Armagh's Ethan Rafferty claims Ulster intermediate title

BACK TO BACK: Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty has retained the Ulster intermediate road bowling championship. File pic: Dominic Morgan

Ethan Rafferty retained his Ulster intermediate title last Sunday at Eglish to set up an All-Ireland final against either Donal O’Riordan or Bryan Wilmot who will meet in next Saturday’s Munster final at Ballygurteen.

Rafferty who has made it a season of ruffling the feathers of the neighbours, did it again by winning the Ulster title in Tyrone against their current top man Shaun Donnelly. Donnelly opened with an incredible bowl to take the first tip by 80m. He consolidated his lead by opening McNally’s next. Rafferty won his first lead with a big fourth one and raised a bowl with his fifth. Donnelly did better in the next three to cut the lead to 30m at the bus shelter.