Road bowling: Young stars Hurley and Harrington eyeing history in Armagh

The pair will bid to become the first-ever All-Ireland girls U14 and U12 champions at Madden.

Pic: INPHO/Tom Honan

Nicola Hurley and Ciara Harrington could be history makers next weekend as they bid to become the first-ever All-Ireland girls U14 and U12 champions at Madden in Armagh – the home of bowling superstar Kelly Mallon.

Hurley beat Aoife McCarthy in the Munster U14 final at Lyre, which sets her up to play Ulster champion Lucy Lennon for the brand new John Creedon Cup. Harrington beat Cáit Young in the U12 final, she will play Eva Mallon in the All-Ireland final.

Mallon will have history sitting on her young shoulders too. The new U12 Girls cup is the Aidan Toal Cup – named after her famous grandfather. She is also attempting to complete an historic hat-trick. Her mother Dervla is 2026 All-Ireland senior champion and her sister Connie is All-Ireland U16 champion.

Hurley and Lennon have a chance to put their names on a cup commemorating one of the most famous bowlers of all-time, Johnny Creedon.

He was a huge star in the era of Mick Barry and Danny McParland. He achieved the unthinkable of beating both of them on his way to the 1968 All-Ireland title. He beat Barry in the Munster senior final and McParland in the All-Ireland.

In the U14 Munster final Aoife McCarthy won the first exchange, but Nicola Hurley won the second and never looked back.

She was a shot clear after five. A huge seventh bowl to light before the mason’s hill, brought McCarthy back into it. She contested the lead up the hill and played a super bowl to the home straight to stay in contention. Hurley moved up the gears from there though.

Ciara Harrington and Cáit Young had a massive battle in the U12 final also in Lyre.

Nothing separated them as the lead changed hands in the shots out the first bend. Young gained a good advantage down the mason’s hill. A great bowl that wound around the school corner brought Harrington back into it. She won the lead with a brilliant bowl to the creamery, which proved decisive.

Both Cáit Young and Aoife McCarthy will also have a chance of an All-Ireland title in the All-Ireland team finals on Saturday.

Every regional winner in Munster in both boys and girls U14 and U12 automatically qualify to represent Munster. These competitions will be played on the European championship format and the winners will steal a bit of history by being the first ever title holders.

Charlie Callannan and Phelim Rock will contest next Sunday’s U12 Boys All-Ireland final. Callanan beat Timmy McDonagh in the Munster final at Grenagh on Monday evening.

McDonagh opened with a big shot to take the first tip by 30m. Callanan won his first lead with his fourth throw. He stayed ahead, but McDonagh never relented. Callanan’s power proved gave him the edge as the score entered the closing quarter. Still McDonagh refused to concede and made a great bid for it with a big last shot.

Ulster U14 champion, Daithí Cahill, will play either Fionnán Twohig or Eoghan Kelly, who meet in the Munster final.

The race to fill the Munster spots in what will be the fourth All-Ireland series next month in Mayo is reaching its concluding stages.

Both semi-finals of the Junior C will be played this week. David Crowley and Anthony Lynch clash in one side at Curraheen. The winner of that will play either Billy Connolly or Christy Stokes who meet at Conna.

The novice A semi-finals feature Garreth Bourke against Tommy O’Donoghue at Newcestown, with Freddie Scannell and Alan Brickley contesting the other semi-final at Jagoes Mills.

In novice B, Timmy O’Sullivan will play either Eoin Hurley or Dylan McDonnell in one semi-final. Shane Dennehy and Liam Kearney play in the other side at Castletownkinneigh. Novice C has Danny Quirke against John Hickey at the Bog Road, with Don O’Driscoll and John Linehan contesting the other semi-final at Macroom.

Dan O’Regan, who won his first championship 54 years ago, is through to the semi-final of the novice D against Conor Desmond at Carraig na bhFear. Tony Delaney and Robert Coleman contest the other semi-final at Conna.

Gavin Twohig won the Jerry Desmond Cup final at Grange against Johnny O’Driscoll. They were out the stud farm bend in three each, Twohig getting a huge second one and O’Driscoll a monster third.

Twohig gained good odds with his next bowl to Holland’s wall. He led well till O’Driscoll levelled with a huge bowl to the schoolhouse cross. O’Driscoll came within a metre of winning the lead, but it never came up. Twohig did much better to Barry’s to raise a bowl, which effectively sealed it.