O’Donovans steal show in Clubhouse festival showdowns

JAMES O’DONOVAN beat Christy Mullins in the feature score of the West and Mid-Cork festival at the Clubhouse,but Brian O’Donovan stole the show with a scintillating win over Thomas Mackle.

James O’Donovan got off to a great start and went a bowl in front at the first cross after three poor openers from Mullins. However, Mullins threw a brilliant bowl to Dineen’s lane and followed it with another great effort to Clonakilty Cross to cut the lead to just five metres. Mullins had a chance to level the score after O’Donovan’s reply broke to the left and missed light.

Mullins took his chance with a good bowl towards O’Riordan’s but O’Donovan responded to beat that tip by 40 metres to hold a firm grip on the score. Mullins was slightly left with his next and only reached the top of the hill and O’Donovan hit back with a brilliant bowl in the right hand track that went to light past the garage. Mullins beat it by just 15 metres to leave almost a bowl between them again.