Murphy the man to beat as King of the Road takes centre stage
No bowler in the 28-year history of the classic has performed with the same consistent excellence as Murphy. It does not mean he is invincible though — Christy Mullins showed in this year’s Munster semi-final and Conor McGuigan did likewise in last year’s All-Ireland final. But it’s going to be a huge ask for anyone to beat him.
McGuigan and German champion Robert Djuren will be trying to knock him from his pedestal in the second of Saturday’s semi-finals. McGuigan has grown in stature since his win over Murphy in last year’s All-Ireland, but even more so through the manner of his challenge to Martin Coppinger this year. Djuren is probably not as strong a challenger as Ralf Rocker but as German champion, he will be respected.
Coppinger will be hoping to add King of the Roads to his All-Ireland title, a task he failed to achieve in 2010. He showed a lot of mental strength in the Munster and All-Ireland finals this year, indicating he is a more rounded player than two years ago. Both Aidan Murphy and Dutch champion Arjan Hassink will put this to the test.
Kelly Mallon’s bid to retain the Mallow Contracts Queen of the Roads after helping Armagh win the All-Ireland IFC ladies final at Croke Park on Sunday is equally fascinating. It is possibly the most competitive Queen of the Roads ever, as four of the contestants are former winners.
In her semi-final Mallon takes on Catriona Kidney who beat her in this year’s All-Ireland final. Kidney also leads the roll of honour and she is a former World and European champion. German champion Anke Klöpper, who is one of a golden generation of rising stars, is third player in that score. Any of these three could win.
Here we have two reigning European champions — Carmel Ryan and Silke Tulk. Ryan was brilliant when she won the road title at Pesaro last May and reached the Munster final against Kidney. Tulk won the Dutch Moors in Italy making her the first Dutch bowler to win the Queen of the Roads and the senior moors gold. And then there’s Caitriona Murphy who won the Gretta Cormican Cup last month and has the tenacity to derail both players.
In the Jim O’Driscoll Cup, Munster intermediate champion Trevor O’Meara takes on PJ Cooney in the Cork final tomorrow with the winner going through to take on Paul O’Reilly on Sunday.
European Youth champion Cian Shorten bowls with his father John — an Irish senior international, against Ulster pair Mark Kiernan and Paul Rafferty in the Charlie McCarthy Cup final on Sunday. The younger Shorten was brilliant in Italy so he will attract a lot of attention here.
In the Junior Queen of the Roads Megan Collins will renew rivalry with Germany’s Hannah Janßen who she beat in Italy and Sinéad Kiernan who beat her in this year’s All-Ireland U18 final.
Tomorrow, Munster Junior B champion Terry Sexton plays Ulster’s Philip Corrigan in the East Cork Oil Challenge. On Saturday Munster Novice I and Novice II champions Thomas O’Callaghan and Gene Twomey face Ulster Novice I champion Niall Smith and Veteran champion Oliver Gribben in the Smart’s Bar President’s Prize.
To add to the excitement Dutch trilingual commentator Freddy Mensink will give live commentary on the main scores.
