They’ll enter Thurles on Saturday as unbackable favourites because of what Austin Gleeson did to Kilkenny in last month’s drawn All-Ireland semi-final, because of what he did in the replay six days later, because of Conor Gleeson’s assuredness when thrown in for his second afternoon of championship fare in the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Wexford and because Patrick Curran and Shane Bennett, between them, clipped 3-73 in the national league.

David Murphy and Thomas Mackle meet in what promises to be a thrilling All-Ireland senior bowling final at Port Mór- Blackwatertown in County Armagh on Sunday.

In today’s success-or-nothing world, filled with soundbytes about how the runners-up are merely the first losers and winners never quit, it’s easy to overlook or belittle achievements.

Heritage runs deep in Castlehaven.

CORK PREMIER IFC FINAL:

South Tipperary Bord na nÓg are expected to investigate an U16 hurling semi-final, which was abandoned due to violence over the weekend.

Derrinasafa’s two-year stint as an All-Ireland final venue ended on a high note on Sunday with an enthralling All-Ireland senior final in which Martin Coppinger regained the title he won in 2010.

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.

ULSTER will begin their bid to continue their domination of the girls’ underage interprovincials at Alexandra College tomorrow, as the U16 and U18 showpieces get underway.

THE first two All-Ireland series of 2010 have presented a positive picture about the state of road bowling.

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.