Majestic Murphy edges it as Mullins’ wait goes on

DAVID MURPHY won his second Munster senior bowling title at Grange, Clonakilty yesterday.

He beat the line in 15 shots, but only broke clear after two brilliant bowls to the pub. Christy Mullins was looking to claim a first ever victory in the final and contributed handsomely to a captivating contest, but that will be little consolation to him this morning. He opened with a good bowl, which gave him the first tip, and he won all of the next nine.

He increased his lead with a sensational second bowl to the stud farm. Murphy missed that by 20m to leave a bowl between them.

Murphy’s fourth shot was a gem. He played wide and spun it right towards Holland’s. Mullins missed that tip by 60m and his next was his only mistake. He played too close to the left and although he still had 70m odds, it was the missed opportunity that ultimately cost him a first title.

Murphy blasted his next perfectly off the wall and reached de Barra’s. Mullins replied with a deft bowl up the left and beat it by a metre. Murphy just missed light with his next and Mullins gained 30m with his bowl to light. Murphy did well to make the school from there, but Mullins beat it with a great bowl to just short of the cross.

A great loft took Murphy’s eighth bowl to the school cross and Mullins beat it comfortably with his reply. Murphy then played a smashing bowl off a very tight run and made light at O’Sullivan’s. Mullins beat that by 20m but now they were onto open road. Murphy drove a super shot up the rise but Mullins’ reply was measured and smooth, just missing the tip. Mullins regained the lead with his next past Hodnett’s farm and won the following exchange past the bungalow. Murphy then delivered a lightening bowl to White’s house. Mullins ran and played the centre and his bowl was sucked into the right 50m short of Murphy’s tip. He looked to have recovered with a good 14th shot to the start of Barry’s wall. Murphy’s response was devastating. He drove another rocket up the right and when it came to Barry’s it wheeled with the road, touched off the wall and ran to the pub door. It was all over. Mullins just missed that tip to forfeit a bowl of odds and Murphy won the last exchange comfortably to hold his lead.

* Munster Senior final at Grange: David Murphy bt Christy Mullins 1bwl, €13,480.