Sexton underlines East Cork dominance
In five years, the region has won four Junior B titles, starting with in 2008 with Mick Hurley, the only one to win the All-Ireland. Billy Dalton won in 2010 and Wayne Kingston in 2011. Sexton will have his chance to emulate Hurley next Saturday against Ulster’s Ruairi O’Reilly in Dunmanway.
He missed the Glasha with his first shot, while Murphy got a great bowl. Murphy still held a 60m lead despite Sexton’s good second, but it was back to 20m after three to Lynch’s. Murphy had 40m odds after two more, but was just five metres fore at Mehigan’s. Sexton won his first lead with a great seventh throw to the senior bend and was close to a bowl in front when it took Murphy two to beat it.
He made little progress in his next three and he struggled to just hold the lead at Dan Herlihy’s corner. Murphy regained the lead after two more to Murphy’s farm. Sexton led again with a great bowl from there, but Murphy got the better of the second last shots by 40m. Sexton beat the line with a good last shot. It looked within Murphy’s reach but he missed it by 12m.
Michael Desmond beat John Bowen by almost two bowls in the Munster U16 final at Donoughmore.
He won the opening tip and Bowen took the second — his only lead. Desmond made the bounds in three to raise a bowl. He still had almost a bowl after four more. He got a brilliant shot to the end of the wall to raise the bowl again. He had over a bowl after three good bowls on the straight and confirmed his win with a great bowl to light at the end of the straight.
Chloe O’Halloran beat Elaine Collins in the Munster U16 girls’ final at Derrinasafa. They both made the Darkwood turn in five, where Collins was just fore. O’Halloran was in front after another two through Cotter’s cross. Collins edged ahead after two more to Ross’s but O’Halloran was over the bridge and 60m clear after two more.
Collins made a mistake with her second last and O’Halloran took a big lead. Collins recovered with a brilliant last shot past the line. O’Halloran’s reply was to the right, but it rubbed and beat the tip by eight metres.
Brian Wilmot and Gary Daly progressed towards King of the Roads with wins in the Mick Barry Cup at Ballincurrig.
Wilmot beat Pat Butler in the last shot, having dominated most of the score.
On Monday, James Buckley set the early pace against Daly with James O’Donovan below his best. Buckley raised an early bowl, but lost odds with a poor shot to the no-play line. From the long straight, it was a duel between Daly and Buckley, with O’Donovan struggling. Daly had a good lead for the last shot. Buckley’s bowl didn’t get the best run and Daly beat it comfortably.
It was a good recovery for Daly, who was beaten by two bowls by Raymond Ryan at Ballinacurra on Saturday. Two extraordinary bowls from Perrott’s over the bridge took Ryan from hind bowl to two clear.
In the Munster intermediate championship, Trevor O’Meara beat Brian Donovan at Kilumney — Donovan pulled up injured.
Donal Riordan beat Tim-Pat O’Donovan by two bowls at Rosscarbery. At Enniskeane, Johnny O’Driscoll beat Wayne Callanan by a bowl.
In the Ulster intermediate championship at Knappagh, Paul O’Reilly beat Thomas Mackle and Cathal Toal to draw level with Mackle on two wins.
Geraldine Daly will meet European champion Carmel Ryan in the Munster senior semi-final after her bowl of odds win over Emma Fitzpatrick at Kildee.
Patrick O’Donoghue (Mallow) finished strongly at Carrigaline to beat Denis Cooney (London) by a bowl in the Munster Junior A semi-final.
Cooney was a bowl up after two great opening bowls, but he played poor third and fourth bowls. O’Donoghue bowled brilliantly in the second half with seven great bowls in succession.
In the other side, Liam O’Sullivan meets Brian Daly at Lyre, with the winner meeting John O’Rourke in the semi-final.
Ciarán Morgan and Donal Daly had wins in the Ulster Junior A at Port Mór. Morgan bowled well to beat Seamus McKee by a bowl. Daly was leading by two into the last quarter, but just held on to beat Philip Corrigan by 30m.
