2 days ago
Bowling: Shane Crowley retains Munster U18 title
Shane Crowley retained his Munster U18 road bowling crown in a show of power and awe against Cathal Creedon at Bantry.
Once he hit his stride with his huge second bowl, he quickly took control. Creedon had opened with a brilliant bowl, straight over the sop, towards McSweeney's lane. Crowley's reply was well right of his sop. That handed, what turned out to be, the only lead of the night to Creedon.
Crowley wiped out the deficit immediately with his second throw. Creedon did well to miss that by just eight metres. Creedon's next bowl broke left, but still reached McSweeney's farm. Crowley beat that by 70m. That turned into almost a bowl of odds when Creedon beat it by just 45m with his next fourth shot.
Crowley was now in full flight. He delivered a searing bowl up the middle towards Harrington's that put him well over a bowl in front. His next one was below par, but he immediately clicked back into top gear. A sensational sixth bowl to light at Casey's cross pushed him two bowls clear.
Even a beauty from Creedon past Cronin's cross, could do little to stem the tide. Crowley followed with another massive bowl past the hedge and that brought the curtain down on the contest.
Eoghan Kelly was an impressive Munster U14 winner. He defeated last year's All-Ireland U12 champion, Fionán Twohig, by two bowls of odds. This final followed a very similar narrative to the U18 final.
Twohig opened with a huge bowl to win the first tip comfortably. Kelly then got a great second bowl, which won him a big lead. He was never again headed. He increased his lead with a great third throw towards the crush.
He then produced the score defining bowl. It scorched down the left and ran all the way to Cronin's cross. That catapulted him two bowls clear. It also closed off almost any chance of Twohig regaining a foothold in the score.
Still Twohig managed to contain the odds. He had it back to an even two bowls of odds after nine and 11 to the fuchsias past McSweeney's farm. That was as close as he got as Kelly increased his lead again in the run-in.
