Bowling - Butler denies Daly at the death
He was in cruise control in the early stages of this old firm meeting. Daly, by contrast struggled, allowing his opponent to dictate matters at will over the first quarter of the road.
The two times world champion made a valiant effort with a powerful sixth throw but he still found himself behind by almost a bowl of odds at Slyne’s Corner.
Daly cut the deficit in the next shots. Butler, however, rose the bowl of odds in his ninth throw and he drew further ahead with a terrific 11th shot past Collins’ Bungalow.
The lead was under the bowl of odds at the Schoolhouse Cross. Sensing that he had now snuffed out the early Butler ascendancy, Daly struck immediately for a ferocious drive out of the bend.
Butler stubbornly bettered the bowl by 70 metres before Daly began to quickly close in on him again at Buttimer’s Gate. It was only a matter of time before Daly would break his opponent’s stranglehold and the lead came amid the heightening excitement of a mighty 18th bowl.
Daly now appeared to hold all the aces. He was forced to surrender the initiative out the final bend but the real drama of the day was yet to unfold. Daly weaved his magic by way of a super second last shot that gave him 40 metres for the last shot. Butler though refused to lie down and took the honours with a bowl that Daly could and should have beaten.
Doneraile is certain to host a capacity crowd for next Sunday’s meeting of Pat Butler and reigning Munster champion Edmund Sexton.
John Shorten, meanwhile, prevailed against John Creedon in their senior championship meeting at Rosscarbery. A victory for the Mid Cork player looked remote as Creedon mastered him in all the finer aspects over the first half of the road. Shorten was forced to rely on a lucky rub to stave off a lead of two bowls of odds at the foot of Barry’s Hill.
He rallied immediately though. He unleashed a scorching eighth bowl and was right back in the thick of things at Barry’s Lane. Both men struggled along the flat and they were level bowling at Cahermore Cross.
Shorten took over here. He was never out of danger, however, testimony to which was a last-ditch Creedon rally that stopped just short of carrying the day. John Shorten’s semi-final against Edmund Sexton or Pat Butler will be in Ballygurteen.
Gavin Twohig and Michael O’Leary will meet in an intermediate semi-final in Waterfall. Twohig came through at the expense of Dan O’Halloran at the Marsh Road, Skibbereen. O’Halloran lost any remaining hope of winning this score when he squandered a chance to Ballyhilty Corner.
Richard Murphy advanced to an intermediate championship meeting with Jerry Hegarty or Jim O’Driscoll following Friday’s Clashmore, Co Waterford, clash with Jim O’Donoghue. A magnificent throw at the three-quarter line turned this score Murphy’s way.
Michael O’Leary put out the fancied Trevor O’Meara in Saturday’s intermediate score at Jagoes Mills. O’Leary made the running to O’Briens in eight good bowls. O’Meara bounced back with two terrific throws to the railway line. But inspired by a miracle bowl through Ballinvar Cross, O’Leary held sway over the deciding crucial shots to the line.
A SERIOUS leg injury incurred by player/coach Christy Mullins has dealt Irish hopes of success in next week’s European Championships a cruel blow.
The Bantry player has ruled himself out of the Ból-Chumann starting line-up and his loss will be sorely felt in the Dutch Moors and German Loft where he had competed with notable success since making his international debut in 1977.
All-Ireland champion Eddie Carr will captain an Irish Road team in Germany that is back-boned by such long-serving internationals as Bill Daly, James Buckley, Donal Riordan and Jerry Hegarty.
And the overall strength of the team has been boosted by the inclusion of Anthony Gould, John Shorten, Gavin Twohig, David Murphy, Noel Gould, Billy McAuliffe (jnr) and Richard Murphy.
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