2 days ago
Teenager Anthony Crowley making waves in adult ranks
Just one year out of U18 ranks, Anthony Crowley, is making waves by qualifying for the semi-final of the Munster junior B championship, setting up what promises to be a massive contest with Brian O'Driscoll next Sunday at Clondrohid.
He stormed past Brendan O'Neill by two bowls of odds in the quarter-final at Ballinagree. The first half of the score was close, but once Crowley found his range he took complete control. They went out the first bend level. O'Neill won his only lead, by a metre, with his second shot through An Caipilín Bán cross. Crowley shaded the next three past the double gates.
O'Neill was left with his sixth bowl to the pink cottage. Crowley replied with a fast, accurate bowl that gave him the first big lead of the score. O'Neill was left with his next one too and he was now a full bowl behind. Little changed in the next exchange past the falling pole.
O'Neill countered strongly with a great bowl past the post office. He made light at the quay wall with his next. Crowley cut his bowl out the bend and extended his lead. He pushed on from there and a sensational bowl out the last bend put him two bowls clear. He made the village with his last one.
He can expect a much stiffer test on Sunday from the in-form, Brian O'Driscoll. Shane Collins and Mike Desmond play in the other quarter-final on Friday at Castletownkenneigh with Alex O'Donovan waiting in the semi-final.
Both Munster senior semi-finals will also be decided this weekend. James O'Donovan and Gary Daly meet on Friday evening in Whitechurch. Aidan Murphy and Arthur McDonagh play at Ballinagree on Sunday.
Neither Daly nor O'Donovan have a Munster senior title. O'Donovan is reigning European Dutch Moors champion. Daly's biggest day was winning the 2019 King of the Roads against Aidan Murphy. O'Donovan comes in with better form, including a comprehensive win over David Murphy. Daly's season has been hampered by injury.
Both Murphy and McDonagh are previous Munster and All-Ireland champions. Murphy is also a European gold medallist and a former King of the Roads. McDonagh showed some flashes of brilliance in his win over Michael Bohane last time at Baile Bhuirne. Murphy had all the answers for Wayne Parkes at the Marsh Road, but this is a significant step up in challenge.
Two brilliant last bowls edged Jimmy O'Driscoll into the Munster junior A Zone C semi-final at the expense of Gavin Twohig at Derrinasafa. Twohig had a good lead after five past the bridge, but missed Ross' in two more, leaving them level there on eight each. O'Driscoll played a brilliant bowl to Cotter's cross and went out the Darkwood turn in two more to go almost a bowl clear.
Twohig won the lead with a brilliant bowl past Walsh's lane. O'Driscoll stayed in contention, closing the gap with his second last and taking the last one by 40m.
Bryan O'Halloran advanced in Zone B at the expense of Edmund Sexton in Macroom. After a close start he had 80m odds at the flyover. He held that lead out Bantry's cross and all the way to Poundy's lane. O'Halloran raised a bowl with his next one to the railings. They contested that lead to the finish.
PJ Cooney leapfrogged into the Munster veteran I final. He beat John Cahalane in the quarter-final at Ballincurra, to qualify for a semi-final meeting with his brother Denis, who gave him a free pass to the final. All-Ireland champion, Andrew O'Leary is in the other semi-final where he will play either Richard or Jerry Murphy.
Cahalane won the first two tips well, but Cooney quickly levelled. He had a 40m lead at the waterworks after six. He then played two huge bowls towards the bridge to go almost two bowls clear. He raised the second bowl at Innishannon cross and there was no way back for Cahalane after that.
David Shannon, is probably happy that he's on the other side of the Munster intermediate championship draw to Timmy McDonagh. It gives him time to regroup after his defeat at Béal na Marbh before any potential championship meeting.
McDonagh plays Michael Murphy in one quarter-final, the winner of which will meet either John O'Rourke or John Creedon in the Munster semi-final. Shannon plays Patrick Stokes in the other semi-final.
Shannon and McDonagh were in close contention in the early stages at Béal na Marbh, until McDonagh got a great fifth shot into the hollow. He went past Hubbard's in two more to raise a bowl. After another two he had two bowls of odds.
