O’Brien emerges victorious from Bauravilla battle

Donncha O’Brien finished strongly to advance at the expense of Denis O’Driscoll in the John-Joe Murphy Cup at Bauravilla.

He won the first shot. O’Driscoll’s second bowl cannoned off the kerb at the school and ran to Robin’s cross. O’Brien missed the cross with his reply, which left him almost a bowl behind. He rallied with two good shots to the netting and he was level at Dekker’s.

O’Driscoll kept a vital edge though to the rock. O’Brien missed sight there, but he more than compensated with a super loft. O’Driscoll held an iron grip on things with a big shot to O’Sullivan’s which put him in a 100m lead. O’Brien then beat that tip by 50m to keep the lead well under a bowl.