Arthur McDonagh wins on last shot showdown at Bottlehill

Elsewhere Kieran O’Driscoll confirmed his strong favouritism by winning the overall Munster Vintage (over-60) final at Clondrohid.
Arthur McDonagh wins on last shot showdown at Bottlehill

Action Arthur In Mcdonagh David Keane Picture: Winner:

Arthur McDonagh won the Éamon Bowen Cup final at Bottlehill coming out best in a last shot showdown against Tommy O’Sullivan with Aidan Murphy third.

He led from line-to-line, but in the early stages Murphy looked his most likely challenger. He went out the first bend just fore of Murphy on two each, with O’Sullivan a bowl of odds behind.

Murphy failed to keep that early momentum going, but O’Sullivan quickly found his feet. He played three great bowls to the holy well to get ahead of Murphy, but McDonagh was still very much in command.

Murphy slipped back in the following shots. McDonagh lost ground too when he took poor play with his shot for light at the transformer.

O’Sullivan capitalised on this with two big shots in succession to make full light there and get back in touch with McDonagh. The front two went out the last bend level, with McDonagh’s lead now just five metres. O’Sullivan’s second last was a big one too, but McDonagh beat it by 10m.

O’Sullivan played a super last shot, which looked even more dangerous, but it eventually drifted left. He had the line beaten and McDonagh was facing a serious shot to beat.

He opted for the right, his bowl veered right, but it had the velocity to rub and beat O’Sullivan’s tip by 10m.

Kieran O’Driscoll confirmed his strong favouritism by winning the overall Munster Vintage (over-60) final at Clondrohid.

Having won the ‘A’ final the previous week and given his career as a top junior, he was always the likely winner against John Nagle who won the ‘B’ final and Brendan Hoare who was ‘C’ champion.

He was in control from the off, winning the first tip from Hoare with Nagle third. He steadily took control, leaving Hoare and Nagle in a brilliant tussle for second place.

O’Driscoll had a bowl on Hoare after his fourth past Teerbeg cross, with Nagle third.

Nagle closed the gap on Hoare to just 10m at the Black House and a big bowl to the Bell Inn got him ahead of Hoare in second place.

O’Driscoll was now edging towards a second bowl on both of them, which he effectively held to the finish. Confirming his winning margin and victory with a brilliant bowl out the last bend.

In the meantime Nagle and Hoare were having a massive battle for second. Hoare raised odds towards Kelly’s, but Nagle got back in touch with a good shot to Goff’s lane.

They were deadlocked at the farmyard and out the last bend. Nagle was just fore of Hoare for the last shot. Hoare closed with a huge bowl past the line, which Nagle missed.

In Saturday’s Éamon Bowen Cup semi-finals at Bottlehill, Arthur McDonagh beat James O’Donovan to secure his place in the final. He had 20m odds after two to light and he increased his lead to almost a bowl in the next two. He had over a bowl after seven and went on to raise a second bowl.

Tommy O’Sullivan beat Séamus Sexton in his semi-final. Sexton led by 30m after four, but O’Sullivan was in front after three more. He went on to raise a bowl and was still a bowl in front at the holy well. He stayed on course from there to the line.

Aidan Murphy closed with a great bowl in his semi-final to beat Martin Coppinger in the last shot, with Gary Daly off the pace in third. Daly featured strongly in the early stages, Coppinger then had a period of dominance before Murphy pounced for a big lead by opening the second last bend. Coppinger closed the gap with a big second last shot, but it was not enough.

Patrick Flood had too much in hand for Wayne Parkes in another contest at Bottlehill. Éamon Bowen Jnr and Ciara Buckley beat Wayne Callanan and Emma Fitzpatrick Conor Creedon is through to the Lyre final following a bowl of odds win over David Hegarty and Denis Wilmot. A big shot to light at McCarthy’s bend, brought him level with Wilmot and he pushed clear with three great shots from there.

Ben Cooney, Jack McCarthy and Saoirse O’Neill were best in class at the Ted Hegarty Academy at the Phale Road.

Colm O’Regan was sensational at Newcestown. He went from the starting line to O’Callaghan’s in an unbelievable ten throws, to overwhelm Mark Courtney. Kevin Minihane secured his place in the Mikie Hourihane Cup final via a last shot win over Finbarr Coughlan, with Pat Daly back in third.

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