Youth leads the way for Irish road bowling in mixed Euros performance

The Irish men failed to perform on the big stage in Germany. 

James O'Donovan, European road bowling champion. Picture: Paul Stack.

Gold medals for James O’Donovan and Liam Murphy, a silver medal for Cathal Creedon and a magnificent performance over the three days by the boys U18 teams will be the abiding positive Irish memories of the 2024 European Championships at Neuharlingerseil in Germany.

In Ireland’s national discipline the youth team delivered all the positives. Liam Murphy gave a performance for the ages, finishing with a score 1,824.9m, which would have been enough to win silver in the senior men’s competition. He and his team mates were the only ones capable of reading the road and delivering a consistent performance.