Munster senior champion Arthur McDonagh finishes strong to beat Gary Daly

Arthur McDonagh. Pic: Darragh Kane

Munster senior champion Arthur McDonagh delivered an exceptional finish to beat Gary Daly by over a bowl in the Munster semi-final at Grenagh.

Despite McDonagh’s storming finish, Daly will feel he should at least have been there for a last shot as he had almost a bowl at Boula lane. A combination of bad luck and two unforced errors proved his undoing.

McDonagh’s second shot from Boula went through the cross. Daly was throwing odds over 30m. His bowl got a bad hop and he lost most of his lead. McDonagh then played a huge bowl out the bend. Daly followed, but his bowl was called. 

He misplayed his second attempt and missed light. His following bowl was off target too. From being in control he was now on the back foot.

McDonagh played a huge bowl up towards the no-play line, which Daly just beat to leave him almost a bowl down. There was a full shot between them at the no-play line. McDonagh played a smashing bowl from there to raise a bowl. 

Daly followed with a poor bowl and the contest was over.

Daly was doing everything right in the first half. A magnificent third shot past the wall put him a bowl clear. 

McDonagh upped his game with a series of brilliant bowls, but Daly equalled every one and was still a full shot in front at Boula lane.

Darragh Gribben and Darragh Dempsey will clash in a generationally important All-Ireland junior A final at Ballinagree on Saturday. 

Gribben dominated from the off against Jake Cullen in the Ulster final at Knappagh. He was a bowl in front after two. He raised a second bowl after six and that effectively ended the contest.

His meeting with Dempsey, the 2022 European Youth champion, has all the ingredients to be an absolute classic.

Rachel Desmond had the sangfroid of an assassin in her last-shot win over Kay Kelly in the Munster junior women’s final at Ballinagree. Kelly closed with what looked an unbeatable bowl, but Desmond was unfazed. She played a perfect riposte on the centre, it started to drift right, but stayed the course to just edge Kelly’s tip.

Their early bowling was on a par with Hannah Sexton’s senior final performance. 

Kelly had five metres odds after three past the white wall. Desmond won her first lead with her fourth one. Kelly won the following exchange, but Desmond edged the shots past the cross. She would never be headed again, but neither had she a comfortable lead.

She pushed 30m clear in her two shots leading to the falling pole, but Kelly reeled her in to 2m in the next one. From there it was on a knife-edge. It all came down to the final throw, with just 2m between them.

Alice Mackle, added to the incredible tradition of the Toal clan by winning the Ulster junior title. She is a sister of Thomas, first-cousin of Colm and Ethan Rafferty, daughter of Rosheen, and niece of Dervla all of whom are senior All-Ireland holders. Her three male relatives are the last three All-Ireland champions and her aunt Dervla is the current Ulster senior champion.

She had a comfortable win over Louise McKee in the Ulster final at Tullysaran. She can anticipate a far sterner test from Rachel Desmond in Sunday’s All-Ireland final at Ballinagree.

Johnny Campbell beat last year’s All-Ireland U16 champion Caolan Carr in the Ulster U18 final at Benburb. This was a huge breakthrough win for him against one of Ireland’s leading young stars. It was a thrilling contest, decided in the last throw, with Campbell winning from 12m hind bowl.

Colm Crowley and Ger Connolly will contest the Munster junior B final at Drinagh on July 18. Crowley had an extraordinary last shot win over Ger O’Driscoll in the semi-final at Derrinasafa, while Connolly had a clearer win over Denis O’Driscoll at the Marsh Rd.

At Derrinasafa, Ger O’Driscoll raised a bowl between Daly’s and Ross’s. Crowley closed the gap to Cotter’s cross, but lost ground by missing the Darkwood turn. Crowley stayed just about in contention, but looked to be in trouble when his last bowl veered right just past the line. O’Driscoll directed his bowl up the left track, but it hit a pillar and missed the tip.

In the Marsh Rd semi-final there was little between them early on. O’Driscoll led well briefly after Connolly made a mistake at the silvery gate. 

From there Connolly was on point. He was a shot in front at the steps and increased his lead past Thornhill cross. He shot from there and was accidentally blocked, but it barely dented his advance.