Road bowling: David Murphy overcomes Thomas Mackle in All-Ireland senior final

By Séamus Ó Tuama

David Murphy gave a bowling masterclass in yesterday’s All-Ireland senior final at Grenagh, to beat Ulster champion Thomas Mackle by a bowl of odds.

He won the first two shots and Mackle the next two. Mackle got the better of huge fifth shots to extend his lead to 45m at Buckley’s. Murphy was tight left with his sixth and hit a pillar.

Mackle’s reply went right and beat it by only 40m.

Murphy played a brilliant seventh bowl up the rising road. Mackle hit back with a sensational bowl that went past the bungalows to increase his lead to 70m. Murphy’s eighth was another rocket. Mackle played both of his next two across to the right and from being in control he was suddenly fighting the score.

Murphy played an extraordinary ninth making his tenth an easy one to sight at Boula lane. Mackle beat that by 20m in 11. Mackle closed the gap by reaching the cross with his next. They both made clear sight at Davis Castle with their next.

Murphy then played a big bowl past the junior line, bringing him within very easy reach of the no-play line. Mackle needed a miracle to make the line, he made an heroic effort but missed by 40m. That left a shot between them. Murphy raised a bowl with his next to the last bend. Mackle played another, but it was not enough and he conceded.

It was a special weekend for the Keady Club with Malachy Lappin (Junior B) and Joe Shortt. (Veteran) winning their All-Ireland finals. Lappin won his fourth All-Ireland when he beat Munster champion Michael O’Leary by two bowls on Saturday.

He raised a bowl after two and he still held that lead in six more to Magnier’s lane. He was facing Boula lane in five more to stay a bowl and 40m in front. When O’Leary missed sight there the lead was close to two bowls. Lappin raised and won by two bowls.

Shortt beat Ted Hegarty to win the Veteran (Over-50) title in his third attempt. He was close to a bowl clear after seven to the farmhouse. He then raised a bowl and held it past the three gates. He was still close to a bowl up at Boula lane, but got a poor shot from there. Hegarty wasn’t able to close the gap though.

Shortt went through the cross with his next to keep control. He looked to be safe after another good one onto the finishing straight. Hegarty replied with a super second last to bring the lead 70m under a bowl. Shortt dismissed that late challenge by beating the line. It was an unbelievable win for a player hospitalised until Friday night.

Veronica O’Mahony had a two shot win over Leah Grimley in the Intermediate women’s final. Wayne Parkes (under-16) beat Patrick Carr and Cathal Creedon (under-12) beat Ciarán Corrigan for Munster. Ulster’s Shannon Maguire snatched the girls under-16 final in the last shot from Hannah Sexton.