Road Bowling: Mackle hit two career milestones in 2023

Mackle was Mackle. He delivered three perfect bowls to the creamery green.

Thomas Mackle ( Armagh ) holding the Hughie Trainor memorial cup aloft after winning the Mens Senior All-Ireland Road Bowling final at Ballincurrig, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Thomas Mackle enjoyed two significant career milestones in Ballincurrig in 2023, both at the expense of David Murphy. In July he joined an elite club of players to defend their All-Ireland senior title and in September he won his fifth King of the Roads, in possibly the most complete and compelling final in the history of the event.

In July the stage was set for a Barry v McParland type of occasion. Everything was in place, a packed attendance, the weather chimed in – everything except two fully fit competitors. Murphy arrived visibly hampered by an injury he picked up in training.