Murphy is the road king

David Murphy, from mid-Cork, is the new King of the Road.

After a superb weekend of roadbowling that drew the crowds to the small east Cork village of Ballincurrig, Murphy was crowned the 23rd King of the Road after beating Eddie Carr in the final.

Prior to the ‘King’ semi-finals all the talk was whether dual champion Philip O’ Donovan would complete the hat-trick and equal Pat Butler’s record.

As events unfolded it was clear that the favourite O’ Donovan was struggling in his semi-final against Armagh’s Eddie Carr and the German player Ralf Klingenberg.

This was the second of two semi-finals, the first, played on Friday, saw former five-times King, Bill Daly, eliminated by Murphy by a margin of a bowl of odds where a total stake of €24,000 was involved.

In the second semi-final on Saturday the German made the early running and led his rivals after three shots.

Thereafter, he failed to make any further impression.

As the score progressed both O’ Donovan and Car were battling out a dour struggle, both missing opportunities at various points along the Ballincurrig route.

Armagh player Carr, in particular, had a golden chance, but missed it when he failed to make the “short” corner.

Credit to him therefore for clinging to a slender lead, particularly when beating a good last bowl by O’ Donovan.

All was set for Sunday’s final and a new coronation.

Dual winner O’ Donovan dethroned and a new favourite installed, David Murphy from Mid Cork.

It would be his first ‘King’ final. Eddie Carr was there before, in 2003 when he lost to Kieron Gould.

So whatever the outcome a new King would be crowned.

A meagre €2,000 stake was the “best” the Armagh placed their man Carr, preferring to accept the generous odds southern backers were willing to lay on young Murphy, a second-season senior.

As a bowling spectacle this final promised much, but sadly failed to deliver.

After spectacular opening shots with Carr getting the better by 50 metres, sadly thereafter it sunk to dismal depths with both players guilty of poor play.

Little doubt the record crowd may have made conditions difficult for both players, but few would disagree that this final was well below par.

Carr missed the better chances early on and held a slender lead for eight shots.

Murphy took his first lead in the ninth. He held this lead until surrendering the advantage behind the No-Play-Line.

In the last quarter both players spurned good chances.

With two shots remaining Murphy held a 40-metre lead.

Carr delivered one of his better shots to “sight” at of the “green”.

Murphy needed a good bowl here. He got it, just beating the Carr’s tip by two metres for what might have been and should have been a grandstand finish.

Carr’s effort was wayward, missing the finishing line at Moore’s Gate.

Murphy surprisingly missed the line, giving Carr an unexpected chance.

Again the Armagh mans effort was dismal, leaving Murphy the easiest of tasks to take the crown as the new King of the Roads 2007.

Armagh’s Kelly Mallon added the Queen of the Roads title to her All-Ireland titles making it a trio of triumphs for this most talented of young players.

Already the winner of this year’s senior and U-18 titles, this victory crowned a magnificent season.

Mallon defeated a game and gallant Maria Noonan, the 2007 Munster Senior, with the last shot of a fine score.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper