ARTHUR McDonagh made the long trip from Fermoy to Bantry in the defence of the title that he won last year, the Dan Riordan Cup, and he is one step closer to retaining the cup after qualifying for the final.
Sexton’s downfall was that he did not take advantage of a poor opener from McDonagh. While he was on the back foot for the whole score, Sexton did take the lead with his fourth bowl to McSweeneys Farm but that was the last lead he had in this score.
McDonagh’s fifth and sixth bowls covered an extraordinary amount of road up past Casey’s Cross. He had the makings of a bowl of odds here. McDonagh brought his seventh bowl way out too far and it fell down at Cronin’s Lane – this was a bit of a lifeline for Sexton, but he did not take advantage and blew his bowl over right.
McDonagh’s eighth throw was extremely tight on the left, kept going left and he had odds now of 60 meters, so there was still a chance for Sexton if he could make the Crush in two, but with his ninth shot he opted for the right track and pulled it in right hind bowl. Sexton got a great bowl up to the Crush that knocked the bowl as McDonagh was too tight left and hopped the brow.
McDonagh got a massive rub off of Connolly’s Wall that took him sight. Sexton missed this, the bowl was up again and McDonagh will now play Martin Coppinger or Gary Daly in the final.
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In a challenge score at Beal na Marbh, young Shane Crowley from Caheragh, a talented up-and-coming junior player, took on Novice 1 All-Ireland champion Anthony Crowley from The Glen. Shane Crowley, impressively, led from start to finish in this score. He was up past the Rock in six great bowls where he had a lead of a bowl and 40 metres. Anthony did knock odds down the straight but missed out the bend, and Shane went sight and rose the bowl of odds here again. Anthony got another chance at the last bend by the cottage as Shane had missed out, but Anthony buried his bowl in right and that was all his chance gone. Shane won by the bowl.
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County U12 runner-up Nicola Hurley with her family and supporters.
At Lyre the girls’ U12 county final was played out from the pub. Lauren McCarthy, Caheragh, representing the Carbery division, played Nicola Hurley, Drimoleague, from the West Cork division. Six and seven shots to the top of the Mason’s Hill where Nicola had almost a bowl-of-odds lead. Lauren got a super bowl down the hill and a mistake from Nicola had the margin down to just 15 metres, so this was all to play for. There was nothing between them at the back of O’Donovan’s pillars where Lauren took her first lead of this score. Four more each down to the School, Lauren still just in front. They took three more down to the finish line that Nicola missed, but Lauren beat to win by the last shot.
