Connacht says farewell to old warrior Carroll
He was the first Mayo bowler to contest an All-Ireland final, when he faced Derry Kenny at Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh in the veteran final of 1992, which also included Armagh’s Tommy Quinn. It was one of the most famous finals of all time. Carroll defied expectation by taking the challenge to the mighty Kenny and came very close to winning.
He had Kenny on the back foot until he opted for a weak shot to the foot of Céim an Fhia. That cost him the lead, and almost certainly an All-Ireland crown. Still, Kenny had to draw on all his reserves to hold Carroll at bay in the run-in. He defiantly challenged into the pass and left Kenny facing 160m for the last shot. Kenny beat it comprehensively, but Carroll lost nothing in defeat.
He also contested the Junior C All-Irelands of 1992 and 1993, but in truth, Mayo’s participation in the national championships came more than 40 years too late for Carroll.
The 2014 championships made significant progress in Munster with a series of Junior A finals, men’s intermediate, Junior B, senior women and underage ties. In Ulster, Cathal Toal qualified for the senior final and James Oliver won the intermediate crown.
Vincent Kiely finished with three brilliant bowls to beat John O’Rourke by almost a bowl in the North Cork A final at Gortroe. He beat O’Rourke’s opening shot well, but missed what looked an easy fourth towards the bridge. He was back in front after his next and edged every tip to the bend past the Well Bar.
O’Rourke got a poor shot past the bend. Kiely replied with a massive bowl towards the novice line, which put him almost a bowl clear. He made the car park with his next, which O’Rourke did well to beat by 50m. He closed with another super shot past the line.
Humphrey O’Leary beat Aidan Hurley in the West Cork final at Bantry. Hurley had a good lead after two, but missed the first corner with his third to leave them level after four. They reached the next corner in two more. O’Leary cut the odds to just two metres with his next. Hurley edged the shots towards the waterworks and increased his lead on the rising road.
O’Leary battled on and won his first lead on the hill. Hurley won the next two tips. O’Leary turned the score with a great second last on the new surface. That gave him 30m odds and he beat a big last shot from Hurley.
Billy McAuliffe beat Michael Murphy by a bowl in the North-East final at Bottlehill. Murphy had almost a bowl after four to Dan’s corner. He lost most of his lead in the next three. McAuliffe increased the intensity past the bridge and was a bowl clear at the well. He held that to the line.
Kieran O’Driscoll beat Johnny O’Driscoll in the South-West final at Ballygurteen. Johnny led from the off and had a good lead at the women’s lane. He was still in front at the avenue. Kieran led after two great bowls to O’Mahony’s. It was still in the melting pot to Burke’s. They both missed the line from there and Johnny got a short last bowl.
Cathal Toal beat Conor McGuigan in the last shot of the Ulster senior semi-final at Knappagh. McGuigan led by a bowl after four. Toal bowled well to lead after 11 to Farley’s. McGuigan was clear again at the Minister’s and led into the Condy corner. Toal’s last shot was poor, but McGuigan missed it.
In the Munster Intermediate, Michael Bohane led all the way and beat Nicholas Carey by two bowls at Templemartin. He raised a bowl after three and was close to two in front at Slyne’s corner. Carey knocked the bowl with his eighth. Bohane raised it again with his next. He was almost two clear at Buttimer’s lane and raised the second bowl before the line.
Pat Butler led all the way too against Tim-Pat O’Donovan at Donoughmore. He needed a big rub from Ring’s to stay in front and beat a great bowl to the wall. He pushed clear with his next. O’Donovan missed a chance to level at the end of the straight.
Seamus Sexton beat John Shorten by almost a bowl at Clondrohid. Shorten got three short openers. Sexton went almost two bowls clear until Shorten cut it to a bowl with a great throw to the Bell Inn. Two shots later he got another massive bowl, which Sexton did well to keep near, missing by just 10 metres. Sexton regained the bowl at the farmhouse and closed it out in the next two.
Donal O’Riordan beat Andrew O’Leary in the last shot at Béal na mBláth. O’Leary raised almost a bowl at Long’s lane and held that lead to the big bend. O’Riordan cut the lead to 50m with his next. He won the last three tips, beating a big last shot from O’Leary.
James Oliver beat Paul O’Reilly in the last shot of the Ulster final at Port Mór/Blackwatertown.
Oliver got a poor opener, but levelled with his second to the orchard and beat a determined O’Reilly in the last shot
