Mackle topples McVeigh in Ulster, Stokes takes control in Munster

Thomas Mackle in action. Pic: Dan Linehan

Last year’s All-Ireland intermediate finalists had contrasting introductions to senior championship with 2025 winner Gene McVeigh falling at the hands of Thomas Mackle in Ulster, while runner-up Páidín Stokes beat Michael Bohane in Munster.

Stokes led all the way against Bohane at Timoleague. He got a big opening bowl to take the first tip by five metres. He increased his lead marginally with his second one. Bohane’s third towards Bateman’s was too far right and Stokes punished him with a brilliant reply. Bohane’s fourth only beat that tip by 12m.

Stokes closed in on the bowl of odds with his next one to light at Bateman’s. He followed with a big fifth shot to raise the bowl in full. After two more he was almost two bowls ahead. Bohane brought the lead back to a bowl with a great shot past the cottage. He followed with another big throw past O’Brien’s to bring the lead under a bowl.

The tide shifted again in the next exchange. Stokes made light past the novice line with his 11th throw and Bohane missed it by 25m to concede the bowl of odds again. Stokes followed with another super shot to go two bowls clear. He was always in command after that.

Thomas Mackle marked Gene McVeigh’s card early on at Keady-Tassagh. He scorched to Gallogly’s height in five to go well over a shot clear. McVeigh found his rhythm in the next two, cutting the lead to just 60m. Mackle reasserted himself in the shots past the creamery lane and held the upper hand to Hughes’.

McVeigh’s next bowl was unlucky not to make McCann’s. He was unlucky again when his bowl down the carnival straight hit a grill and broke off the road, Mackle didn’t exploit that opening. McVeigh then played a big bowl into the hollow, but Mackle beat it by 30m.

The next shots proved pivotal to the result. McVeigh missed McKee’s wall and Mackle made it take a vital advantage. He finished as he started, killing off any chance of a late challenge from McVeigh by beating the line in 18 throws.

Darragh Dempsey is through to the Munster premier junior final following his win over Shane Crowley at the Marsh Road. Brian O’Driscoll and Cathal Creedon meet in the second semi-final tonight at Kilcorney. O’Driscoll beat Liam Murphy at Lyre in the quarter-final.

The final is scheduled for next Sunday. It will be at Ballygurteen if O’Driscoll wins and The Clubhouse if its Creedon. The premier winner then meets Danny Stokes in the Munster junior A semi-final, with Sean Murphy and Johnny O’Driscoll meeting in the other semi-final.

Crowley edged the early shots at the Marsh Road. He had a good lead after two to the distillery, but he didn’t build on that in the next two. Dempsey only made the quarry gate with his following throw and Crowley extended his lead with a good shot up the quarry hill. Dempsey beat that by just 20m with his next one to fall almost a bowl behind.

Dempsey ignited his challenge with a big shot to the silvery gate. They both upped their performances with three big bowls to the steps, where Crowley led by almost a bowl.

Crowley lost momentum and ultimately his grip on the contest when he got a poor shot from there. Dempsey hit back with a big bowl towards Thornhill cross. Crowley misdirected his next bowl into the right and lost the lead. They took two more each to open Ballyhilty, where Dempsey had a solid lead.

Dempsey followed with a big bowl to the end of the railing past Ballyhilty cross, which Crowley missed to fall a bowl behind. Crowley knocked the bowl with his next one to light at the avenue, but it was not enough. Dempsey hit back with a brilliant bowl towards the finish, which restored his bowl of odds.

Brian O’Driscoll eventually won his tie with Liam Murphy by a bowl at Lyre. Murphy was more than competitive and had chances to push on. He won the opening shot, but O’Driscoll took the next two, really opening up with a massive third shot. He made a mistake with his fourth and Murphy was back in front after a brilliant fifth shot.

Murphy held the lead to light at Crowley’s and in the process beat two big shots from O’Driscoll. He made a mistake with his next one and O’Driscoll regained the lead with his bowl to light at McCarthy’s. Two poor shots past the rose bed left Murphy a shot adrift and they contested that lead in the closing exchanges.