Road bowling: McDonagh rounds off 2024 campaign with special win in Castletownbere

Following hot on the heels of his Éamon Bowen Cup victory earlier in the month, McDonagh bettered James O’Donovan in the feature score of day two of the Keith Hegarty-RNLI benefit

ROUNDING IT OFF RIGHT: Arthur McDonagh from Fermoy ended 2024 with victory. Pic: David Keane.

Arthur McDonagh closed out 2024 with a convincing bowl of odds win over James O’Donovan in the feature score of day two of the Keith Hegarty-RNLI benefit at Castletownbere.

Following hot on the heels of his Éamon Bowen Cup victory earlier in the month, it was an extra special win. Tommy O’Sullivan, who McDonagh beat in the Bowen Cup final, bounced back for a bowl of odds win over Aidan Murphy in the feature score of day one. All-Ireland intermediate champion, Hannah Cronin, contributed handsomely to a last shot win with Noel O’Regan against Ellen Sexton and David Hegarty.

McDonagh opened with a big shot to the Cope Centre, O’Donovan’s reply took an unfortunate bounce off rough road and missed the tip well. He got back on track immediately with a brilliant second shot to the grotto. McDonagh misplayed his reply to the right and missed that tip well. His massive third shot to light at the truck park more than compensated for that glitch. O’Donovan replied with a great bowl too, but was behind by 12m.

They went to light at the graveyard in two more, with McDonagh still in front by 25m, thanks to a nice rub. O’Donovan’s next bowl hit a pillar at the quarry and missed light. McDonagh capitalised on this with a big shot to light, which O’Donovan beat by just 10m to leave him almost a bowl behind.

McDonagh raised a full bowl with his next shot and the remainder of the contest revolved around that lead. O’Donovan had it just under a bowl after two more. McDonagh regained the bowl with a good shot past the council yard. O’Donovan had it just under a bowl after another two to the junior finish. He looked to be gaining traction when he brought the odds down to 70m with three to go.

He now needed something special to force a last shot. He was off target with his next one though and he only beat McDonagh’s tip by 10m, leaving him almost a bowl down again. McDonagh turned the screw with a huge bowl towards the finish line. O’Donovan missed this to concede the bowl of odds.

Tommy O’Sullivan led from the off against Aidan Murphy. He made the Cope Centre with a great bowl to gain an immediate advantage. Murphy’s second and third shots put him in trouble, allowing O’Sullivan to raise a bowl with his third to the truck park. They contested that lead to the junior line, where it was just under a bowl.

O’Sullivan didn’t get a great next one and now his lead was back to 70m. Murphy didn’t take full advantage though. O’Sullivan edged closer to victory with a good bowl towards the finish line. Murphy beat the line with his next shot, but it was not nearly enough to trouble O’Sullivan.

Hannah Cronin and Noel O’Regan beat Ellen Sexton and David Hegarty in a great mixed double. After a close start Sexton and Hegarty went almost a shot clear. A big bowl from Cronin through the quarry reversed most of that advantage. O’Regan completed their recovery in the next one to light at the graveyard. It was on a knife-edge from there to the line. O’Regan closed with a brilliant bowl, which Hegarty missed.

Noel O’Donovan and Cian Boyle join Denis Wilmot in the Ballinacurra final. O’Donovan came through in an exciting three-way last shot finale against David Hegarty and Kieran Murphy. Murphy made Brinny cross in three where he was a shot in front. He was closer to two in front after eight to the GAA. His form was less assured from there, but he still had the upper-hand till he missed the line with his last one.

Boyle got the verdict against Andrew O’Callaghan and Michael-John O’Brien. All three were in the mix to Perrott’s. Boyle took control to the novice line where he was a shot in front, he held that to the junior C line. Things tightened up towards the finish, but not enough to threaten his lead.

Edmond Sexton beat Conor Creedon in the last shot at Béal na Marbh. Creedon had the better of the early exchanges. He had 10m odds after two to light and he doubled that lead in the next two to the cottage.

Sexton had the lead after another two towards the rock and raised almost a bowl with a huge next shot past Hubbard’s. He held that lead into the closing stages. A slip with his second last cut his lead to 60m, but he still had had enough in hand for victory.