O’Donovan pulls it out of the bag against Murphys 

Noel O’Donovan sealed the win at Ballinacurra final thanks to an extraordinary second last bowl. File pic: INPHO/Tom Honan

Noel O’Donovan won the Ballinacurra final thanks to an extraordinary second last bowl that saw him edge out Michael Murphy and Kieran Murphy.

Twice he rescued what seemed a lost cause. A big 10th bowl to the bridge got him back in the frame. He lost ground again before pulling the rabbit out of the hat with a massive 15th bowl out the last bend, which gave him an unlikely lead.

He won the first shot, but Kieran Murphy won the next two. O’Donovan was back in front at the church. Michael Murphy was off the pace till big fifth and sixth shots brought him level with Kieran Murphy, while O’Donovan fell a shot behind. Kieran Murphy led to the GAA, but could have had a bigger lead.

Suddenly O’Donovan was back in the mix following his big shot to the bridge and poor ones from the two Murphys. Michael Murphy won the shots from Innishannon cross. He then pushed clear, exploiting mistakes from both his opponents. At the high hedge he had a bowl on Kieran Murphy and almost a bowl on O’Donovan.

In a flash it was in the melting pot again. O’Donovan produced his miraculous 15th bowl to light facing the line. Kieran Murphy missed light, which ended his challenge. Michael Murphy missed O’Donovan’s tip in two to lose the lead by 40m. His last bowl missed the line, O’Donovan wrapped it up by beating the line.

Séamus Sexton beat Michael Bohane by a bowl at Shannonvale. Bohane got the better start taking the first shot by 20m and extending his lead to almost a bowl in the next three. A mistake by Bohane and a big one from Sexton tipped the scales and they went out Desmond’s level.

Sexton did better to Kingston’s where he led by 40m. He was almost a bowl in front at the novice line. From there to the junior line he took his lead well over a bowl.

Tim Young beat Brian Wilmot also at Shannonvale. He had a bowl of odds at Desmond’s. Wilmot played two huge bowls from the cross to win the lead. Young edged in front again to Campbell’s lane and increased his odds to the line. Wayne Parkes scorched to a three bowls of odds win over Donal O’Riordan at the same venue.

Darragh Dempsey scored a bowl of odds win over Shane Shannon in the Carbery junior A championship at the Marsh Road. They were level after six to the quarry gate and were still locked together after four more to the steps. Dempsey pushed almost a bowl clear with two big throws to Ballyhilty. Another two to the avenue had him closer to two in front.

Gavin Harrington beat Mark Deane in a good final at Lyre. His purlicue from the top of the mason’s hill won him his first lead, having trailed by a bowl. They had a super battle from there, with Harrington taking it by beating Deane’s big last shot.

At Schull, Séamus Hayes reached the Mick-Flor Cup final through a bowl of odds win over Andy McCarthy. Paul Butler held off a storming finish by Tony Murphy at Ballincurrig to advance in the East Cork-Waterford veteran championship.

Those interested in time travel could go the Phale Road in Ballineen next weekend. They’re likely to see the bowling stars of the next two decades in the finale of this season’s Ted Hegarty youth academy. The top graduates will contest finals of nine age and gender grades over two days.

Some, like All-Ireland U18 champion and Irish international, Ellen Sexton, have already announced their arrivals. Some carry names that have a familiar ring, like the pair contesting the boys U8 final. Here, Timmy McDonagh plays Tommy Coppinger, sons of All-Ireland senior champions Arthur McDonagh and Martin Coppinger. For others this may mark the first win in a distinguished career.

Some may end up as stars in more than one sport, like Kelly Mallon. The most decorated player in the history of women’s bowling was a star for Armagh ladies footballers on Sunday in Croke Park. She scored five points and laid-off the perfect assist for Aimee Mackin’s goal to add a Division 1 national league medal to a bulging horde of provincial, national and international awards in bowling.

Ireland has suffered a serious dent to its ambitions for next month’s European championships as former Dutch Moors gold medallist, Aidan Murphy, has had to withdraw from the panel. His place will be taken by Michael Murphy.