Road bowling: Méabh Cuinnea overcomes early setback to win Munster U18 title

It was a cracking contest in the early stages against Darcy O'Brien, but Cuinnea’s power eventually pushed her a bowl of odds clear.

Méabh Cuinnea with family and friends after winning the Munster U18 bowling final at Ballinagree. Pic: Emma Gretta Cormican

Méabh Cuinnea is Munster U18 champion following a powerful display of bowling against Darcy O’Brien at Ballinagree.

It was a cracking contest in the early stages, but Cuinnea’s power eventually pushed her a bowl of odds clear. Her start was in total contrast to her finish. Her opening bowl was left of the shop, it hopped the kerb and hit a pole. Her last bowl was fast and true and sealed her win.

That first shot handed the initiative to O’Brien. She took her opening with a good bowl on the centre to the second pub. Cuinnea clicked into gear with a smashing second bowl that scorched past Robin’s Lock. O’Brien’s reply was left, but she beat the tip by 10m.

O’Brien held the lead in the next exchange too. Cuinnea then played a sensational bowl that shaved the bend and went well past the white wall. O’Brien conceded the lead for the first time when her reply hit a pillar in the wall.

O’Brien was in no mood to concede ground though. She cut the odds with a big shot to the end of the houses. She followed with a brilliant bowl past the quay wall to light at the cross. Cuinnea bettered that by just 25m in two throws. 

O’Brien bowled well to hold the lead to the post office. Cuinnea then delivered the score defining bowl. She played an exceptionally fast bowl that ran to just short of the falling pole. O’Brien did well to come within four metres of that tip, but Cuinnea now had the lead and would control the rest of the score.

Cuinnea was down to the pink cottage in two more big throws to push her lead close to a bowl. She held her lead in the next exchange. She then played another searing bowl down towards the finish line. O’Brien missed that to concede a bowl of odds and the score.