Ryan’s victory the highlight in intermediate clashes
O’Driscoll won the opening tip by 50m, but after that it was all Ryan. He won the lead with a great second to Glencurragh cross. He was a bowl in front after two more to O’Mahony’s cross. He had almost two bowls after seven to the silver gate and held that lead in ten to the steps.
He raised the second bowl with his shot past Thornhill cross and held it past Ballyhilty bend. Another big shot past the avenue gate pushed his lead towards a third bowl of odds.
Gavin Twohig beat Kieran Murphy by two bowls at Macroom. He opened with a good bowl over the hill and got a great rub with his second to Bantry’s cross. Murphy was in trouble after a poor second. Twohig continued to lead well, though Murphy’s challenge was stronger up past the waterfall and on past the gap.
Twohig had a commanding lead after nine to Poundy’s lane. Murphy then got a sensational bowl past Kelleher’s. Twohig’s reply got a nice rub to stay 30m fore. Murphy made the novice line with his next.
Twohig then played three super bowls in succession. The first made the line at Glasheen cross. Murphy hit the right with his reply to fall a bowl behind and he went through the cross with his next. Twohig’s next brushed the left and made the junior straight, he then made the top of the straight to push his lead towards a second bowl.
He raised the second bowl with his shot to the pond after which there was little hope for Murphy. Murphy had better luck on St. Patrick’s Day when he beat Wayne Callanan by a bowl in the same championship at Béal na Marbh.
He won the lead with his third. He increased his odds with a good fourth to the top of the hill and raised a bowl on the flat. He was two clear at the rock and held it to the bridge. Callanan rallied through the wood and had the lead back to 80m with four to go. He was too conservative with his next round the bend. Murphy regained the bowl of odds with his reply to the bridge and was just short of the line in another.
His cousin, Sean Murphy, handed Callanan his second championship defeat of the week with a five star performance at Gortroe. He raised a bowl with his first to the bridge and had 100m with a bowl after three into the wood. He was still a bowl and 60m clear at the Well Bar. He went past the junior line in four near record shots from there to go well over two bowls clear.
The Ból-Fada festival programme for Keady-Tassagh at Easter was announced during the week. Aidan Murphy opens his Joe McVeigh Cup defence against James O’Donovan, while Ulster champion Cathal Toal plays Conor McGuigan in the other semi-final.
n his final run before Ból-Fada Aidan Murphy takes on Christy Mullins and Martin Coppinger in the Kealkill Cup final next Saturday. It will seem like a mini Ból-Fada at Kealkill as the Connie Killarney Cup final between Donal Riordan, Denis O’Driscoll and Michael Bohane is there on Sunday.
Munster senior champion Carmel Ryan beat Louise Collins in the last shot at Killumney in her first championship outing of 2015. Ian Callanan had an impressive win over Jimmy O’Driscoll at the Pike in the South West Junior A championship. They were level after five each to White’s cross. Callanan pushed clear with two good shots to the bridge and raised a bowl with his next to sight.
O’Driscoll played the shot of the score from the second cross, but Callanan came close to it. Callanan regained the bowl and held it past the novice line. O’Driscoll knocked it again, but Callanan closed with two big shots.
Jimmy O’Donoghue beat Bill Daly by close to a bowl in the Cork city Junior A at Templemichael. Daly won the first, but O’Driscoll led the rest of the score. He was a bowl clear after five to the white wall. He increased his lead to Sarsfield’s Court cross.
In Mid-Cork Dan O’Halloran beat Denis Murphy by two bowls at Templemartin. It was close to O’Riordan’s. O’Halloran pushed clear after a nice rub to the schoolhouse cross. He raised a bowl at Buttimer’s and was almost two in front at the pub cross.
