Coppinger makes it all-Bantry decider

Martin Coppinger produced a massive last shot at Ballygurteen on Sunday to beat Aidan Murphy in the last shot of a closely contested Munster senior semi-final.

In the space of a week both European champions, brothers David (Road) and Aidan Murphy (Dutch Moors), have been eliminated from the championship. It is a remarkable statement of the strength of Irish bowling and delivers a unique all-Bantry final next Sunday at Dunmanway between 2010 champion Coppinger and Christy Mullins.

Coppinger opened the first bend with two big bowls, while Murphy was just at the point of the bend. Murphy got back on track with a brilliant third shot while Coppinger misplayed his next two to conceded almost a bowl. Murphy drove on to the Women’s Lane in two more to keep a 100m lead. Coppinger replied to this with a poor sixth which left him almost a bowl behind.