James O’Donovan battles hard to beat tenacious Aidan Murphy

James O’Donovan beat Aidan Murphy in the feature score of the Mid-Cork festival at Ballinacurra on Sunday.

He went past the factory with his first, which gave him a good lead. Murphy reached Brinny cross with a great second effort, but O’Donovan beat it. Murphy only made the pony’s gate with his third and O’Donovan increased his lead with a good bowl towards the church. Murphy didn’t reach Foley’s with his third, but O’Donovan didn’t push on with his reply.

Murphy then got a big bowl to the nooks to cut the lead significantly. He won his first lead with a good throw from there to Perrott’s, which O’Donovan missed by 20m. O’Donovan’s next only reached the ‘hole in the wall’, giving Murphy a great chance to consolidate his lead. He was too far right, though, and lost the lead again. His next was better, but O’Donovan beat it.