Bowling Report - Week ending 26th October

TOM O'Donovan from Crossbarry took the Vintage C title at Timoleague, overcoming John Twohig and DD Carrollin a three-way contest for stakes of 3x 950 a-side.

O’ Donovan got off to a dream start with a huge opener to the sheds and raised a bowl on both opponents with another impressive second shot. He held and extended his advantage with two more to the Guard's house, where he had a comfortable lead of two bowls on Carroll and one on Twohig - excellent bowling at this grade.

There was no change at the top of the hill. Try as they might, Twohig and Carroll could make no inroads into O’Donovan’s lead. Twohig kept it to the bowl at Barryshall Cross, where Carroll remained two down. O’Donovan produced a massive effort to the Monument, raising big odds on both. Carroll fell out at this juncture. Eight shots to this point represented top-class bowling.

Twohig fought back, cutting it to an even bowl at Deasy’s Gates and keeping the contest alive to the last shot after two more to the finish line – but O’Donovan had too much in hand and sealed victory. He now goes on to meet Paul Butler and Jerry Murphy in the overall final.

Large crowds gathered at Derrinasafa over the bank holiday weekend for West Cork’s annual benefit meeting.

In the headline score, Cillian Kelleher faced Anthony Crowley for a stake of €6,500 a-side. At Daly’s Gate, after three each, Kelleher was just fore bowl. A superb fourth from Crowley gave him an eight-metre lead as Kelleher miscued badly. Kelleher missed out Nattie’s Bend in two more, handing Crowley the advantage as he came out full sight.

However, two poor bowls from Crowley let Kelleher back in, the gap down to ten metres at Cotter’s Cross. Kelleher went full sight at the Darkwood Turn and regained the lead as Crowley missed up. Crowley then delivered a superb effort from a poor stand to the New House. At Walsh’s Lane his odds were just 30 metres, but Kelleher produced one of those magic shots to Hon Grady’s that Crowley could only match in two. Victory went to Kelleher.

Timmy McDonagh finished the stronger from the Darkwood Turn to take victory over Paul Buckley, playing for €11,000 a-side. Buckley put himself under pressure with a poor first shot in right, but recovered well with two to Collins’ Entrance, where McDonagh held a narrow lead. Buckley took his first advantage with a huge bowl back of the bridge, but he missed out Nattie’s Bend in three more, allowing McDonagh to regain full sight and control.

Buckley dug deep to make Cotter’s Cross in two more, McDonagh throwing odds and beating Buckley’s tip by just ten metres – all level again. Buckley missed sight at the Darkwood Bend as McDonagh powered up full sight on the straight road. When Buckley missed the New House, McDonagh extended his lead to 50 metres and back of Hon Grady’s he had almost a bowl. He held that advantage to the finish.

On Monday, the fundraiser continued at the Clubhouse. Diarmuid Hurley beat Eoin O’Riordan for a stake of €2,750 a-side. They were level after four each to the Chip Line. Two more to Dineen’s Lane saw Hurley raise a bowl of odds, which he held to Clon Cross and on to Murphy’s Pillars. O’Riordan couldn’t close the gap and Hurley won by the bowl.

In the return, Johnny O’Driscoll was fire against Mark Bourke from North Cork, for €2,620 a-side. At O’Riordan’s, after three each, Bourke took his one and only lead. O’Driscoll responded brilliantly, reaching Clon Cross in two more to raise a bowl of odds. He held that margin past Dineen’s Lane and out the Chip Cross in another, now two bowls clear. After his seventh shot up off the Cross, Bourke conceded.