Arthur McDonagh and Colm Rafferty to contest All-Ireland senior men’s bowling final
FINAL COUNTDOWN: Arthur McDonagh and Colm Rafferty will contest next Sunday’s All-Ireland senior men’s bowling final at Keady-Tassagh in Armagh. Pic: Denis Boyle.
Arthur McDonagh and Colm Rafferty will contest next Sunday’s All-Ireland senior men’s bowling final at Keady-Tassagh in Armagh.
McDonagh beat Aidan Murphy by two bowls in Baile Bhuirne in the Munster final. This is the same venue as in his breakthrough Munster final in 2021. He was equally impressive this time, quickly gaining control of the score and killing off any hopes of a late rally from Murphy.
In the Ulster final Rafferty beat his first-cousin, Thomas Mackle, by a bowl on the All-Ireland course at Keady-Tassagh. He too showed a lot of character in fending off a late challenge from Mackle and powering his way clear to the line.
At Baile Bhuirne, Murphy opened with huge bowl. That McDonagh hit back with a slightly better one to take the tip by 12m was a signal of what he was going to unveil as the battle developed.
Neither player followed up with as impressive a bowl, but McDonagh had a 20m lead. Murphy was right with his third one and McDonagh beat it 100m with a great bowl. Murphy cut the odds with his fourth throw, indicating that this might develop into a serious joust. The following exchange sent out a different message though.
Murphy’s bowl was well played, but his righthand spin whipped it into the right. McDonagh gained control with a massive reply. His exceptionally fast bowl made the island and pushed his lead out to 180m. Murphy was a shade right of the sop with his next one, missing the tip by 12m to leave a bowl between them.
Murphy’s tenth bowl veered right again and he missed light at Moynihan’s. McDonagh pressed his advantage with another monster bowl past Moynihan’s. To Murphy’s credit he beat that by 50m, holding the lead well under two bowls and keeping the contest alive.
McDonagh made a slip with his next one and now the lead was just over a bowl. Murphy came back with another great bowl to the piggeries. That applied pressure on McDonagh, but he answered the challenge with a fine throw to beat the tip by 40m, keeping his lead firmly over a bowl.
Murphy lost momentum when his next bowl clipped the left. McDonagh magnified that slip when he hit back with another rocket to Ó Riada’s. Murphy missed this with his 14th throw to leave two clear bowls between them and little road to close the gap.
The remaining shots played out around the two bowls of odds, but it was certain that McDonagh would be facing Rafferty in Keady next Sunday.
In Ulster Mackle won the two opening shots, but only just. Rafferty won his first lead with his third one on the straight towards Twynam’s bend. He held the lead with the next throw, but it was still level and they both looked certain to open Twynam’s in five.
Mackle didn’t nail his next bowl though, he lifted it away and it fell right, short of the bend. Rafferty hit back with a perfect bowl that went out the bend to gain an important practical and psychological lead. Mackle pushed back with a good bowl to Twynam’s, but Rafferty beat it 115m with a super drive up Gallogly’s height.
He raised a bowl to tighten his control of the contest, but against someone of Mackle’s calibre no lead is safe. Mackle posed a big question with his shot to the creamery lane, which brought the lead under a bowl. Mackle continued to press, but Rafferty defending his lead, never letting it dip much below a bowl.
Mackle lost a vital chance to close the gap at McCann’s and fell a bowl behind again. He ratcheted up his challenge down the carnival straight, where he clipped the lead to 80m. He then played a massive bowl down to the bottom hill.
Rafferty was now under real pressure. He showed his mettle with a great bowl towards McKee’s wall. He restored the bowl of odds with a his following throw past McKee’s.
Mackle kept his hopes alive with a super shot over the bridge, but Rafferty missed it by just two metres to limit the damage. He followed with a big bowl up the hill towards the line. Mackle’s reply was too tight left, granting Rafferty victory.
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