Departing chair Susan Greene will be a tough act to follow
She is the first woman to hold the office. She steps down now as the second longest holder of the chair. She had a conciliatory style that helped develop good rapport across the sport. Her positive vision fostered several new initiatives and created a robust underage structure.
Her term saw a major revival in Ireland’s standing in Europe. In 2008 Ireland hosted the European championships and achieved unprecedented success on the road. She recruited Mark McManus as head coach and the Irish senior men filled the first nine places in road bowling. She announced her decision not to seek re-election the weekend. There is no clear favourite to replace her yet. Her successor faces significant challenges to maintain the sport’s vibrancy.
Martin Coppinger and Killian Kingston won the feature events at the Dingle Cliff and Mountain Rescue fundraiser on the Gallarus Road on Saturday. Coppinger bowled brilliantly to beat Edmond Sexton by almost two bowls. He opened with a big shot, but Sexton beat it. He led with his second and extended his lead with his next two.
Sexton played a brilliant fifth to regain the lead, but from there on Coppinger took control. He got a huge sixth throw and drove on to raise a bowl at the corner. He pushed his lead close to a second bowl with two to go and Sexton conceded.
Killian Kingston beat Bryan O’Reilly in the last shot. He was almost a bowl clear after four. O’Reilly levelled with a huge bowl. He was more accurate than Kingston over the next series and went almost a bowl in front. He lost ground when his bowl hit a pothole at the bend. Kingston turned the score with a series of fast bowls that left him with an easy last shot win.
Shane Shannon and Ger Connolly bowled well in their two bowls of odds win over Brian Coughlan and Frank Kiely. They opened with five great throws to go well over a bowl in front. They continued to set the pace and were two clear before the line.
John Cahalane beat Andrew O’Callaghan by a bowl. O’Callaghan won the first shot, but he conceded a bowl by playing each of his next three to the right. Cahalane increased his lead, but O’Callaghan cut it to a bowl with four to go. Cahalane finished well to win by a bowl.
He looked to be heading for a second win against Tim Young in the John-Joe Murphy Cup at Bauravilla, but lost in the last shot. They took three each to Robin’s cross, where Young was just fore. Cahalane won the fourth and increased his odds to Dekker’s. He bowled well to the rock to raise almost a bowl. He reached the bridge in 12 where he was still almost a bowl clear. He raised a full bowl with his next one, but lost ground to Madore station.
Young hit back a massive bowl to just shy of the line. Cahalane missed the line too. Young then played a decent last shot, which Cahalane missed by four metres.
Brian Wilmot beat Paddy O’Donoghue in the last shot of a sensational Tim Foley Cup score at Templemartin. He won the first by seven metres and increased his lead with a great second past Desmond’s lane. O’Donoghue missed the cottage with his third, which left his with a big throw to make Slyne’s corner. Wilmot beat that well. O’Donoghue then got a great bowl to the bend, cutting the lead to 15m.
Wilmot increased his odds again past O’Herlihy’s. O’Donoghue played an incredible bowl to O’Riordan’s, which Wilmot just missed. They were at the schoolhouse cross in three more with Wilmot just fore. They opened the stonefield bend in two more, with Wilmot gaining good odds.
O’Donoghue made Buttimer’s lane with his next and Wilmot went well past it to the top of the hill. Wilmot pushed his lead to almost a bowl by making the pub cross in 14. He zipped past the pub with his next to take his lead well over a bowl.
Donncha O’Brien scorched to the Sean Leahy Cup final with an impressive win over Johnny O’Driscoll at the Pike. He raised a bowl after two good opening shots to the new house. His third was not as good, but he compensated with a brilliant fourth to White’s cross.
They were over the bridge in two more good shots. O’Driscoll knocked the bowl to Dreaper’s, but O’Brien raised it again with a fine loft from there. He kept the lead over a bowl towards the line. O’Driscoll missed the line with his last throw. O’Brien replied with a brilliant bowl that went well past the line.
John Young beat Jimmy O’Driscoll’s brilliant opening shot in the return score. He raised a bowl after four and held that advantage to the finish. O’Driscoll saved the bowl with his last throw.
Cian Boyle beat Denis Murphy comfortably in the last shot of a Josie Crean Cup tie at Whitechurch.
