Road bowling: Creedon bypasses O'Donnell to set up Rafferty clash 

An air of tragedy infused the huge crowd following the tragic death of a very popular member of the bowling community in the aftermath of a bowling final at Jagoes Mills near Kinsale in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

Cathal Creedon will play Paul Rafferty in next weekend’s All-Ireland Junior B final following his impressive win over Willie O’Donnell in the Munster final at Firmount.

This score was a glass of champagne, full of sparkle when first served, but it went flat as the day progressed.

A critical moment was when O’Donnell’s second bowl took a deflection off a pothole and was blocked. It certainly halted what looked like an early charge by O’Donnell. However, Creedon grew into the score too and his second half performance was more than worthy of a Munster crown.

Both player went tight right, past the footpath, with their first shots, with O’Donnell taking it by 20m. Creedon got an average second one. O’Donnell looked destined to beat it well with his reply till his bowl clipped a pothole and left him 40m hind. 

Creedon held those odds in the next two, but O’Donnell regained the lead with a brilliant fifth shot.

Creedon’s supporters were in full voice when he played a massive sixth bowl to regain the lead. From there to the finish he always looked in control. After three more through Buckley’s cross, he was a bowl of odds in front and he was never less than a bowl in front again He had 30m over a bowl at McCarthy’s farm after 11. 

O’Donnell looked like he might cut the odds after a big 14th shot towards Gurrane cross, but Creedon went well past the cross with a monster 13th bowl. O’Donnell played one more and conceded.

An air of tragedy infused the huge crowd following the tragic death of a very popular member of the bowling community, Finbarr Coleman, in the aftermath of a bowling final at Jagoes Mills near Kinsale in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

At Firmount, Ból-Chumann na hÉireann Chairperson, Willie Murphy expressed condolences, on behalf of the association. to the family, relatives and friends of Coleman.