James O’Donovan grabbed the limelight with two great wins in the busiest bowling week of 2018.

David Murphy put down a serious marker for all with aspirations of winning the 2018 Munster senior championship when he dismissed James Buckley in a one-sided first round tie at Firmount on Saturday.

Fermoy bowlers Arthur McDonagh and Gary Daly scored a double in the Mick Barry Cup at Ballincurrig in the race for a semi-final place in next month’s King of the Roads.

Michael Bohane advanced at the expense of James Buckley in the Mick Barry Cup at Ballincurrig.

Kevin Barry’s new play reconnects the Limerick writer with his old stomping ground of Cork, writes Des O’Driscoll.

All-Ireland champion Thomas Mackle bowled well to beat Aidan Murphy by almost a bowl in the Willie Whelton Cup at Grange.

Former Leinster centre Collie O’Shea will partner Cian Bohane in Munster’s midfield tomorrow night as Rassie Erasmus begins his search for willing alternatives to the injured Francis Saili.

Darragh Kiely is the standout player of the past week, having won three critical scores in quick succession, culminating in the All-Ireland U18 final.

Michael Bohane and Séamus Sexton had the two first wins in the Mick Barry Cup in the race to the Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads at Ballincurrig.

Brothers Edmond and Séamus Sexton advanced to the Munster senior championship semi-finals in a weekend that saw all four Munster quarter-finals decided.

Hooker Duncan Casey returns from a lengthy lay-off and starts Munster A’s clash with Ulster Ravens today in Naas (3pm).

Donal Riordan was the big winner of the International Fund series played at eight venues over three days starting on St Patrick’s Day. He beat Michael Bohane by two bowls at the Marsh Road on Sunday.

Thomas Mackle finished with three record bowls at Shannonvale on Sunday to win the Noel Phair Cup final from Edmond Sexton and Gary Daly.

Éamon Bowen secured the last semi-final place in the Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads with a clear win over Aidan Murphy in the Mick Barry Cup final at Ballincurrig on Sunday.

Ballinhassig 2-16 Carrigaline 2-12: “One of the first trophies of many, hopefully,” was how Ballinhassig boss Michael Walsh put it after his side secured South-East U21A hurling honours yesterday.

Last week, Tyler Bleyendaal, Munster’s major signing from New Zealand, made his first appearance in the red jersey after dealing with 12 months of deep frustration because of a career-threatening injury. He came through in style.

The Munster senior championship will dominate bowling for the next few weeks, starting with both semi-finals at the weekend.

Michael Bohane will carry Munster’s hopes into Sunday’s All-Ireland intermediate final against Ulster champion Paul O’Reilly at Lyre near Clonakilty.

Michael Bohane will lead the Munster challenge at next weekend’s All-Ireland finals following his clear win over Raymond Ryan in Sunday’s intermediate final at Lyre.

Michael Bohane will play Raymond Ryan in next Sunday’s Munster Intermediate final at Lyre.

James O’Donovan finished with five brilliant bowls at Templemartin to dethrone All-Ireland senior champion Aidan Murphy in the Munster quarter-final on Sunday.

Martin Coppinger is back on track to regain the Munster senior title after securing the top spot in Pool D with an emphatic win over Christy Mullins on the Creamery Road in Bantry.

Conor McGuigan beat All-Ireland champion Aidan Murphy by almost a bowl in the final of the Joe McVeigh Cup on Sunday, the feature event of the Ból-Fada festival on the Markethill Road near Keady, Co. Armagh. 

The first barometer of the 2015 bowling season will be played out at the three-day Ból-Fada festival at Keady-Tassagh in Armagh over the weekend.

Nicholas Carey gave a record breaking performance at Clashmore where he beat Willie O’Donovan by almost three bowls of odds in the Munster Intermediate championship.

Gavin Twohig closed with 10 brilliant bowls to beat David Hubbard in the last shot of the Rosscarbery final. 

Seamus Sexton won the Connie Killarney Cup final on the Marsh Road where he beat Michael Bohane with his 18th shot past the line.

Christy Mullins won the Noel Phair Cup final at Shannonvale where he beat both Gary Daly and John Creedon by well over a bowl.

James O’Donovan scored the line at Bauravilla in 16 great throws to beat Aidan Murphy by a bowl in a Mick Crowley Cup tie.

Michael Bohane bounced back from his Flor Crowley Cup defeat with an impressive win over Gavin Twohig in the Jim O’Driscoll Cup at Ballincurrig.