Team Éamon Bowen starts 2018 in winning fashion

Team Éamon Bowen (Éamon Bowen, Michael Barry and Denis Murphy) won the first big prize of 2018 when they beat Team Joseph Murphy (Joseph Murphy, Denis Connolly, Celly Spillane) in the John O’Donovan Cup final at Bottlehill on New Year’s Day.

Bowen opened with a big shot to light. Joseph Murphy was too far right with his, which left his team trailing by almost a bowl. Bowen’s team raised the bowl before the farmhouse and had a second facing the bridge. Spillane did well from there to put Murphy’s team back in contention at the holy well.

They continued to press and were level at the barking dogs. Murphy’s team pushed on to the last bend and Joseph got a good shot there. Bowen countered with a massive bowl towards the line. Connolly closed with a good bowl, but Barry beat it comfortably for Bowen’s team.