All-Ireland senior women’s champion Carmel Ryan secured a hard-fought victory over Sharon Russell in the first round of the Munster championship at Ballinacurra.

AIB ULSTER CLUB SFC FINAL:

The clash of Martin Coppinger and David Murphy in Sunday’s Munster senior semi-final at Ballygurteen has quickly shifted bowling fans’ attention towards next month’s second All-Ireland series in Port Mór-Blackwatertown.

Martin Coppinger beat Aidan Murphy in the last shot of a brilliant three-way Munster championship play-off at Skibbereen on Sunday — with James O’Donovan third.

CONOR MCGUIGAN pulled off the biggest bowling shock since Danny McParland beat Mick Barry in the 1963 All-Ireland final, when he beat David Murphy by almost three bowls of odds in the All-Ireland senior final at Tassagh, Co. Armagh yesterday.

DAVID MURPHY will be hot favourite when he faces Ulster champion Conor McGuigan in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior bowling final on the Markethill Road in Tassagh, Co Armagh.

YESTERDAY Dromina, a little village in north Cork, had its day in the sun — or scouring rain, to be more precise — as the hurlers of Cork and Laois rolled in for a challenge to mark the opening of new GAA facilities.

MARTIN COPPINGER won the Murphy’s Stout All-Ireland senior bowling final with a breathtaking display of power bowling against Ulster’s Eddie Carr at Sally’s Cross, Kanturk yesterday.

YESTERDAY’s alcohol ban in central Bari, only lifted after last night’s match in the San Nicola Stadium, was about as futile and comical an exercise as one high-profile but uncapped League of Ireland player’s announcement of his retirement from international football a couple of seasons ago.

JOHN CREEDON topped Pool B of the Murphy’s Stout Munster Senior championship when he finished with two great bowls to beat Kieran Gould and John O’Driscoll at Castletownkenneigh on Saturday.