Big finish powers Creedon to top of pool
He shared the lead with Gould after good opening shots, but there was little between them in the early exchanges. O’Driscoll broke clear when he got a great rub at the hollies. That gave him a bowl on Creedon, who had played three short shots, and almost a bowl on Gould. A great shot from Creedon and two poor bowls from O’Driscoll had it all level at Kenneigh cross.
They were level at the first line, but Gould won the race to the next line where he had 10m on both Creedon and O’Driscoll. Creedon got a great bowl from there to cut Gould’s lead, while O’Driscoll fell back with a poor bowl. O’Driscoll beat the line with his last throw, but it was not enough to concern either of his opponents. Creedon replied with a brilliant bowl towards the village, which Gould missed well.
Creedon drew James Buckley in the quarter final at Béal na mBláth on Sunday 28. Gould takes on David Murphy at Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh the previous day. The other two quarter-finals are scheduled for this weekend. John Shorten and Eamonn Bowen play after the Heineken Cup at Lyre on Saturday and All-Ireland Champion Philip O’Donovan plays Christy Mullins at the Mill Road (Clonakilty) on Sunday.
The Murphy’s Stout Intermediate championship broke off last weekend with wins for Martin Coppinger, Aidan Murphy and Michael O’Leary.
Aidan Murphy beat PJ Cooney by almost a bowl at Sam’s Cross. They were level after six each past Shorten’s. Murphy raised a bowl up the hill and increased his lead to the last corner. Cooney finished well though and saved the bowl by beating a big last shot from Murphy.
Michael O’Leary had three bowls on Mikie O’Driscoll at Berrings, but it was much tighter in the early stages. O’Driscoll was in front at the graveyard. The score changed dramatically when O’Leary played three sensational bowls from there to raise three bowls and bring the contest to a premature end.
Martin Coppinger easily beat Billy McAuliffe at Macroom. He had two bowls after five to the waterfall, McAuliffe briefly closed the gap, but he pulled clear again. He is back in action on Friday evening against Eamonn Bowen Jnr. at Jagoes Mills. On the same evening Darren Oliver and Tim-Pat O’Donovan play at Killumney and the Fair Hill derby between James O’Sullivan and Noel Gould is at Whitechurch.
Two further intermediate ties are down for Sunday — Nicholas Carey and David O’Mahony at Ballyvolane and Willie O’Donovan and Seamus Sexton Snr. at Bottlehill.
Michael Gould had all the aces in his two bowls win over Michael O’Driscoll in the Cork city Junior A final at Whitechurch. He raised a bowl at Bula Lane and had close to two at the Devil’s Bend.
Mark Burke wiped out Olan Noonan’s advantage in the closing stages to snatch the North Cork A title at Nadd. A sensational second last sealed his win there.
Chris O’Donovan beat Jerry Gibbons in an exceptional West Cork semi- final. Gibbons opened with a record shot to the second gate, but O’Donovan missed it by just five metres. O’Donovan made the picnic sign in seven and finished in six sensational shots to win by a bowl.
Ian Callanan beat Nelius Hurley in the South West Junior A championship by a bowl at Sam’s Cross.
Michael Bohane beat John O’Brien in a great Carbery Junior B final at Bauravilla. He took a good lead with his third shot and never looked back. He raised a bowl at Deckers’ and held it after two more to the rock. He had almost two bowls after three more to the bridge. O’Brien cut the odds with a great shot from the bridge and followed two great last shots from Bohane.
In West Cork Denis O’Driscoll was given the nod to contest the Munster championship by his brother Teddy.
Brian Daly put himself in the Munster frame too when he beat Denis Hickey in the last shot of the Cork city final at Waterfall.
Two very strong contenders have emerged in the U18 championship.
David Cotter made the factory in nine record bowls at Bantry in his two bowls of odds win over Colin O’Donovan in the West Cork final.
Aidan Foley raised a bowl on Stephen Desmond in the opening shot of the Cork city final at Whitechurch and raced past the line in 13 throws.
Eamonn Bowen Jnr. gained a place in the Mick Barry Cup when he beat Seamus Sexton Jnr. by almost two bowls at Ballincurrig. He dominated the early exchanges, but a great bowl through the lines gave Sexton the lead. Bowen quickly took over again and raised a bowl with a super shot to the top of the long straight. He had well over a bowl at the big corner and had two before the line.
Malachy Lappin is in pole position in the Ulster intermediate championship after winning the first score of the three score final at the Cathedral Road. Brian O’Reilly was out of contention at Brannigan’s. It turned into a duel between Lappin and reigning champion Harry Toal from there, but Lappin held on for a comfortable win. DJ Holland is on track for another Munster Veteran title following his bowl of odds win over Mattie Hurley at Ballygurteen.
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