Bowling: Arthur McDonagh defeats Séamus Sexton to claim Dan Riordan Cup

ROAD BOWLING: Arthur McDonagh stayed on course to retain the Dan Riordan Cup when he beat Séamus Sexton by a bowl of odds at Bantry. Picture: ©INPHO/Tom Honan

Arthur McDonagh stayed on course to retain the Dan Riordan Cup when he beat Séamus Sexton by a bowl of odds at Bantry.

Sexton took the opening shots by a metre. McDonagh’s second bowl was more assertive, Sexton missed it by 40m. Sexton got back on track with a big third bowl. It was very tight left, but settled perfectly, cutting McDonagh’s lead to 10m. Sexton beat McSweeney’s next, McDonagh’s rely missed that tip by eight metres.

McDonagh took a grip on affairs with a brilliant fifth bowl past Harrington’s. Sexton missed that by 60m. He was now in no-man’s land. He would need a huge bowl to reach Casey’s to get back level. He made his bid in the left track, but his bowl hopped left, leaving him almost a bowl adrift. McDonagh played another super bowl past Casey’s cross, edging his lead closer to a bowl.

He didn’t maintain that momentum though. His bowl to Cronin’s lane, gave Sexton a chance to keep the lead under a bowl. His next one was too tight left and looked to have presented Sexton with another chance. He didn’t grab that, he played his bowl right, missing McDonagh’s tip and conceding a full bowl of odds Still McDonagh did not kill the contest. 

The lead was under a bowl after he made a mistake after two more. A big rub off Connolly’s wall pushed him a bowl in front again. He made light at the last bend and Sexton missed. In the final McDonagh plays the winner of the Gary Daly-Martin Coppinger semi-final Shane Crowley led from start to finish in his bowl of odds win over Anthony Crowley at Béal na Marbh. Despite his dominance he looked vulnerable when his second last missed light at the cottage. Had Anthony’s reply made light, it would have forced a last shot. Not only did he miss, but he missed Shane’s tip to concede a bowl of odds too.

Shane’s opening bowl went close to the speed-limit sign and gave him the first tip by 30m. He continued to press his advantage and was close to a bowl in front at the white house. He continued to set a blistering pace, taking his lead well over a bowl at the rock. He then made the gate past the rock with a great sixth throw.

He held that lead past Hubbard’s. Anthony brought the lead under a bowl at the start of the straight. The score was beginning to open up now. Shane missed light at the end of the straight. Anthony needed to get full light with his bowl, but he missed too. Shane restored the bowl of odds in the next exchange, but Anthony clawed it back to just under a bowl at the novice line.

The final throw of the dice came next, when Shane missed light at the cottage. But it was one of those days, when Anthony was not able to land a critical blow.

Cillian Kelleher beat Trevor O’Sullivan by almost a bowl at Derrinasafa. He set the foundations of his win on three huge bowls past Daly’s gates. In another three good bowls he had light at Ross’ and was close to two bowls ahead. O’Sullivan pulled back some of the odds, but missed the Darkwood turn to fall almost two behind again.

O’Sullivan played two sensational bowls from the Darkwood to the novice line, cutting the lead to just 80m. He followed with a decent bowl that looked like it might get him in for a last shot. Kelleher denied him that luxury with a brilliant bowl to just short of the line.

Lauren McCarthy is Munster U12 champion following her last shot win over Nicola Hurley in a closely contested final at Lyre. Hurley reached the top of the mason’s hill in six to lead by almost a bowl. McCarthy levelled with a great bowl down the hill and around the twist. Hurley’s next bowl was too tight left, handing a nice lead to McCarthy.

They went out the school corner in three each, with McCarthy holding a slight lead. It was still all to play for in the last three past the line, with McCarthy getting the verdict.

Pat Daly progressed to the John O’Driscoll Cup final at Durrus. He had a comfortable win over Frank Arundel, despite never hitting the high notes. He led from the off and controlled the score line to line, coming home a clear bowl of odds winner.