Clonakilty CC and Sacred Heart finish top of class in senior boys' and girls' competitions
BÓL Chumann’s post primary schools’ competitions at Shannonvale on Wednesday, 23rd, were keenly contested in all four sectors. One hundred and fifty-five students from eight schools participated, a great many demonstrating fine talent and throwing technique and all contributing to an enjoyable hosting that once again showcased the appeal the sport has for large sectors of our younger age groups.
Competition was especially rife in the senior boys’ category where some of the game’s best young talent were on view. Clonakilty Community College’s trio of David Hegarty, Kieran O’Sullivan and Eoghan Barrett, under the capable tutelage of Micheál O’Sullivan, set a blistering early pace scoring out the novice line and accumulating a 1,931 total that was not expected to be beaten.
Later in the morning, Dunmanway’s Maria Immaculata’s top team comprised of Alan Brickley, Con O’Connell and Darragh Hayes took on the challenge with relish and closed on the Clon boy’s total with excellent bowling. It proved a small step too far for Dunmanway who fell just 20 metres short in a thrilling finale.
Skibbereen Community College (James McNulty, Gavin Crowley, Michael A Cronin) threatened too with some brilliant sequences but had to settle for third spot, a creditable showing in a competition that had 19 teams. Kinsale Community College, who had two teams in fourth and fifth places, St Brogan’s Bandon and Mount St Michael’s Rosscarbery all had big performers.
There was a Clon victory too in senior girls. Sacred Heart Secondary School were powered by the Sexton sisters, Hannah and Margaret and very capably assisted by Sarah Harrington in amassing a 1,637 winning total that had them over 400 hundred ahead of their nearest rivals, Maria Immaculata Dunmanway (Kate Murray, Marina Connolly, Ciara Ahern). Sacred Heart’s second team were in third spot with Lauren Walsh, Ellen O’Hea and Alice Sexton hitting a fine total of 908.
Big winners on the morning were Coachford College junior girls (Ailbhie O’Shea, Rosheen O’Riordan, Rachel Lucey). All with underage championship experience and performing excellently, they edged out strong opposition Sacred Heart, Clon (Ellen Sexton, Grace Murphy, Sinead Walsh) second, and Maria Immaculata, Dunmanway, (Rachel Kingston, Emer O’Connell, Alice O’Donovan) third.
There was no stopping Maria Immaculata in junior boys. The Dunmanway college filled the top three places with team A (Con O’Sullivan, Andy O’Sullivan, Danny Horgan) in splendid form carding a 1,613 that had them clear winners from (Tadg Crowley, Mark McCarthy, Eoin Hurley) on 1,343. Paudie Crowley, Brian Horgan and Ronan Hurley were a good third from 21 teams with 1,310 to their credit.
Ból Chumann’s James O’Driscoll expressed his appreciation that on this the 20th year of post-primary schools bowling, the competitions continued to be a high point for the sport. He thanked school personnel, Ból Chumann’s membership who turned up in numbers ensuring a smooth-running event and Margaret Daly, Shannonvale, who once again was in charge of catering. The full results lists are on Road Bowls Facebook and on Ból Chumann’s website results section, www.irishroadbowling.ie.
