Sexton retains Munster bowling title in style

Hannah Sexton from Timoleague won the title at Ballinagree. Pic: Gretta Cormican

Hannah Sexton retained her Munster senior women’s bowling title through a strong performance against Denise Murphy at Ballinagree.

With Murphy playing on her home road the gallery for this final swelled into very impressive numbers. The added pressure of having to perform for her home supporters, seemed to impact Murphy’s early shots. She took a while to fire and by then Sexton had a vice grip on the contest.

Sexton’s win was dripping in class. She bowled with impressive speed and went for every shot hard or easy. She beat the line in 16 bowls, she led by two bowls at one point, but she was kept honest by Murphy in the second half of the contest. 

Sexton’s winning margin was a clear bowl of odds at the end, which was a fair reflection of her dominance of a top quality final.

Murphy’s first bowl was too tight right and turned in at the pub. Sexton hit back with a fast bowl that raced past Robin’s Lock. Murphy beat that by just 40m with her second one. Sexton was at the point of the first bend after a good second throw. Murphy missed that by five metres to concede an early bowl of odds.

Murphy settled with a super fourth shot past the white wall to bring the lead under a bowl. Sexton’s fourth bowl was absolutely brilliant, it sped all the way to the end of the quay wall. Murphy was only at the start of the wall in five and beat Sexton’s tip by just 11m with her sixth. There was now close to two bowls between them.

Murphy did everything to dig herself out that hole in the following shots. Sexton kept focused though and never gave her a decent opening. Sexton’s sixth bowl was fast, but it veered into the concrete at the post office. It escaped all the obstacles.

Murphy showed massive courage and class by playing a sensational bowl down the centre to beat that tip. She missed a chance to close the gap in the next exchange, but then beat another huge bowl from Sexton to the pink cottage to keep the lead under two bowls.

Sexton continued to push towards the second bowl and finally raised it with a great tenth shot past the double gates. Murphy didn’t flinch though. 

She played a huge bowl down the straight to bring the lead just under two bowls. Sexton never raised the second bowl again as Murphy continued to defy expectation.

Sexton played a sensational bowl to An Capaillín Bán cross. That looked certain to end the contest. Murphy hit back with an even better one towards Coakley’s lane and beat the tip by 50m. 

The same odds separated them after the next exchange to light. Sexton’s next was not her best and now there was just over a bowl between them Murphy closed with a good bowl, but Sexton beat it well with a perfectly played bowl. 

Had Murphy started better this might have been a much closer contest. From the quay wall home Murphy managed to close the gap, but overall Sexton’s performance was steeped in class.