Road Bowling: Top ten scores of 2025
NUMBER ONE: Kelly Mallon won the Queen of the Roads for the seventh time at Ballincurrig in September
What are the top ten scores of 2025? Which one should be Top of the Pops this Christmas? This is my list of the crème de la crème of bowling in a year of exceptional bowling. In the tradition of Top of the Pops they are in reverse order.
At Number ten is the brilliant Munster Novice II final at Béal na Bláth between Billy Healy and Cathal O’Sullivan. Healy was the line-to-line winner, but much of the score was on a knife-edge, the atmosphere electric and the bowling brilliant.
Number nine is Kelly Mallon’s win over Silke Tulk in the Queen of the Roads final at Ballincurrig. Tulk led early. Mallon gained control and it looked over when she raised a bowl with two throws for the ages to end of the green. Tulk hit back with two magic bowls of her own, forcing Mallon into a nerve chilling last shot shoot-out. Mallon delivered with a perfect bowl.
At eight is Emma Hurley’s win over Ellie-May Carr in the All-Ireland U18 final at Keady-Tassagh. Things didn’t click immediately for Hurley, but she won control. She was then faced with the ultimate test as Carr got a dream bowl around the last bend. Everything was now hanging by a thread. Hurley closed out the noise. She played two perfect bowls for a win stamped by pluck and maturity.
In seven is Shane Crowley’s win over Eoghan McVeigh in the All-Ireland U18 final also at Keady-Tassagh. Crowley answered a lot of questions his future self will appreciate. He was called on the first shot. His answer ice-calm. He looked a sure winner till McVeigh cut the odds to 58m with two extraordinary bowls to the bridge. He answered that with a super bowl towards the line.
Gene McVeigh’s win over Páidín Stokes in the All-Ireland Intermediate final also at Keady-Tassagh is at six. This was the first time a Tyrone player won an All-Ireland at this level. McVeigh adopted the Munster technique and produced a first half off the scale for brilliance. Stokes closed the gap towards the line and it required a miracle bowl up the left to ensure McVeigh’s win.
At number five is Ethan Rafferty’s All-Ireland senior final win over Arthur McDonagh at Castletownkenneigh. He opened with a sensational bowl and dictated terms right to the end. A single slip by McDonagh had him unsuccessfully playing catch-up. It was a special win as Rafferty had been intermediate champion in 2024 and completed an unique four-in-a-row. His brother Colm was 2024 senior champion and his first-cousin Thomas Mackle won in 2023 and 2022.
Brian O’Driscoll’s win over Barry O’Reilly in the All-Ireland junior B final at Castletownkenneigh is number four. The stats help capture O’Driscoll’s brilliance. He was at Pyne’s corner in six, equalling Ethan Rafferty’s senior winning performance and out Forshin’s cross in the same tally as Arthur McDonagh. And yet O’Reilly was in contention to the end.
Number three is the ultimate vindication, Arthur McDonagh’s total reversal of his All-Ireland final defeat to Ethan Rafferty in the King of the Roads final. All the chips were on the table because of the All-Ireland and McDonagh having never been crowned King. He beat the no-play line in five to go a shot clear and then played three incredible bowls to the big corner. An emphatic statement, long live the King.
Ellen Sexton’s win over Darcy O’Brien in the Munster junior final at Bauravilla comes in at number two. This was a contest of heroism and brilliance. Sexton beat a huge opening bowl from O’Brien and made the bridge in three. That seemed to just bring the best out of O’Brien. There was never a let-up. Sexton would push clear only for O’Brien to peg her back. O’Brien’s miss to Robin’s cross ultimately decided it.
At number one, not only this Christmas but almost every Christmas is the incomparable Kelly Mallon. She deserves to be on top of the list for capturing her record 12th All-Ireland senior final at the expense of Hannah Sexton at Keady-Tassagh.
Some moments of her performance will go into the annals of best shots ever. In that category are her second one up the silver gate, her two massive bowls to the creamery lane. Sexton kept her honest, but no one could have stayed with Mallon that day. She may well be the most accomplished bowler of all time – man or woman.
Many readers will have other scores in their top-ten, others came very close to inclusion in this list too. I wanted to be fair to everyone, try to capture those moments that elevate us above the ordinary when we see the extraordinary. Bowling did that in spades in 2025.
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