Pat McCarthy is stepping back from role as public relations officer of Ból-Chumann

ROAD BOWLING: Pat McCarthy is stepping back from his role as public relations officer of Ból-Chumann trumps them all for its sheer impact on road bowling. Picture: ©INPHO/Tom Honan

In a week packed with competitions at every age and range, the off-road news that Pat McCarthy is stepping back from his role as public relations officer of Ból-Chumann trumps them all for its sheer impact on road bowling.

McCarthy has been a preeminent figure in the sport over many years. He has been especially influential in the almost two decades since he was elected as the public face of bowling in 2005. At the top table he has been one of the twin-towers, with treasurer, James O’Driscoll. Both of whom have been central in guiding a national governing body that is entirely dependent on voluntary effort.

His role in the committee room was at least as important as his public facing function. Very few major decisions were made without his imprimatur. His absence will leave a significant deficit of experience, knowledge and the capacity to reflect deeply on the correct way forward for a sport that is perpetually at a cross roads figuratively and literally.

His annual reports are legendary for their level of detail and analysis. He has contributed to this newspaper at times, but is best known for his weekly column in the Southern Star. He has decided to step away now for health reasons.

The race to the third All-Ireland series is gathering momentum in a bumper Muster inter-regional campaign. The positive side of this is that it is presenting top quality competition for many bowlers, who don’t see either enough serious action or much of the limelight. It is ostensibly divided into grades ranging from junior C to novice D, but it is not always easy to distinguish between those grades.

One of the highlights was Conor Lucey’s win over Eoin McCarthy in the Novice A at Clondrohid. Lucey opened with three sensational bowls to go almost a bowl in front after three to Tierbeg cross. He raised the bowl after two more and had well over a bowl at the Bell Inn.

He held that lead till McCarthy got a massive shot to Goff’s lane to bring the lead under a bowl. Lucey gathered momentum again, but McCarthy played a sensational second last shot to just short of the line. That pushed it to a last shot, but Lucey held his nerve and beat the line to advance to meet Irish youth international Anthony Crowley in the semi-final.

The European youth gold medal winner, Liam Murphy, is in the other semi-final against Pat Daly. Murphy beat Chris Murphy by two bowls in his quarter-final at Ballinagree. He won the lead with his second shot and raised a bowl at Lehane’s lane and second one with his next shot. They were contesting that lead to the line.

Jagoes Mills had the distinction of hosting two former top intercounty hurlers in Seánie O’Farrell who starred in the Cork forward division and Seán Cullinane who was Waterford’s full-back. Neither of them managed to get a victory though.

Brian Horgan beat O’Farrell in their Novice B tie, while Cullinane was eliminated by Kieran O’Driscoll in the Novice D. Horgan had a firm grip on the contest when he led by two shots after three throws. He never left O’Farrell back into it from there. O’Driscoll was equally dominant in an 11 shot performance against Cullinane.

The weekend was dominated by a major cancer research benefit at Shannonvale. On Saturday Hannah Sexton and James O’Donovan teamed up to beat Michael Bohane and Geraldine Curtin by a bowl of odds. They made a good start to go a bowl clear at the quarry. Bohane and Curtin knocked the bowl at Kingston’s, but Sexton and O’Donovan got big shots to Tobin’s to raise it again.

Gary Daly beat Séamus Sexton by a bowl on Sunday. Sexton showed well in the early stages to lead by 100m at the quarry. Daly got back in touch with a big shot to the double gates and they went out dead level at Desmond’s. Sexton won the shots from Desmond’s by 70m, but lost his gains with his next one to Kingston’s. Daly upped his game to Tobin’s where he was a bowl in front. Sexton’s bowl to Campbell’s dragged him back into it, but Daly made light for the line with his next one and restored his bowl of odds.

Wayne Parkes gave the performance of the weekend by making the novice line in just 11 throws in his two bowls of odds win over Tim Young. That display featured four sensational bowls from Desmond’s to light at Campbell’s lane.

Patrick Stokes had the first win of the Jim O’Driscoll Cup when he beat Eamon Bowen by three bowls at Ballincurrig. This was competitive to the big corner, but Stokes powered clear from there.