Bowler Jamie is fresh prince of the road
There was a hero’s return in Kilcorney for newly crowned All-Ireland Road Bowling champ Jamie Kelleher and deservedly so, John Tarrant reports.
THERE was double delight to be savoured after Cork landed two titles at the All-Ireland Road Bowling Championships held in Co Armagh last weekend.
Colm Mac Lochlainn from Réidh na nDoirí took the U18 title while Kilcorney’s Jamie Kelleher took the U14 title. These were hard fought contests where both young men had to battle from behind to overtake their opponents.
For Colm it was a case of overhauling the lead of local favourite Ronan Toal, only to win on the last shot. Jamie had an equally uphill battle but his bowling pedigree shone through in the end.
Road Bowling is part and parcel of the Kelleher family’s DNA in Kilcorney going back many decades and Jamie’s grandad, Con – a man to the firefront of bowling in the area – had Jamie well-honed for the big day.
“We fell two bowl of odds behind, Jamie is always capable of coming back, he did so again and steadily drew level. And when Jamie threw a miler, I knew, he was on his way to winning the All-Ireland, a great achievement”, said Con.
Jamie had just completed a hectic few days – first up there was a family wedding before being whisked off to County Armagh for the final.
And it got even more hectic when they returned to Kilcorney, where there was a tumultuous welcome awaiting the newly-crowned champion and his family.
‘When Jamie threw a miler I knew he was on his way to winning an All-Ireland’ - proud grandad Con
IT was no ordinary weekend for young All Ireland Bowling champion Jamie Kelleher as a rousing welcome in Kilcorney on Bank Holiday Monday greeted his new-found national success.
The keen 14-year-old sportsman has just completed a hectic few days – first up was a family wedding before being whisked off to County Armagh to compete in the All-Irelands and eventual success.
Jamie delivered a blistering performance and Kilcorney folk and friends far and wide convened for celebrations.
“My grandfather Con is my coach and he prepared me to win both the Munster and All-Ireland Finals. It was amazing to play before huge crowds in Armagh, I enjoyed the experience and to win was special”, said a delighted Jamie.
Modest grandad Con praised Jamie’s dedication to sport, his versatility evident from involvement with Dromtariffe GAA and involvement in the Cork U14 Football development squad.
“The GAA takes up a lot of Jamie’s time though he showed his liking for bowling, really developing in the sport on defeating the 2016 U12 champion in this season’s U14 provincial final”, said Con.
Having won the Munster Final six days prior to the All-Ire- land showpiece, the Kelleher family faced into an extraordinary August Bank Holiday weekend. It all began on Saturday with a family wedding, an uncle of Jamie, Pat married Cheryl Twomey in Millstreet followed by a reception in Charleville.
Jamie had to forego part of the celebrations to travel up North to prepare for his biggest sporting day. Meanwhile, father of the groom Con and Jamie’s coach took it day by day ensuring he made the most of a hectic schedule.
“Everybody enjoyed the wedding and next morning at 5.30am, John Healy picked me up, we made it to Armagh in great time. Jamie was cool but the occasion was huge, that’s expected of an All Ireland”, said Con.
With a massive crowd present, it took Jamie a spell to settle into the proceedings but he adjusted well to the surroundings.
“We fell two bowl of odds behind, Jamie is always capable of coming back, he did so again and steadily drew level. And when Jamie threw a miler, I knew, he was on his way to winning the All Ireland, a great achievement”, said Con.
Road Bowling is part and parcel of the Kelleher family’s DNA in Kilcorney going back many decades. Con is to the forefront in Kilcorney Club and took much credit for the All-Ireland triumph, yet he was quick to pay tribute to the team in Armagh.
“Kilcorney Bowling Club want to thank Willie Murphy, Timmy Kelleher and David Hubbard for marking the road for Jamie in Armagh. Their contribution was so vital to the All-Ireland win”, he said.
Kilcorney celebrations began with a parade led by members of Millstreet Pipe Band from the Bridge Bar to Healys Bar.
What a wonderful weekend for proud grand dad Con, grandson Jamie, the Kelleher family and friends, a wedding and All-Ireland glory rightly celebrated this week in sporting heartland.
FURTHER SUCCESS:
Míle comhghairdeas to Colm Mac Lochlainn, Réidh na nDoirí, too who brought an All-Ireland title back to the Parish last weekend. As U18 Munster Bowling Champion he travelled to Tullyroan, County Armagh on Saturday last to contest the All-Ireland final.
His opponent, Ronan Toal pushed Colm all the way, but Colm pulled away in the last shot. Again, míle comhghairdeas to Colm and the Mac Loughlins.