Road Bowling: Thomas Mackle takes stand in Mother Hegarty Cup 

Player power has been a feature of most sports, but not in bowling until now. Mackle, the highest profile player in bowling, the current holder of all the major titles, decided Sunday was the day to cry stop.

STAND TAKEN: Player power has been a feature of most sports, but not in bowling until now. Mackle, the highest profile player in bowling, the current holder of all the major titles, decided Sunday was the day to cry stop. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Honan

ARTHUR McDonagh advanced at the expense of Armagh's Thomas Mackle in the Mother Hegarty Cup at Lyre in what will be remembered as one of the strangest contests in the long history of road bowling.

Player power has been a feature of most sports, but not in bowling until now. Mackle, the highest profile player in bowling, the current holder of all the major titles, decided Sunday was the day to cry halt.

He took exception to what he saw as unfair manipulation of the betting odds. That setting of the odds meant that much of the potential betting was diverted away from the stake. That impacts the player as he is less likely to have a chance to bet on himself and it ultimately depletes prize money.

Unlike other Irish traditional sports, bowlers have always received prize money. They are also allowed to bet on themselves. This is normally achieved through a stake or book, a collective bet generated by the player and their supporters.

In a two-horse race it is very easy to tip the odds. In the past, odds would not be laid till the stake is filled, which protected both the player and the club. That tradition has been challenged over the past few years. Players, their supporters and clubs have grumbled, but no one took a stand till now.

Mackle refused to participate in what would have been a greatly reduced stake. Then using a GAA analogy, he rolled down his socks instead of rolling up his sleeves. He bowled using the Munster technique, not his own Ulster technique, virtually handing a win to McDonagh.

McDonagh led from the off. He raised a bowl after two. Mackle got back into it with a big sixth bowl to Crowley’s, but he didn’t open the bend next. McDonagh restored his bowl of odds with a fine lofted eighth bowl. It was just under a bowl at the next tip. McDonagh then played a huge tenth bowl to McCarthy’s, which put him closer to two in front and Mackle conceded.

Catriona O’Farrell-Kidney is back in the big time. Twelve years after she won her last All-Ireland senior title and nine since she fell to Kelly Mallon in the 2015 final at Lyre, she bounced back onto centre stage by beating 2022 Munster champion, Hannah Sexton, at Dunderrow.

Two huge bowls to the bridge propelled her clear of Sexton. She just missed light with her first bowl. Sexton levelled with a big second one to the wall. O’Farrell-Kidney held a slender lead till Sexton got the better of the exchange from the big bend to Cotter’s pillars. Sexton stayed in front in all the shots past the school, but was just hind bowl facing Nyhan’s lane.

She played a decent bowl to the lane. O’Farrell-Kidney’s bowl drifted left into the lane, but got a brilliant rub off the concrete that sent it onto the cottage. This still left her facing what looked like two big throws to make the bridge. She defied that logic by releasing a sensational bowl that went all the way in one. Sexton missed in two. That left her well over a bowl behind and with no chance to close the gap.

There are still lots of challenges ahead for O’Farrell-Kidney in the Munster championship. Reigning champion, Geraldine Curtin, underlined this with a storming three bowls of odds win over Meghan Collins at the Clubhouse.

The men’s Junior A championship had plenty of highlights. A record bowl from the creamery gave Timmy Murphy almost a bowl of odds on Timmy McDonagh in the North East championship at Carraig na bhFear. He scorched to just short of the line in four more for a clear win.

Kieran Murphy beat Noel O’Donovan by almost a bowl in the Mid-Cork semi-final at Ballinacurra. He won the first three, but O’Donovan led after a good fourth past the church. They were locked together till Murphy got a great shot onto the straight to raise a bowl, which proved decisive.

Johnny O’Driscoll had a big win over Gavin Twohig in the South West championship at Shannonvale. He raised a bowl after five to the quarry, he had two bowls at Desmond’s and won by three. Noel O’Regan beat Muiris Buttimer by a bowl at Durrus to reach the West Cork final. At Templemichael, Trevor O’Meara beat Paddy Stokes by a bowl in the Cork city championship.

The Ted Hegarty academy produced two days of top quality underage finals at the Phale Road in Ballineen.