Competition for the three Munster places for the third All-Ireland series intensified in the past week.

David Murphy beat James O’Donovan in the last shot of an enthralling, top class Munster senior semi-final at Béal na mBláth on Sunday.

David Murphy secured his place in the Munster senior championship semi-final, after a gripping contest with Martin Coppinger, at Baile Mhuirne, on Sunday.

Martin Coppinger’s ambitions of retaining the Munster senior championship are still on track after he survived a great late rally from Gary Daly at Terelton.

While Thomas Mackle was lighting up the northern roads with his sensational bowling, the main attraction down south was the Carbery-South West festival at Shannonvale.

Gavin Twohig closed with a brilliant bowl at Grange to grab a last-shot win over Michael Harrington in the Willie Whelton Cup.

Aidan Murphy’s early season form continues to impress following his late surge to deny Martin Coppinger in the Willie Whelton Cup at Grange.

Team Éamon Bowen (Éamon Bowen, Michael Barry and Denis Murphy) won the first big prize of 2018 when they beat Team Joseph Murphy (Joseph Murphy, Denis Connolly, Celly Spillane) in the John O’Donovan Cup final at Bottlehill on New Year’s Day.

Martin Coppinger beat Gary Daly by almost a bowl at Glanworth in preparation for his meeting with David Murphy in the RNLI benefit at Castletownbere.