James O’Donovan on song in Mother Hegarty Cup

James O’Donovan set himself up for a good Christmas by beating Bryan O’Reilly by two bowls of odds in the Mother Hegarty Cup at Lyre.

O’Reilly won the first tip with a big bowl, but didn’t sustain his challenge. O’Donovan won the second shot towards the forestry. He increased his odds to 70m with his third and he was almost a bowl clear at the tunnel. He made Crowley’s bend in eight, where he had pushed his lead to almost two bowls.

He held that lead to McCarthy’s bend and was well over two clear after his next to McCarthy’s wall. He extended his lead with his next.