O’Donovan leaves it late to edge McDonagh

James O’Donovan beat Arthur McDonagh in the last shot in the first round of the Josie Crean Cup at Whitechurch on Saturday.

He opened with a brilliant bowl and won each of the first four tips to the wall. McDonagh got a great fifth onto the flat, which O’Donovan missed. McDonagh increased his odds to Boula lane and went on to raise a bowl just past Downey’s line. He held that lead to the top of the straight.

O’Donovan got a good bowl down to the farm. McDonagh was well short of that after playing his reply to the right. He played his next into the bend and missed O’Donovan’s tip. O’Donovan held the lead in the shots to the wall. He increased his odds to the start of the straight and had a comfortable lead to the last throws. McDonagh got a reasonably good last shot. O’Donovan should have easily beaten it but played his bowl to the right and needed two rubs to pass it by two metres.