Wilmot keeps Parkes at bay to claim victory in Willie Whelton Cup encounter

Cathal Creedon showed his rising stock with a two bowls of odds win over Noel O’Donovan in the Ballinacurra tournament.

Brian Wilmot had too much craft for Wayne Parkes in the Willie Whelton Cup at Grange.

He shaded the first exchange by 3m. Parkes had his only lead with his second shot, Wilmot’s reply was unlucky to catch the left 5m hind.

He wiped out that disappointment with a scintillating third shot to light past the stud farm. This gave him firm control and a bowl of odds, as Parkes missed it in two.

They contested the bowl of odds to de Barra’s in six and seven, with the lead just under a bowl there. Wilmot then produced an exceptional bowl to the schoolhouse cross. Parkes’ bowl caught left at the old school. He lofted next but his bowl hit a flower tub and the lead was now almost two bowls.

Wilmot raised the second bowl with his next one, but Parkes had it under two at the big tree. Parkes made further gains with his bowl to the bungalow. Wilmot put the score firmly to bed with a big shot up the rising road and the curtain came down at Barry’s wall.

Cathal Creedon showed his rising stock with a two bowls of odds win over Noel O’Donovan in the Ballinacurra tournament.

He led from the off, but O’Donovan was in close pursuit in each of the first four shots to Brinny cross. O’Donovan then played a good bowl to the church, but it was dwarfed by a sensational riposte from Creedon. He reached the waterworks, which put him almost a bowl clear.

He raised the bowl with his next one to the gas line. O’Donovan knocked the bowl in the shots towards Brinny House. There was no respite though and Creedon released another brilliant bowl to the hurling alley to raise the bowl again. Creedon defied some good counter bowling from O’Donovan to stretch his lead to almost two bowls after 11 onto the straight.

On the straight, O’Donovan put it up to Creedon, but he was still not able to close the gap. Creedon sealed his win with a big 14th shot to light facing the line.

Peter Murray beat Denis O’Sullivan by almost a bowl in the Michelle Hayes Cup at Rosscarbery. O’Sullivan made the sharper start winning the first two tips. Murray played a brilliant third shot to win his first lead. O’Sullivan fought back to nose in front after two more to the end of the priest’s house.

Murray was back in front after another three to Barry’s boreen and gained a bowl of odds in his next two. They were level at Cahermore cross, but Murray edged almost a bowl clear to the Quaker’s cross. He was looking at the line after three more big shots.

Trevor O’Meara had a two bowls of odds win over Richard Murphy in the Cork City Junior B Championship at Templemichael. Both players plied their trade at intermediate earlier in their careers. It was a very rewarding win for O’Meara who has battled with injuries in recent seasons.

In the same championship, newcomer Shane Stokes beat Craig Moynihan at Curraheen.

Martin McSweeney beat Matty McDonagh in the last shot of the Tigh Uí Laoighre Cup final at Béal na Marbh. He led just three times, including the vital last one.

McDonagh won each of the six opening shots. He lost the lead when his seventh hit the new rock. He regained the lead with his next one, but a mistake to the hedge handed the lead back to McSweeney. McDonagh instantly regained the lead and looked to be gaining the upper hand.

McSweeney turned the tide with a huge bowl to light at Twomey’s. He did even better with a monster last bowl past the line, which McDonagh missed by 15m.

The Ted Hegarty Academy had a heavy schedule across all age grades. Top of the class this past week were Jayden Crowley and Cáit Young, both still U12, but delivering impressively fast bowls.

Next month’s ‘Dowcha Boy’ at the Marsh Road, Skibbereen will include two senior scores. Recent Munster senior champions Michael Bohane and Martin Coppinger face off in one. The other is a three-hander between Gary Daly, James O’Donovan and Aidan Murphy.

Five of the nine Premier Junior stars are also on the programme. The meeting of Shane Crowley and Brian O’Driscoll will garner most public interest. 

The clash of former European youth champion Darragh Dempsey and Cillian Kelleher is close second. Current European youth champion, Liam Ó Murchú, is the fifth member of the group in action, he plays Noel O’Regan.