takes the Willie Whelton Cup and the €2,000 first prize with Coppinger receiving a trophy and €1,200.