Sensational lash shot win for Sexton
He edged the first three throws towards Geary’s. Murphy won the shots to the creamery. He took a big lead with his next to the top of the acre after Sexton had played his too low on the left. Sexton just made the no-play line with his sixth and Murphy went to Heaphy’s to go almost a bowl in front.
Sexton’s shot from the line lodged in the right hand bank to leave a full shot between them. Nothing changed to O’Riordan’s. Sexton got a good bowl up the long straight, but Murphy beat it to stay a bowl in front. Sexton won the shots to Leahy’s; they both missed the big corner from there.
Murphy then opted to loft the bend. His bowl fell dead inside the fence, costing him a shot and levelling the score. They were still level after two more to the top of the short straight. Murphy gained odds to the start of the sycamores, but Sexton shortened the lead in the shots to the elbow.
Sexton then played a good second last bowl well onto the finishing straight. Murphy played his on the middle but it veered right and just made the bend. He played a good last bowl to the green, but Sexton had vital odds and just beat it.
That win puts Sexton into the second of the King of the Roads semi-finals where he meets Ulster’s Eddie Carr, a repeat of the 2003 All-Ireland final, and the Netherlands hot young prospect Jerry Dekker. In the other semi-final Martin Coppinger defends his crown against Aidan Murphy and German champion Ralf Look.
The semi-final line-up for the Mallow Contracts Queen of the Roads was confirmed on Thursday when Gretta Cormican beat Emma Fitzpatrick by less than two metres at Drinagh and Catriona Murphy beat Louise Collins by two bowls at the Clubhouse in the Gretta Cormican Cup semi-finals.
Murphy faces All-Ireland champion Carmel Ryan and German champion Astrid Hinrichs. Cormican has no less a challenge in reigning Queen Silke Tulk and Ulster champion Kelly Mallon.
David Hubbard beat Michael Bohane in the Hughie Desmond Cup final at Curraheen. He won the opening shot by 50m and increased his lead with his second to sight after Bohane missed. He went down to the bridge in two more to raise a bowl. Bohane got a sensational bowl from there, but Hubbard played well too to miss it by just 30m.
They beat Richard’s lane in four great shots from there. Bohane closed with two great shots past the line, but Hubbard beat both.
Gary Daly beat John Creedon comfortably in the last shot of the Flynn Cup final at Timoleague. Creedon had a 50m lead after five to Bateman’s. Daly edged in front for the first time after four more to O’Leary’s. After another three to the junior line his lead was just five metres, but he increased that to 40m in two more to Barryshall cross. Creedon missed the line with his last bowl and Daly didn’t have to throw again.
At the Schull Hospital Benefit series Munster champions Shane Shannon and John O’Regan were on top form as was emerging star James Murphy.
Enda Conneely beat Shannon with an unbeatable last bowl to the school. Shannon opened with two record bowls to the bridge to go almost two clear. Conneely knocked the bowl at McFarlane’s and cut the odds to 50m for the last shot. On Sunday Shannon bounced back to beat Richie Harnedy in the last shot.
James Murphy won twice in the last shot with Joe O’Mahony against John O’Regan and Denis Murphy. He lost in the last shot to Flor Crowley. He had over a bowl at the bridge, but Crowley levelled at McFarlane’s.
Jim Fitzpatrick reached the Munster Vintage (over-60) final at Durrus when he beat Liam Hurley by a bowl in the C final at Drinagh. He led by 15m after five throws to the rectory. He made the black stick in four more against five from Hurley to go a bowl clear. He will play DD Carroll and Donal O’Donovan in the Munster final.
Tim Young beat Kieran Murphy in the last shot in the Jerry Desmond Cup at Shannonvale. Murphy won the first two tips, but Young won the next five to Desmond’s where he had almost a bowl. He raised a bowl with two big shots to Kingston’s. Murphy knocked the bowl with a huge 11th, but Young raised it again with his next. Murphy’s massive 13th to Campbell’s lane cut the odds to 50m, but Young held on in the last shot.
At Grenagh Donal Riordan opened with five record bowls to the new house to raise two bowls of odds on Seamus Sexton. He held that lead to the Devil’s bend. Sexton cut it to a bowl at the cross, but got no closer.
