Andrew O’Callaghan starred in the Ballinacurra Junior A Christmas Tournament, claiming the main prize after a dominant final performance.
Jimmy O’Driscoll and Ger O’Driscoll recorded notable wins in the Champy Deasy Cup and Hancy Hubbard Cup respectively.
Several other high-stakes scores were decided across Shannonvale, Grange, Béal na Marbh and Ballinacarriga.

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ANDREW O’Callaghan was on top form when he won the Ballinacurra Junior A Christmas tournament final against Denis Wilmot and David Hegarty, playing for a stake of €3,700 a-side. With three great opening bowls from all, Wilmot and Hegarty reached the back of the cross and O’Callaghan had big odds at the far side. Hegarty and Wilmot both made the Church wall and O’Callaghan produced a super fourth to the Waterworks—this raised a bowl on Hegarty and just under the bowl on Wilmot.

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O’Callaghan held these odds to Perriots. Wilmot was staying in contention when he beat a huge seventh from O’Callaghan to the hurling alley. While Hegarty got a super tenth to Innishannon Cross, O’Callaghan made the silvery gates, holding a bowl and forty metres on Hegarty. Wilmot missed O’Callaghan’s tip to fall a bowl behind.

Hegarty’s next was very right and he was now two bowls down. O’Callaghan’s next effort was another perfect bowl, extending his lead on both his opponents.

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There was no let up for O’Callaghan and he powered on in two more great bowls to the avenue where he took the Clash Awards Cup. In a return score, Darren Oliver beat Kenneth Murphy for €2,000 a-side.

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A Champy Deasy Cup tournament was played at Grange between Liam Murphy and Jimmy O’Driscoll for a stake of €3,000 a-side. O’Driscoll went out to the stud farm in three good bowls where he had a bowl of odds. Murphy went up to Hollands Wall and it took O’Driscoll two—Murphy had it well under the bowl at this juncture.

At De Barras, O’Driscoll odds were down to ten metres. After both lofted the cross Murphy made the end of the green and O’Driscoll made Hegarty’s wall full sight. Heading on up the hill past O’Sullivan’s and on for Hodnett’s Farm, O’Driscoll raised the bowl of odds again. Two poorly played bowls from Murphy and big shots from O’Driscoll past Noelie’s Bungalow he raised a second bowl.

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He carried these odds out to Barry’s bend before the finish line and won out in the end by two bowls.

A quarter-final score in the Hancy Hubbard Cup tournament was played at Beal na Marbh between Ger O’Driscoll, Newcestown, and James O’Sullivan, Fairhill, for €2,800 a-side. O’Driscoll went up full sight in two, and after a big third shot to the Cottage O’Driscoll had almost a bowl of odds.

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O’Sullivan got a huge bowl to the double gates that knocked big odds and at the Rock in six each O’Driscoll odds was down to one metre. They both got big bowls from here, before O’Sullivan took his first lead by one foot with a great eight to the straight. He held odds to the hedging but a blunder from O’Sullivan with his next gave O’Driscoll a big reprieve.

At the end of the straight to the forest entrance O’Sullivan’s odds were only 25 metres and he held these odds to the Novice line.

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A huge 14th out sight at the last bend for O’Driscoll and he was back in front again by eight metres. He held these odds for the last shot. O’Sullivan missed the line and O’Driscoll was a comfortable winner. In a return score, Mark Bourke Jnr beat John MacSullivan for €800 a-side.

Jim Coffey suffered two defeats at Shannonvale, the first to Eoin McCarthy by one bowl for €4,000 a-side, and the other to Jimmy O’Brien by one bowl for €3,600 a-side.

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Bauravilla held two tournament scores in the Coachman’s Inn Cup tournament. In the first Sydney Shannon beat Shane McCarthy; they played for €500 a-side. In the return score Brendan O’Driscoll beat Mark Shannon for €850 a-side. Also, Ballinacarriga held their club fundraiser that was postponed due to weather over Christmas, and here Finnian Hurley beat Michael McAuliffe by the last shot for €250 a-side, and Pat Daly beat Padraigh O’Sullivan for €650 a-side.