Road Bowling: Mallon and  Tulk have put Queen centre stage

Kelly Mallon (Ulster) in action at Ballincurrig. Picture Dan Linehan

In a conversation recently among a group of sports fans, King and Queen of the Roads was suddenly the main topic. The surprising thing was that the Queen was getting far more attention than the King. The reason primarily was the name recognition of both Kelly Mallon and Silke Tulk.

On the eve of the 30th playing of Queen of the Roads it is clear that these two amazing athletes have projected the game far beyond its normal reach. That should hardly be surprising given they jointly lead the roll of honour with eight crowns each and one or both of them has contested every single Queen of the Roads final since 2009. A testament not just to the endurance of class but also their singular focus.

They are back on centre-court at Ballincurrig on Friday morning, both with a determination to add a ninth crown and edge ahead in the greatest rivalry in the history of road bowling. There have been many other great rivalries, but none that could come close to the sustained of this level and for so long.

The burning question in 2026 as it has been for the past decade, is it be possible for one or both of them not to get over this initial hurdle. If their rivalry has been consistent, then their relative vulnerability in the semi-final has also been a constant. There are multiple near misses.

Having lost out in the defence of her Ulster and All-Ireland titles, Mallon arrives at the weekend with no recent form to call on. For company she has Anke Klöpper who has been the absolute next best woman bowler in Europe for the past decade. She beat both Mallon and Tulk in the European championships in 2020 and holds an astonishing 29 FKV titles, equivalent of All-Irelands.

There is a huge added incentive to Klöpper this year as the first winner was Antje Schöttler, so there would be a nice synergy in also being the 30th. Hannah Cronin is the third player in this semi-final. She showed unbelievable fighting spirit in her last shot win over Denise Murphy in the last shot of Sunday’s Gretta Cormican Cup. She is also the only semi-finalist that has competed on the new road surface.

Things will be no easier for Tulk. She faces this year’s two All-Ireland senior finalists, Dervla Mallon and Hannah Sexton. Mallon is All-Ireland champion, was Queen in 2003 and has contested three finals. Adding Queen of the Roads to the three All-Irelands won by herself and her daughters Connie and Eva in 2026 would be incredible.

Hannah Sexton has youth and ambition on her side. She was brilliant in the Munster final, things went off kilter in the All-Ireland, so she will be more than primed and ready for this one.

Arthur McDonagh is defending his crown as All-Ireland champion, his goal is to complete the famous triple crown of Munster, All-Ireland and King of the Roads in a single season. Thomas Mackle, the only player to win four-in-a-row, is in his semi-final as is German champion Fabian Schiffman, both of whom are capable of ending McDonagh’s reign.

Aidan Murphy has adapted excellently to the new surface as he demonstrated in his Mick Barry Cup win last Sunday. He has another former champion and current Ulster champion, Colm Rafferty, to contend with. Olivier Scholten didn’t know he would be in Ballincurrig a week ago. Injury to Dutch champion, Patrick Zieverink, gave him an unexpected wildcard entry so he’s already in bonus territory.

Méabh Cuinnea and Gerald McDonagh are bidding to retain Proto-Mark Technologies Youth International Triple Crown for Ireland against a formidable Dutch pair in Lotte Telgenhof oude Koehorst and Mike Scholtenhave and German U18 champions Wencke Abken and Joost Kleeman.

An Italian youth team are entered for the first time. Simone Stefanini and Deborah Formica are pitted against All-Ireland U16 champion Connie Mallon and Johnny Campbell in the Brian Woods International. Paddy Stokes will want to add the Jim O’Driscoll Cup to the his All-Ireland intermediate title. He plays Tim Young and Timmy McDonagh in the semi-final with Pete Carr waiting in the final.

Italian national men’s champion, Luca Brunetti faces Munster junior B champion Ger Connolly and All-Ireland winner Ruaidhrí O’Reilly in the Jim Geary Cup. Italian senior women’s champion, Silvia Branchini will contest the Dairypower Trophy against All-Ireland internediade champion Ailbhe O’Shea and Ulster champion Lily O’Rourke.

The Charlie McCarthy Cup is a repeat of the All-Ireland novice 1 final between two emerging stars, champion Eoin Hurley and Ulster winner Darragh Grimley.

King and Queen of the Roads, Ballincurrig, Co. Cork 

Friday 18th 9.30am: Flag Raising Ceremony at Scoil Naomh Eoin 10 am Ceremonial First Shot by Grand Marshall Gretta Cormican 10.30am: Kingston New Homes Queen of the Roads Semi-final 1: Anke Klöpper (Germany) v Kelly Mallon (Ulster) v Hannah Cronin (Munster) 12 pm: Jim Geary Invitational: Luca Brunetti (Italy) v Ger Connolly (Munster) v Ruaidhrí O’Reilly (Ulster) 2.pm: Kingston New Homes Queen of the Roads Semi-final 2: Silke Tulk (Netherlands) v Hannah Sexton (Munster) v Dervla Mallon (Ulster) 3.30pm: Jim O’Driscoll Cup (Munster Final): Paddy Stokes v Tim Young v Timmy McDonagh.

Saturday 19th 10 am: Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads Semi-final 1: Colm Rafferty (Ulster) v Olivier Scholten (Netherlands) v Aidan Murphy (Munster) 12.30pm: Dairypower Trophy: Ailbhe O’Shea (Munster) v Lily O’Rourke (Ulster) v Silvia Branchini (Italy) 2 pm: Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads Semi-final 2: Thomas Mackle (Ulster) v Fabian Schiffman (Germany) v Arthur McDonagh (Munster) 3.00pm: Charlie McCarthy Cup (McCarthy Insurance Group) Darragh Grimley (Ulster) v Eoin Hurley (Munster) 3.40pm: Brian Woods International Youth Invitational: Simone Stefanini/Deborah Formica (Italy) v Johnny Campbell/Connie Mallon (Ulster) 

Sunday 20th 9:30am: Final Jim O’Driscoll Cup: Pete Carr (Ulster) v Munster Winner 11.30am: Proto-Mark Technologies Youth International Triple Crown: Méabh Cuinnea/Gerald McDonagh (Ireland) v Lotte Telgenhof oude Koehorst/Mike Scholtenhave (Netherlands) v Wencke Abken/Joost Kleeman (Germany) 1.30pm: Final Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads 3 pm: Final Kingston New Homes Queen of the Roads 5 pm: Victory March of King & Queen of the Roads 2025. Led by Lone Piper, Padraig O’Brien 5.30 pm: Presentation Ceremony in the School Parking Area 6 pm: Lowering of the Flag by the 2026 King & Queen.