Road bowling: Murphy's law for frustrated Irish at European championships

Liam Murphy was the bright spot on a tough day in Germany.

Sat, 11 May, 2024 - 22:40

Seamus O’Tuama

Liam Murphy is the golden lining in what might otherwise have been a very dark cloud hanging over the Irish at the end of the Irish road bowling on day two of the European championships at Neuharlingersiel in Germany.

Murphy won an individual gold medal and led the Irish U18 team to victory for a double gold. Anthony Crowley finished fourth and was a live contender for gold before his last shot, Cathal Creedon who won silver on the Moors on Friday was fifth and Jonathon Deane eighth.

It was the perfect start for Ireland, but the dream start led to a day of frustration and disappointment for the Irish in their national discipline. Not a single other individual medal was won, though several players were in contention. The road proved to be capricious and play was delayed and disrupted because of bowls leaving the road and ending in the water filled dykes.

The morning though was full of sunshine and good cheer for Ireland. Jonathon Deane was Ireland’s first bowler in action. He gave a very impressive performance for a player appearing in his first competition of significance at home or abroad. Cathal Creedon followed up on his heroics on the Moors with an explosive start, his form dipped in the middle, but he finished strongly again.

Murphy was next up. He carded an astonishing 1,824.9m on an unforgiving road that demanded total concentration. His exceptional bowling would have won him a silver medal in the men’s senior championship. He was worth every centimetre of as near a complete performance as possible. To add to Ireland’s joy, Anthony Crowley matched Murphy over the first nine shots.

Murphy was on the front foot from the off. He opened with a 243m drive and was never led in his group, which also included silver medallist Bart Lucas. The Dutch player stayed on his heels, but speed, accuracy and class were Murphy’s constant companions. A smashing ninth bowl looked as if it had sealed it for him. But Lucas hit back with a sensational last bowl that wheeled around the final bend and got him to 1,733.45m Murphy was faced with a nerve challenging and technically difficult shot. He needed to direct his bowl at top speed as close as possible to the right margin. Cut it too tight and his bowl would be on the bank, play it too wide and Lucas would be European champion. What a bowl he delivered, a nerveless assassin, who will be a match for all comers in the near future.

Anthony Crowley followed with an equally impressive performance in the last of the U18 scores. He delivered a massive ninth shot too, to get to virtually the same place as Murphy. He was faced with the same challenge, to his credit he went for it with the same guts. He was not as lucky though, his bowl was too tight to the right verge and his chance of gold was gone.

The euphoria in the Irish camp seeped away in a long day that promised so much and ultimately delivered so little. Sisters Ellen and Laura Sexton both got past the 1 km mark in the girls U18. Ellen finishing fifth overall, with a score of 1,181 m that would have her well up the table in the senior women’s section.

Siobhán Mackle was best of the Irish women, on 1,378.15 m. Hannah Sexton made an explosive start, but was frustrated later in the contest.

Séamus Sexton put in a spirited bid to retain his European gold medal, but he was undone when his ninth bowl failed to open the final wind. He had to settle for fourth and the Irish men for a bronze team medal. The vexing aspect of this for the Irish men is that Sexton, Thomas Mackle, David Murphy, Tim Young and James O’Donovan all seemed to be headed for the podium at different stages.

The Dutch were the big winners on the road. Silke Tulk won her second gold medal of the weekend when she finished with four sensational bowls. William Hobbelink won the men’s individual gold, with Luuk Landerink winning silver. Merle Aveskamp won the girls U18 gold. They also won the team gold for senior men, senior women and girls U18.