THE good form of the Eamon Murphy trained Blue Lightening continued at Ballineen on Sunday when he won the ICDA Senior draghunt for the St Mary’s Cup, writes JOHN COUGHLAN.
Reports from the road crossings suggested that four hounds had got away from a check and they maintained their advantage throughout the draghunt.
When the hounds came into view the winner had a couple of lengths to spare but in true style she found another gear up to the tape and ran out a comfortable winner.
The ever-consistent Kempest trained by Gerry Murphy ran another cracking race to take runner upahead of Kieran Kearney’s Brandy.
This season the ICDA have not had the fortune to have their reigning champion Mossgrove Quietly competing and he has been a sad loss to the Senior draghunts.
What a shame for trainer Declan O’Donovan after winning last years Senior All Ireland draghunt to have such an outstanding hound sidelined through injury.
With the closing months almost upon us its highly unlikely that Mossgrove Quietly will make an impact this season but I am sure all genuine draghunting folk would welcome the return of this superb hound.
On the plus side the recent form of Blue Lightening will give trainer Eamon Murphy a lot of confidence with the Donal O’Mahony memorial meeting looming.
The say in draghunting “that every dog has his day” and that is surely the case for the Senior Maiden winner Border Magic trained at Carrigaline by Esther and Barry O’Keeffe.
On numerous occasions Border Magic’s unwillingness to move up a gear on the finish has cost him dearly but thankfully the happy trainers saw him do something out of the ordinary on this occasion.
In a competitive race to the tape the winner saw off the challenge of Mexican Magician and Moonshine.
The same venue hosted a midweek Puppy draghunt and the honours went to the Mark and DamienO’Driscoll trained Ballintemple Bob.
Tommy Crowley’s Mossgrove Bowser filled the runner up berth with the winning kennel also producing the third hound in Ballintemple Fireman.
On Sunday next the John O’Leary memorial draghunt scheduled for Grenagh will not take place and trainers will be notified in the coming days of the new venue.
Trainers please notify the secretary with your entries for the forthcoming Donal O’Mahony draghunt meeting as they are required for Sunday July 29.
Results
Ballineen Senior
1. Blue Lightening (Eamon Murphy)
2. Kempest (Gerry Murphy)
3. Brandy (Kieran Kearney)
4. Ballinard Kit (Brooklyn O’Connell)
5. Multrose Girl (Sheila Cummins)
6. Mossgrove Lizzie (Michael & Carmel O’Callaghan)
Senior Maiden
1. Border Magic (Esther & Barry O’Keeffe)
2. Mexican Magician (Gerry Murphy)
3. Moonshine (Diarmuid McSweeney)
4. Miss Bandon (Vincent & Aaron Crowley)
5. Judy’s Image (Michelle Crowley)
6. Pearl (Kieran Kearney)
Puppy
1. Ballintemple Bob (Mark & Damien O’Driscoll)
2. Mossgrove Bowser (Tommy Crowley)
3. Ballintemple Fireman (Mark & Damien O’Driscoll)
4. Ballinard Kerry (Brooklyn O’Connell)
5. Barcelona (Thomas Murray)
6. Sprinter Sacre (Gerry Murphy)
