Arthur McDonagh 'gets angry' to win Munster senior bowling crown
Arthur McDonagh in action at Castletownkenneigh on Sunday. Pic: Gretta Cormican
Arthur McDonagh is king of Fermoy following his power-packed win over Gary Daly in the Munster senior bowling final at Castletownkenneigh on Sunday.
Reflecting on his score defining shot from Forshin’s cross, he said “I knew I had to go out past the bend as that shot suited him. I had to get angry with myself”. That huge bowl driven by power, accuracy and maybe a little anger turned the score and kept him in control to the line.
After 12 throws they were locked together at Forshin’s cross. Up to then each of them looked to be taking a grip, though Daly was working harder to stay in contention at that point.
In the early shots Daly was sharper, but McDonagh put down a marker with a big third shot to Rory’s to win his first lead. After two more he was right with his bowl through the round tower cross and Daly hit back with a super bowl to take a big lead.
McDonagh nullified that in a flash of sheer class with a massive bowl towards Pyne’s corner. Daly will look back at his response there as the essential undoing of his title bid.
He sent his reply into the right dyke and only beat the tip by 70m with his next one. He landed his following bowl on the edge of the left bank in response to McDonagh’s bowl to the high hedge. From being on the ascendancy he was now a clear bowl of odds down.
He showed remarkable fortitude to dig himself out of that hole. He produce two brilliant throws to the netting to get back into it. They were both up to Fehilly’s lane in another. Then Daly remarkably regained the lead with his next one towards Forshin’s cross.
It’s easy to understand why McDonagh needed to up his adrenaline levels at that point as he had conceded a winning position. His response was top class. He delivered a perfect bowl from the cross that swung well past the bend.
Daly’s reply failed to cross the white line from right to left. It fell back right just making light, which effectively left him delivering his following bowl from the arc of the bend. McDonagh was onto straight road.
Daly got a decent bowl from the bend, playing onto the yellow line on the right. McDonagh beat it comfortably. Daly followed with another good one, but again McDonagh eased past it. Daly’s final throw missed the line and McDonagh played a sensational bowl that stamped his credentials as Munster champion.
This is his second Munster title, he also won the Covid-19 delayed 2020 final in 2021. He subsequently beat Armagh’s Thomas Mackle in the All-Ireland final. Next month he will face either current champion, Colm Rafferty, or his brother Ethan in the All-Ireland final.
Defeat by Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final, will ironically give oxygen to Ethan Rafferty’s bid for the Ulster crown. He leads his brother, Colm, by one win, in the best of three Ulster final.
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